Wastewater Treatment Specialist

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a Wastewater Treatment Specialist to join our team supporting the DOE's Y-12 National Security Complex! This position is full-time and will be based out of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Wastewater Treatment Specialist is responsible for supporting wastewater and liquid waste management operations in a highly regulated environment. This role ensures the safe, compliant handling, treatment, and disposition of wastewater, including hazardous and radioactive streams, in accordance with federal and site-specific requirements. The specialist works closely with operations, waste generators, and environmental compliance teams to maintain regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Manage and support wastewater and liquid waste treatment processes to ensure safe and compliant operations
• Perform wastewater acceptance activities, including evaluation and approval or rejection of incoming waste streams
• Conduct characterization of liquid hazardous and radioactive waste to support proper handling, storage, and treatment
• Verify wastewater treatment processes meet regulatory and discharge requirements prior to release
• Ensure proper storage, handling, and disposition of liquid waste in compliance with applicable regulations
• Maintain compliance with RCRA, TSCA, DOE Order 435.1, and DOT requirements
• Coordinate with waste generator organizations and site personnel to ensure proper waste profiling, documentation, and acceptance criteria are met
• Support documentation, reporting, and recordkeeping for regulatory compliance and audits
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, safety, and compliance

Requirements

• Education & Years of Experience – Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, a scientific discipline, or related field and a minimum of 3 years of experience in waste management or environmental compliance.
• Citizenship – To be considered, you must be a United States (U.S.) citizen due to the federal nature of the work.
• Clearance – To be considered, you must be able to obtain and maintain a government issued clearance.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in wastewater treatment, waste management, or environmental compliance
• Demonstrated experience with wastewater and liquid waste management processes
• Knowledge of hazardous and/or radioactive waste handling and characterization
• Familiarity with environmental regulations, including RCRA, TSCA, DOE Order 435.1, and DOT
• Strong understanding of wastewater treatment processes and discharge compliance requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Department of Energy (DOE) or nuclear facility operations, such as the Y-12 National Security Complex
• Experience with waste acceptance programs and generator interface
• Knowledge of nuclear safety, waste certification, or environmental permitting

About the Site

The NNSA's Y-12 National Security Complex, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is the nation’s only source of enriched uranium nuclear weapon components and provides enriched uranium for the U.S. Navy as well as excels in materials science, precision manufacturing, and stores enriched uranium. Y-12 supports efforts to reduce nuclear proliferation risk and performs work for other government agencies (energy.gov http://energy.gov).

ABOUT GEM

GEM Technologies, Inc. (GEM) is an award-winning federal contractor with more than 30 years of experience providing environmental, construction, facility management, and technical services to federal agencies, state and local governments, and commercial organizations. Founded in 1994 as a nuclear engineering firm to support federal operations in East Tennessee, GEM has since expanded into a nationwide, multi-disciplinary provider with over 270 employees and a diverse portfolio of contracts in the environmental, nuclear, and defense sectors. Some reasons to join GEM are:

• Our philosophy – We believe in the power of effective collaboration and recognize that good partnerships are the building blocks to success.
• Our relationships – Partnering with federal clients, we solve complex problems, exceed expectations, and advance critical missions.
• Our team – We are committed to managing a cohesive workforce and cultivating a supportive workplace for our employees on contracts and in-office.
• Our community involvement – Supporting our communities, we invest time and money in local schools and non-profit organizations.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

GEM’s offered compensation is dependent on candidates’ education, qualifications, and relevant years of experience. To recruit and retain our exceptional staff, we offer the opportunity to elect benefit packages that best suit our employee’s needs; this includes, but is not limited to, a competitive Salary, Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (including HSA & PPO options), Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays, Life Insurance, and a matching 401(k) Retirement Plan.

Please Note: With the exception of mandated state requirements, GEM does not publish salary information on external job boards; as such, most ranges listed are estimates made by vendors and not actual salary ranges.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

GEM Technologies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.