Plant Operator

Company: Vanguard Renewables
Location: Spencer, MA
Job Type: Full-Time

• Compensation: $28 - $32 per hour
• Performance-based bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive health insurance with HSA option
• 100% employer-paid dental, vision, and wellness benefits
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Optional supplemental life and AD&D coverage
• 401(k) with employer match and immediate eligibility
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Education assistance
• Adoption assistance
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Monthly cell phone reimbursement
• Career growth and professional development opportunities

Vanguard Renewables is a national leader in renewable energy, environmental services, and anaerobic digestion technology. We develop, own, and operate innovative facilities that convert food and dairy waste into renewable natural gas while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting regenerative agriculture.

• Safely operate anaerobic digesters, gas conditioning equipment, pumps, blowers, compressors, chillers, condensers, oxygen generators, and related plant equipment.
• Perform hourly and daily inspections while monitoring temperatures, pressures, oil levels, gas production, process flows, oxygen (O₂), and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) levels.
• Identify abnormal equipment conditions including leaks, excess vibration, unusual noises, or changing operating conditions.
• Perform initial troubleshooting before contacting maintenance technicians or outside contractors.
• Support preventive maintenance activities and assist with major equipment repairs and scheduled maintenance projects.
• Create work orders and maintain accurate operational documentation using maintenance management software.
• Assist with developing and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Energy Isolation Procedures.
• Follow all company safety policies, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.
• Participate in plant housekeeping and maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment.
• Support contractors performing maintenance while ensuring safe work practices are followed.
• Participate in on-call coverage as required.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

• Valid driver’s license.
• Experience operating or maintaining equipment in an industrial or gas processing environment.
• Mechanical aptitude with the ability to troubleshoot equipment.
• Ability to perform basic electrical troubleshooting using a multimeter.
• Ability to read and understand mechanical and electrical drawings.
• Strong commitment to workplace safety and safe work practices.
• Ability to work on-call as needed.
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to lift, move, or push up to 50 pounds.
• Basic computer skills using Outlook, Word, Excel, or similar applications.
• Military technical experience or related industrial training is welcomed in place of some operational experience.

This position works primarily outdoors in an industrial and agricultural environment.

• Heat and cold
• Industrial machinery
• Rotating equipment
• Noise
• Flammable materials