Digester Operator

As a Digester Operator, you will report to Energy Center leadership and support the safe, stable, and efficient operation of the anaerobic digestion process. This is a hands-on process-operations role involving material flow, truck coordination, SCADA monitoring, sampling, basic laboratory analysis, equipment rounds, process adjustments, and light maintenance on pumps, mixers, motors, and related equipment. The successful candidate will bring strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to work independently in a 24/7 outdoor industrial environment.

Responsibilities

• Operate the anaerobic digestion process by controlling incoming material, monitoring digester conditions, and making adjustments to maintain stable and efficient production.
• Coordinate with truck drivers and site personnel during material delivery, unloading, sampling, and movement through the Energy Center.
• Monitor equipment, gauges, charts, alarms, trends, and process conditions through the SCADA computer system and field inspections.
• Collect samples of incoming and in-process materials and perform basic laboratory analysis to support process control and reporting requirements.
• Operate, inspect, and perform light maintenance on pumps, mixers, motors, valves, piping, and other material-handling or process equipment.
• Identify abnormal operating conditions, troubleshoot basic process or equipment issues, and notify maintenance or plant leadership when additional support is required.
• Create and document work-order requests in the work-management system to track repairs, follow-up actions, and scheduled maintenance.
• Complete routine plant rounds, housekeeping inspections, and cleanliness checks while maintaining an organized and presentable work environment.
• Record operating data, sample results, material activity, process adjustments, and equipment conditions accurately and on time.
• Follow all safety, environmental, quality, hazardous material, lockout/tagout, and site operating procedures.
• Work collaboratively with operators, maintenance personnel, drivers, vendors, and Energy Center leadership while also completing assigned duties independently.
• Perform additional operational, maintenance, material-handling, and site-support tasks as assigned by Energy Center leadership.

Must-Have Skills, Experience, and Education

• High school diploma or GED.
• Hands-on experience in operations, maintenance, agriculture, wastewater, manufacturing, material handling, heavy equipment, utilities, construction, or a military technical specialty.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and the ability to understand how material flow, pumps, mixers, motors, valves, and process equipment work together.
• Computer proficiency and the ability to learn SCADA, electronic logs, work-order software, and basic process-data systems.
• Critical thinking, sound decision-making, attention to detail, and the ability to calmly handle operating issues or stressful situations.
• Ability to communicate clearly, work well in a team environment, and complete tasks independently with limited supervision.
• Willingness and ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts covering days, nights, weekends, holidays, and a 24/7 operating environment.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and continuously walk, climb stairs, step up and down, bend, and move throughout the facility.
• Ability to lift, push, or pull up to 50 pounds unassisted and up to 75 pounds with assistance.
• Current valid driver license.
• Commitment to safe work practices, cleanliness, environmental compliance, and participation in pre-employment and random drug testing.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Experience with anaerobic digestion, biogas, renewable natural gas, wastewater treatment, food processing, agricultural processing, landfill gas, chemical processing, or another continuous-process environment.
• Previous agricultural, livestock, feedstock, manure-handling, or organic-waste experience.
• Experience operating heavy equipment such as loaders, skid steers, forklifts, tractors, or material-handling equipment.
• Hands-on experience with pumps, mixers, motors, valves, basic electrical systems, instrumentation, or mechanical repair.
• Welding, fabrication, plumbing, piping, or general construction experience.
• Experience collecting samples, performing basic laboratory testing, recording process data, or supporting quality-control activities.
• Experience using SCADA, a computerized maintenance management system, work-order software, or electronic operator logs.
• Military experience in engineering, utilities, mechanical maintenance, fuel systems, power production, water treatment, equipment operations, or industrial process support.