Operations Manager

Covanta; Kapolei (HI); On-site; USD 137,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Reworld is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the thermomechanical treatment facility’s operations, safety, and continuous improvement efforts. The role reports to the Facility Manager and manages five direct reports, with a schedule predominantly Monday–Friday daytime, plus occasional after-hours work.

You will drive operational excellence, ensure regulatory compliance, and partner with business and supply chain teams to meet customer requirements while modeling Reworld values in

Qualifications

• 10+ years in broad plant operations with supervisory responsibility.
• Experience leading industrial teams in power-generation environments.
• Knowledge of safety practices and regulatory compliance.
• Understanding of municipal solid waste combustion and materials handling.

Responsibilities

• Lead five direct reports and oversee plant operations.
• Drive safety, reliability, and performance improvements.
• Translate strategy into operating plans and KPIs.
• Coordinate with business and supply chain teams on schedules and customer needs.
• Promote Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement.

Skills

Plant operations

Leadership & development

Industrial safety

Waste-to-energy knowledge

Boiler & turbine operations

Regulatory compliance

Communication & collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

ASME QRO/CFO certification (preferred)

Job description

Who we are

For more than 40 years, Reworld has been a leader in sustainable waste solutions, providing our customers with innovative solutions that help them achieve carbon-negative outcomes.

Our Vision

Reworld is leading the charge to a carbon-negative future through revolutionary sustainable materials management solutions that reduce, reuse, recycle and reimagine waste for the benefit of society and the environment.

Our Business

Reworld partners with businesses by offering cutting‑edge engineering and innovative solutions, to help customers reduce, reuse, recycle and recover value from waste streams and meet or exceed their sustainability goals.

Our Value

Reworld's differentiator comes from our ecosystem of technology, facilities and partnerships, trusted by the world's largest organizations to reimagine waste management for a smarter, more sustainable world.

All that we're missing is you.

About the role

Reworld is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead, direct, and motivate the Operations team at one of our thermomechanical treatment facilities. This position is ideal for a Plant Operations Manager with experience in power generation, thermomechanical treatment, municipal solid waste combustion, refuse‑derived fuel, mass‑burn technology, boiler and turbine operations, materials handling, environmental compliance, and industrial safety.

This is an opportunity to lead a critical operation that converts municipal solid waste into energy while supporting environmental sustainability and responsible waste management. The Operations Manager will have significant influence over plant safety, reliability, performance, employee development, and continuous improvement. Relocation assistance is available to qualified candidates.

Reporting directly to the Facility Manager, the Operations Manager will lead five direct reports: Superintendents, a Supervisor, and an Analyst. The role will partner closely with business and supply chain teams to coordinate schedules and understand customer requirements. This is a full‑time, onsite position with a primarily Monday-through‑Friday daytime schedule; some evening, weekend, off‑hours, and on‑call work will be required.

Core Activities and Responsibilities

• Set clear expectations, hold employees accountable, and model Reworld's values and behaviors to foster a safe, inclusive, and high‑performing workplace.
• Provide visible environmental, health, and safety leadership focused on preventing accidents, protecting employees, and avoiding harm to the environment.
• Ensure compliance with environmental permits, operating requirements, safety procedures, and applicable regulations.
• Lead and oversee plant operations to maintain optimal boiler and turbine performance.
• Translate business strategy into actionable operating and continuous‑improvement plans.
• Establish, monitor, and improve key performance indicators for the Operations department.
• Contribute to the three‑to‑five‑year planning process in support of business and corporate strategy.
• Communicate and implement departmental objectives, priorities, expectations, and performance updates.
• Develop and execute resource plans that support effective staffing, performance, employee relations, and engagement.
• Champion continuous improvement and productivity through Lean, Six Sigma, and related methodologies.
• Promote continuous learning and development to strengthen operational capabilities and organizational effectiveness.
• Coach and develop employees while building leadership capability and succession strength within the Operations team.
• Drive cultural change, operational discipline, accountability, and a continuous‑improvement mindset.
• Audit operating practices and procedures to confirm compliance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Maintain strong housekeeping standards throughout operational areas to support a safe and professional working environment.
• Partner with business and supply chain teams to coordinate operating schedules and respond effectively to customer needs.

Qualifications

• Approximately 10 years of broad plant operations experience, including meaningful supervisory or managerial responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop employees in an industrial or power‑generation environment.
• Working knowledge of industrial safety practices and regulatory compliance, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Understanding of municipal solid waste combustion practices and materials‑handling processes.
• Power plant, waste‑to‑energy, energy‑from‑waste, or related generating‑facility experience is preferred.
• Experience supporting boiler, turbine, electrical, or mechanical generating operations is highly desirable.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering is preferred. Relevant supervisory experience in an electrical or mechanical generating facility may be considered in place of an engineering degree.
• ASME QRO/CFO certification is preferred. Candidates without the certification must be able to qualify within six months of employment.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, operational excellence, or comparable continuous‑improvement methodologies is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational, planning, decision‑making, and accountability skills.
• Ability to work effectively with operations, maintenance, business, supply chain, and facility leadership teams.
• Ability to work onsite. Relocation assistance is available to qualified candidates.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Ability to routinely lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to regularly climb ladders and to stand, walk, sit, kneel, bend, reach, crouch, and balance.
• Ability to enter confined spaces and work at heights while wearing a harness and other required safety equipment.
• Ability to wear a full‑face respirator.
• Ability to use and move handheld equipment, including ladders, pressure washers, generators, and hoses.
• Ability to work in outdoor conditions and environments involving elevated noise levels.
• Ability to work in areas where exposure to dirt, fumes, and hazardous waste may occur.
• Ability to perform work requiring moderate to heavy physical effort.
• Availability for a primarily Monday‑through‑Friday daytime schedule, with occasional evenings and weekends.
• Availability for off‑hours and on‑call responsibilities as operational needs require.

All Reworld positions require a candidate's ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the role while upholding Reworld's Values, including (but not limited to) contributing to a safe and inclusive workplace, delivering results through trust, and building breakthrough capabilities.

Please note that Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

Pay Transparency

Reworld is committed to paying its staff equitably, and we strive to provide competitive compensation and benefits packages. The range below reflects Reworld's reasonable estimate of base pay for this role based on primary posting location. It is expected that most qualified candidates in this location will fall within the posting range. The final salary offered for this role will be determined based on factors including, but not limited to: experience, education, geographic location, skills and competencies, travel requirements and/or union contracts (if applicable). Pay ranges are reviewed from time to time and may be modified in the future.

The pay range for the primary location of this position is: $136,600.00 - $195,300.00 USD per annum

Reworld provides an industry‑leading benefits package that supports the whole person‑and their families‑through a balanced approach to mental, physical, and financial wellbeing. Regular full‑time employees based in the USA have access to comprehensive medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision coverage, FSA, HSA, short- and long-term disability benefits. Our 401(k) plan is industry‑leading, with an up to 7% company match. Additional benefits include Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance, EAP, paid parental leave, and educational assistance. For more information regarding these offerings, please visit the Reworld Careers Benefits Page. Reworldreserves the right to amend, suspend or terminate any benefit plan, in whole or in part, at any time.

Our DEI Commitment

Reworld is an Equal Opportunity Employer, has developed an Affir­mentary Action Program (AAP), and will not discriminate against any qualified applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability (including perceived disability, physical, mental, and/or intellectual disabilities), veteran status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Know Your Rights (Click to view poster)

If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site because of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by going to Reworldwaste.com and clicking on the 'Contact Us' button. Under Inquires, select 'Careers' in the Interest field, fill out all required fields including your message. In the message section, please note this is a 'Job Application Accommodation Request'.

Attention Staffing Agencies & Search Firms

Reworld may sometimesselectively collaborate with staffing agencies and search firms (Agencies). Reworld will only consider candidates from Agencies with whom a signed agreement and a duly authorized work order (for a specific role)has been duly executed. Any unsolicited candidate submissions or candidate submissions from Agencies that do not meet these criteria, will be deemed invalid and ineligible for any fees.