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Site Operator
Planetary Hydrogen
Norfolk, VA, USA
Posted on Apr 22, 2025
Planetary’s vision is to protect and restore the ocean and climate for generations to come. We do this by enhancing the ocean’s natural ability to fight climate change through carbon dioxide removal and storage. Our team combines expertise in ocean science, metallurgy and geochemistry to safely and effectively scale up ocean-based and wastewater-based CO2 management solutions. Working collaboratively with all of our stakeholders, we develop a cost effective and sustainable set of tools aimed at protecting and restoring our oceans and climate, ultimately doing carbon dioxide removal and storage at gigatonne scale.
We are leaders, scientists, and engineers working together to collectively embody our values: respect, curiosity & creativity, accept responsibility, and win for all.
Planetary is seeking a Site Operator to work with our Project Development team to ensure the safe and efficient daily operations of our Norfolk, VA waste water treatment plant (WWTP) carbon dioxide removal project.
Core Responsibilities:
Safety and Compliance:
- Adhere to safety guidelines, protocols, and regulatory requirements to ensure a safe working environment for all personnel.
- Monitor project operations to ensure all WTTP permit limits are maintained.
- Conduct safety inspections, risk assessments, and hazard analyses to identify and mitigate potential safety hazards.
- Participate in safety training programs and promote a culture of safety awareness and compliance among site staff.
- Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment that encourages knowledge sharing, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Operational Management:
- Operate and maintain lime slaking and slurry dosing equipment and systems at a WTTP or slaking site according to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety protocols.
- Monitor and control process parameters to ensure optimal performance and efficiency.
- Conduct routine inspections, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance to minimize downtime and ensure equipment reliability.
- Coordinate with engineering and technical teams to implement modifications and improvements to processes as needed.
- Coordinate with WWTP and other partner personnel to ensure continuous and efficient operation of equipment and processes.
Data Collection and Analysis:
- Collect and record data from operations to evaluate process performance, identify trends, and troubleshoot issues.
- Maintain accurate logs, records, and documentation of operational activities and data for reporting and analysis purposes.
- Collaborate with engineering and R&D teams to interpret data, generate insights, and make process optimization and scale-up recommendations.
- Collect wastewater and slurry samples, and perform basic chemical analyses.
About the role:
This role will be fulfilled primarily at Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s Virginia Initiative Wastewater Treatment Plant in Norfolk, VA. Heated shelter, bathroom and break room facilities are provided at the plant, but site operators will be required to work outdoors for much of their shift. Nighttime and weekend shift work may be required periodically.
About You
- You have a degree in engineering, geology, ocean science, environmental science, or a related field, and/or 1-5+ years of experience with large scale equipment operation (slakers, pumps, tanks, wastewater treatment, bulk materials handling and logistics, etc.), scientific sampling and measurements, or project site operations
- You hold a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation
- You have an optimistic, proactive, action-oriented approach
- You are organized, able to handle a prioritized workload, and communicate effectively
- You have demonstrated success in achieving project outcomes in low-structure environments
- You must be able to work on-site within the Hampton Roads region and comfortable with outside work and with irregular hours (including overnights and weekends)
- You have excellent communication skills and are comfortable communicating with plant personnel, delivery drivers, science team members, and a variety of others who may visit the project site
- You are curious about climate change technologies and are passionate about protecting our world for future generations
- Strong preference will be given to candidates who can show experience prioritizing workplace health and safety
About Planetary
Planetary is committed to supporting and valuing the diversity of our team as well as the diversity of the clients and communities we serve. Valuing diversity means recognizing and respecting human differences and similarities - creating the context where each person can develop and bring their best self to their work and life. We are committed to employment equity and will endeavour, where feasible, to eliminate systemic barriers to advancement and/or redress the under-utilization of underrepresented groups. We are committed to equal employment and we encourage candidates from all cultural and educational backgrounds as well as all genders and sexualities to apply.