Lead Operator

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Full Time Columbia, SC, US

4 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $35.00 To $42.00 Hourly

Weston & Sampson Services is seeking a Lead
Industrial Wastewater Treatment Operator to support contract operations and maintenance for municipal and industrial clients from our Columbia or Greenville, South Carolina offices. The ideal candidate will hold a South Carolina Physical/Chemical Wastewater Treatment Operator license, Grade B or higher, and have hands‑on experience with routine plant rounds, process monitoring, sampling, equipment maintenance, chemical handling, and regulatory compliance.

What you’ll do:

• Operate assigned physical/chemical wastewater treatment systems safely, reliably, and in accordance with client requirements, permit limits, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Perform routine operator rounds, inspect treatment equipment, record operating data, and identify conditions that may require adjustment, maintenance, or escalation.
• Collect wastewater samples, perform field and basic process testing, read meters and gauges, and maintain accurate records for operational and compliance purposes.
• Monitor and adjust physical/chemical treatment processes, which may include pH adjustment, chemical feed, clarification, filtration, metals removal, solids handling, and related process controls.
• Perform basic preventive maintenance and troubleshooting on pumps, valves, mixers, tanks, chemical feed systems, instrumentation, and other treatment plant equipment.
• Support permit compliance by following standard operating procedures, documenting plant performance, communicating abnormal conditions, and helping implement corrective actions when needed.
• Handle treatment chemicals safely and follow all applicable safety, PPE, housekeeping, and environmental procedures.
• Communicate professionally with clients, supervisors, laboratory personnel, contractors, and other operators to support dependable contract operations.
• Use common computer programs and digital tools, including Outlook, Microsoft Office, Teams, and site‑specific data entry or reporting systems.
• Be available for after‑hours response, weekend or holiday coverage, and emergency support as needed for assigned facilities.
• Work outdoors and in industrial plant environments, including performing physical tasks in varying weather conditions and around operating equipment.
• Stay organized, dependable, and responsive when prioritizing daily rounds, sampling, maintenance needs, alarms, and client requests.
• Continue developing operator knowledge and pursue higher levels of certification as experience and project needs increase.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

What you will bring:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current South Carolina Physical/Chemical Wastewater Treatment Operator license, Grade B or higher, preferred or required depending on assigned project needs.
• Applicants with a South Carolina Physical/Chemical trainee license or relevant industrial wastewater experience may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.
• Applicants licensed in another state who are eligible for South Carolina reciprocity will be considered.

Overview:

At Weston & Sampson, you’ll work alongside more than 1,000 employee‑owners who are passionate about improving our communities. From providing clean water to designing resilient infrastructure and sustainable environments, our work has a direct impact on quality of life. We’re looking for curious, driven professionals who want to contribute to innovative, impactful projects and grow with a team that supports them.

We are a 100% employee‑owned,…