Lead Industrial Wastewater Operator

ProChem Inc.; Florence (KY); On-site; USD 41,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision benefits

Retirement contribution

Job summary

ProChem Inc. in Florence, Kentucky seeks a Lead Industrial Wastewater & Water Purification Operator to own a state-of-the-art water treatment facility. You will autonomously operate UF, RO, and CEDI systems, manage chemical effluent streams, and ensure regulatory compliance with KEEC standards and DMRs.

This role offers growth toward a supervisor position and a $5,000 sign-on bonus for the successful candidate, with 8-hour Monday–Friday shifts and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of independent work in industrial manufacturing.
• Experience operating UF, RO, and CEDI water systems.
• Degree in chemistry or environmental science is desired but not required.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform CIP and maintenance.
• Comfort with autonomous scheduling and emergency response.

Responsibilities

• Operate and optimize UF, RO, and CEDI water systems autonomously.
• Manage daily treatment of chemical sanitizers and rinses.
• Ensure KEEC compliance, DMRs, and local pre-treatment permits.
• Conduct water quality testing (pH, conductivity, TOC, BOD, TSS) and adjust parameters.
• Service CIP on membranes, chemical feeds, pumps, and SCADA equipment.
• Document operational data and prepare audit-ready records.

Skills

Advanced Water Systems

Autonomy

Water Quality Testing

SCADA & Control Systems

Education

Chemistry degree (preferred, not required)

Environmental Science degree (preferred, not required)

Tools

UF Membranes

RO Units

CEDI Systems

SCADA

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled, self-reliant Lead Industrial Wastewater & Water Purification Operator to take complete ownership of an advanced water treatment facility. In this role, you will operate with autonomy, managing both complex high-purity production water systems and chemical effluent streams. You will serve as the tactical decision-maker for our Ultrafiltration (UF), Reverse Osmosis (RO), and Continuous Electrodeionization (CEDI) units, ensuring 100% regulatory compliance without daily supervision. This position has growth opportunity as a supervisor of the future operations team we are building at this site.

We are offering a $5,000 sign on bonus to the successful candidate.

Industry: Human Health Products Manufacturing

Site Location: Florence, Kentucky. Commuter distance from Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio cities

Shift Requirements: 8-hour shifts, Monday through Friday. Autonomous scheduling with emergency response requirements

What You Will Do

• Drive Advanced Water Systems: Independently operate, monitor, and optimize high-purity water generation assets, including Ultrafiltration (UF) loops, Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes, and Continuous Electrodeionization (CEDI) stacks.
• Manage Effluent Streams: Oversee daily treatment of chemical sanitizers, high-purity rinses, and specialized manufacturing waste.
• Ensure Compliance: Maintain strict adherence to Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (KEEC) standards, Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR), and local pre-treatment permits.
• Analyze & Adjust: Perform regular water quality testing (pH, conductivity, TOC, BOD, TSS) and autonomously modify system parameters based on real-time data.
• Maintain & Troubleshoot Equipment: Diagnose, service, and perform clean-in-place (CIP) protocols on membranes, chemical feed systems, pumps, and SCADA control packages without direct oversight.
• Own Documentation: Log precise operational data, track chemical inventories, and prepare audit-ready state compliance records.

What You Bring

• Technical Expertise: Deep hands-on knowledge operating and troubleshooting UF membranes, RO units, and CEDI systems within a regulated environment.
• Autonomy: 3+ years of progressive experience working independently in an industrial manufacturing setting (pharmaceutical, chemical, beauty products, or food/beverage preferred).
• A degree in chemistry or environmental science is desired but not required
• Problem Solving: Proven ability to diagnose mechanical deviations or chemical imbalances and implement immediate, compliant fixes.
• Physical Readiness: Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, climb ladders, and safely handle facility treatment and sanitation chemicals.

What We Offer

• Competitive hourly wage, starting between $30 to $42 per hour based on qualifications
• Full benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement contribution. Employee tier plans are paid for by the company.
• High degree of operational trust and professional independence.