Job Description
The Associate Director of Utilities and Waste-Water Treatment is accountable for safe, compliant, reliable, and cost-effective operation of the Elkton Utilities generation/distribution, Waste-Water Treatment Plant operations, and the Stormwater Management System. These facilities are accountable for providing the Elkton campus 24 hours per day, 365 days per year operation’s capability. The Associate Director typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in groups of larger complexity and provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of duty.
Responsibilities include:
Monitor and ensure safety/environmental/quality compliance, system operational reliability, coordination of maintenance, system efficiency/cost performance, and process optimization.
Manage operational budget for two cost centers.
Manage two operational teams which each include first line operations managers and union operations personnel.
Develop and train of the skills and capabilities of the operational managers and operational team. Establish and maintain operator qualification training programs and annual process specific training.
Use technical knowledge and partnership skills to promote departmental goals in assuring the compliant, reliable, and cost-efficient operation of a variety of systems within Utilities, Stormwater, and Waste-Water Treatment operations.
Partner with technical support team in managing, troubleshooting, and improving the Utility operations and the biological and chemical wastewater treatment and solids handling processes as well as site sanitary treatment system.
Partner with technical team to establish operational performance measurements, monitoring and analytical systems/tools to drive accountability and achieve high levels of performance.
Manage and implement operational adjustments and changes, gaining operator buy-in and adherence.
Owns/operates/maintains Utilities and Waste-Water Treatment operations in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Provides 24/7 on call support for Utilities and Waste-Water Treatment operations and provides effective emergency or crisis response.
accountable for active involvement in employee relations and the resolution of labor relations issues which require tact, diplomacy and independent judgment.
Partner with technical team to develop and manage operational procedures concerning normal operations, startup/shutdown, spill, upset condition, and emergency reply, as well as alarm management.
accountable for Talent Development of their direct and extended team.
Provide environment for effective Tier communication with technical support and maintenance organizations as well as shift turnover communication.
Provides operational support to master plan development and updates. Provides capital project support in project design reviews, commissioning, execution, and turnover acceptance for area projects.
Interfaces with internal and external groups, gains consensus and contributes to reliable and effective teamwork.
Participates in audits and training programs in the area of duty.
Position Qualifications:
Education Minimum Requirement:
Bachelor's degree in environmental, civil, mechanical, biology, biological or chemical engineering or related scientific field of study.
Required Experience, Skills and Pre-requisites:
Successful completion of the Enterprise Leadership Skills (ELS) assessment.
Minimum eight (8) years of experience in management of manufacturing, utilities, or wastewater operations, engineering, maintenance, or military experience.
Minimum five (5) years of demonstrated management experience (union/non-union).
Highly developed communication, management, and teamwork skills.
Ability to handle and prioritize many simultaneous assignments and quickly adapt to changes in business priorities.
Ability to quickly address issues and develop solutions to minimize compliance risk and maintain operability.
Demonstrated ability to guide and partner with cross functional teams to achieve a common goal.
Demonstrated ability to build high performance teams and maintain teamwork and morale during periods of significant transition.
Experience with budget management.
Strong diagnostic and problem-solving skills and a hands-on approach to problem solving, with a bias towards going to see problems for oneself in the field.
Knowledge and expertise in the application of federal/state regulations, engineering standards, EPA and OSHA guidelines.
Ability to read mechanical, electrical and P&ID drawings.
Computer knowledge including automation/control systems, maintenance work management systems, Microsoft based solutions and platforms.
Ability to examine an issue from many perspectives (safety, compliance, maintenance, automation, equipment, process, and people) in order to best understand and resolve.
Strong desire to succeed and to help others to do the same.
Preferred Skills and Experience:
M.S. degree in environmental, civil, mechanical, biological, or chemical engineering or related scientific field of study.
Experience in a large industrial waste treatment environment, including activated sludge, biological nutrient removal, and solids handling systems. Knowledge and experience operating process and environmental compliance monitoring and control instrumentation.
Experience with environmental (air, water, waste) permits and compliance reporting.
Knowledge of building and plant site utilities systems (steam, water, compressed air, and electric).
A Virginia Waste-Water II license or the ability to receive license within three years after hire.
A Virginia boiler operator license or the ability to receive license within three years after hire.
Experience with cGMP in a regulated industry.
Required Skills:
Accountability, Accountability, Analytical Thinking, Budget Management, Business Decisions, Capital Projects, Compressed Air, Construction, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Deviation Management, Employee and Labor Relations, Employee Relationship Management, Engineering Principle, Engineering Standards, Environmental Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Waste Treatment, Maintenance Supervision, Manufacturing Quality Control, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Multi Disciplinary Design, People Leadership, Professional Engineering, Safety Standards, Sterile Manufacturing {+ 5 more}Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.
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U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
The salary range for this role is
$142,400.00 - $224,100.00This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.
The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.
San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
RegularRelocation:
DomesticVISA Sponsorship:
NoTravel Requirements:
10%Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not ApplicableShift:
Not IndicatedValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
N/AJob Posting End Date:
03/19/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.