Renewable Natural Gas Plant Technician

Socket.dev; DeKalb (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Annual bonus

Independent work environment

Paid time off with manager approval

Education assistance

Medical, dental, vision, 401k matching

Job summary

WM is seeking a Plant Manager for the RNG facility in the United States. You will oversee production, safety, maintenance, and compliance while coordinating with landfills and operations teams to meet contract obligations.

The role requires hands-on operation of gas processing equipment and the ability to manage budgets, outages, and 3rd party vendors. Strong leadership and data-driven decision making are essential.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED (accredited).
• Experience: 5 years in plant operations or maintenance.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to travel up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Operate RNG facility to maximize production with safe practices.
• Coordinate with management, vendors, and operations for outages and maintenance.
• Inspect and service equipment per SOPs and training.
• Lead safety initiatives and ensure environmental compliance.
• Maintain records, reports, and data for plant performance.

Skills

Instrument & control repair

Safety compliance

Budget management

Vendor coordination

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Data analysis

PC/SCADA literacy

Job description

Work at aBRAND NEWstate of the art facility, and receive the following benefits from day one:

• Relocation Assistance offered
• Base Salary + Form of OT & Annual Bonus
• Work independently, with lots of variety in your day
• Discretionary paid time off with Manager approval
• Education Assistance Program
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401k Matching

I. Job Summary

Manage the Landfill Gas to Renewable Natural Gas "RNG" Facility to maximize production, while ensuring safe work practices, environmental compliance, timely maintenance, compliance with contracts, and coordination with the landfill management and operations. This role acts as a plant owner and is available whenever necessary to meet the objectives of the role and the needs of the facility. An RNG Facility takes landfill gas and converts it to a Natural Gas Quality that is injected into the pipeline for household and commercial use. The RNG Plant Manager will be required to operate and maintain equipment such as, specialty gas processing equipment, gas compressors, and H2S removal systems, Nitrogen Removal Unit, and Pressure Swing Absorber.

II. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• The operator will perform intermediate to advanced level Instrument and Control repair, maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Capture data and evaluate course of action for optimized plant performance, while operating within identified budgets. This position also has strict requirements for safety and environmental compliance along with standard operating procedures.
• Must be an engaged employee with the ability to organize and manage small to large scale plant outages and projects, with attention to detail of organizational and record keeping of all maintenance reports, gas data analysis and waste stream documentation.
• Operate advanced instrumentation and process control systems.
• Leads, manages, and coordinates all 3rd party vendors or customers for scheduled plant maintenance, unscheduled down time, compliance, and well-field issues.
• Regularly communicates this with the Market Area Gas Operations Manager (MAGOM) and/or WMRE Operations Manager.
• Inspects plant machinery and equipment. Repairs, maintains, and services all equipment in accordance with the facility Standard Operating Procedures, equipment maintenance manuals, and WMRE policies and training. Must also be knowledgeable to handle non-routine repairs or issues that may arise and require sound, immediate judgment without direct supervision.
• Implements WM and WMRE safety policies and practices for all work activities, and ensures these practices are followed by other WM staff, vendors, contractors, and visitors entering the facility.
• Completes all mandatory training activities for both safety and operational training as assigned by supervisor.
• Procures plant supplies and replacement equipment in an efficient manner by identifying needs in advance, managing vendors, and working within WMRE guidelines as well as being responsible for the annual budget.
• Promptly responds to call-outs of plant shutdowns during non-business hours to identify the cause of the shutdown and rectify/diagnose through appropriate repairs or adjustments to return the plant to operation while consulting with WMRE operations managers (as needed). This role is given discretion to judge the situation and respond accordingly without management intervention, until needed.
• Maintains the facility spare inventory and provides a written inventory count twice annually.
• Completes special assignments/tasks as required by WMRE Operations Manager, Market Area Gas Operations Manager, or Landfill District Manager.
• Able to work as a team and communicate clearly and professionally across different business units.
• Ability to wear/operate assigned PPE and follow WM and WM Renewable Energy safety protocols and procedures.
• Work on electrical systems, DC and AC low voltage, to troubleshoot and perform minor repairs.
• Must be strong with basic computer skills used to communicate, document, and change operations settings for plant performance optimization.

III. Qualifications

A. Education and Experience

Education: High School Diploma or GED (accredited) required.

Experience: 5 yearsof relevant work experience in a plant operations or plant maintenance environment required.

B. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations or Other Requirements

Administrative Services\DL NUMBER - Driver License, Valid and in State required

C. Other Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Required

Fundamental knowledge of computer data entry and interpretation.

Must be able to successfully manage fiduciary responsibilities.

Must be able to lift a minimum of 100 lbs.

Must be able to travel up to 15% with overnight stays.

Must be able to diagnose and repair DC circuits 12/24 volts.

Basic knowledge of 120/240/480 3ph volt AC circuits.

Must be able to understand complex processes and action-based thinking.

Must be familiar with basic principles of building maintenance.

Must be able to demonstrate industry communication skills.

Preferred

• Previous RNG Operations
• Gas processing or pipeline operations experience
• Gas compression and gas conditioning
• Controls and programming
• Landfill gas collections
• Automotive or Heavy Equipment technician
• Refrigeration or HVAC experience
• Skilled in P&ID or electrical drawing interpretation
• Project management experience

IV. Work Environment

Combination: This job operates in a mix between an office environment and plant/field environment and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copy machines, etc.

Please note, this is a salaried position that is eligible for a form of overtime.

Benefits

At WM, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Short Term Disability. As well as a Stock Purchase Plan, Company match on 401K, and more! Our employees also receive Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Personal Days. Please note that benefits may vary by site.

ABOUT WM

WM (WM.com) is North America's leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. Previously known as Waste Management and based in Houston, Texas, WM is driven by commitments to put people first and achieve success with integrity. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, medical and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them pursue their sustainability goals. WM has the largest disposal network and collection fleet in North America, is the largest recycler of post‑consumer materials and is a leader in beneficial use of landfill gas, with a growing network of renewable natural gas plants and the most landfill gas‑to‑electricity plants in North America. WM’s fleet includes more than 12,000 natural gas trucks – the largest heavy‑duty natural gas truck fleet in the industry in North America. Healthcare Solutions provides collection and disposal services of regulated medical waste, as well as secure information destruction services, in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. To learn more about WM and the company’s sustainability progress and solutions, visit Sustainability.WM.com.

Equal Employment Opportunity

For United States: WM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

For Canada: WM is committed to the principle of equal employment for all applicants and employees, without discrimination on the basis of all grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please notify us if you require accommodation.

Real ID

In order to travel by air or access federal property, federal law requires individuals have a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative. This position may require the successful candidate to travel by air for business reasons or service federal property. Accordingly, successful candidates must have, or be willing to obtain, a REAL ID or TSA‑approved alternative.

What is the value of a WM job? At WM we know that the value of a WM job is more than a paycheck. It’s a way to create opportunities for you and your family. This is why we are constantly working to make WM a great place to work and grow a career. We Are WM is what defines the perks of being in the WM family – from benefits, to resources and engagement activities. We are People First. We are Committed to Your Growth. We Are Investing in You. We are a Family. We are Stable. We are Always Working for a Sustainable Tomorrow.