JOB DESCRIPTION: Reporting to the Shift Supervisor, Area Chemical Operators run all equipment and processes in their assigned production areas to produce and/or process the company’s products in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. An Area Chemical Operator will typically be crosstrained in two production areas. At times, additional Labor resources will be assigned into a production area to assist the Area Chemical Operator, who will then coordinate the use of the Labor assistance provided, as needed.

Primary Responsibilities

• In general, operate all processing equipment in a safe and environmentally responsible manner to produce high quality ion exchange products in a timely and cost-effective fashion.
• In general, load raw materials and chemicals, as well as unload and package all finished resin products.
• In Area 2000, operate pumps, regeneration columns, acid/caustic dilution stations and other equipment to perform chemical regenerations to convert, steam, rinse, hot rinse, backwash, and mix/package processed ion exchange resins to H and OH- ionic forms.
• In Area 3000, operate pumps, regeneration columns, chemical metering/dilution stations and other equipment to convert, regenerate, steam, rinse, hot rinse, backwash, disinfect, dewater, etc. a variety of products. Also, operate specialty equipment, including a filter press and stirred tank systems.
• In Area 4000, operate pumps, carbon loading, acid washing, dewatering, drying, dust control and packaging equipment to produce and package various grades of granular activated carbon products.
• In Area 6000, operate pumps, regeneration columns, chemical metering/dilution stations and other equipment to separate, regenerate and re-mix a variety of products. Also, operate dry-blending equipment for blending of finished resins.
• In Area 7100, operate pumps, mixing vessels and polymerization reactors to polymerize flammable monomers to solid polymer bead precursors within OSHA PSM requirements, as well as operate a slurry tank for transfer to downstream finishing areas.
• In Area 7200, operate pumps, centrifuge, dryer, screener and transporter systems to finish polymer processing and load polymer to sulfonation weigh hoppers.
• In area 7300, operate pumps, polymer loading equipment, sulfuric acid metering, sulfonation reactors, acid recovery vessels and acid recycle tanks to sulfonate and hydrate ion exchange products to transfer to downstream finishing areas.
• In Area 7500, operate pumps, in-line dilution equipment to perform caustic conversions of products to the Na ionic form, as well as steam, rinse, hot rinse, backwash and package ion exchange resin products.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Promptly report all safety, environmental and operational issues to the Shift Supervisor, as well as perform basic troubleshooting to identify potential causes of such issues.
• Participate and adhere to all safety procedures, especially the permit programs to safely transition equipment to/from maintenance staff or contractors.
• Formally document all batch processing (and other) records thoroughly, accurately and in a timely fashion to ensure product traceability and adherence to quality procedures.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• US Citizen.
• HS Diploma or GED. Associates degree or higher in a science/technical degree program preferred.
• 3 years in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food or petroleum industries. 10 years of experience in batch chemical processing preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to climb stairs and ladders.
• Must be able to work at elevated heights.
• Must be able to be trained in respirator use and confined space entry.

Work Environment

• Production plant: roughly 80% indoors, 20% outdoors.
• 24 x 7 production, 12-hour shifts, every other weekend off, steady day or night shift.