POSITION SUMMARY: The Director Thermal Operations Support oversees the implementation, standardization, and optimization of thermal treatment facilities for hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The incumbent provides strategic and technical direction for Republic Services’ thermal operations, including thermal desorption, incineration, and related technologies. Responsibilities include managing safe, compliant, cost-effective operations, supporting waste-to-energy and PFAS destruction initiatives, and coordinating across functions with finance, EHS, operations, engineering, and HR.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Deliver strategic insights and actionable recommendations to advance thermal business growth, optimize operational performance and capitalize on emerging market opportunities.
Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise for thermal treatment facilities and mobile units, focusing on system design, process optimization, troubleshooting, and long-term strategic development.
Lead the evaluation, deployment, and commissioning of advanced thermal technologies, collaborating with engineering, construction, and environmental teams to implement facility and equipment upgrades.
Develop and manage vendor partnerships and procurement, implement cost-control strategies to enhance profitability and operational efficiency.
Support field operations through engineering analyses, equipment performance evaluations, and efficiency improvements, while monitoring KPIs and facility metrics to maximize output and asset utilization.
Act as the primary regulatory liaison, ensuring full compliance with EPA, state, and local requirements, and proactively maintaining permits and reporting obligations.
Design and deliver technical training programs, lead research and pilot projects for emerging contaminants and waste-to-energy applications, and communicate department performance and compliance to senior leadership.
Provide decisive leadership during operational issues, emergencies, and hazardous material incidents, coordinating effectively with internal and external teams to ensure safety and continuity.
Coaches and develops a team of professionals to assist in their development and attainment of necessary skills to lift performance. Monitors staff performance and drives performance improvement initiatives and ensures that service levels meet or exceed agreed upon standards.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned or apparent.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Ability to travel by air, car and/or other modes of transportation up to 50% of the time, sometimes on short notice.
Proficient in using Microsoft Office suite of products (especially Excel).
Demonstrate ability and willingness to adjust and adapt to changing conditions.
Demonstrated expertise in combustion systems, heat transfer, thermodynamics, process controls, and emissions management.
Strong knowledge of EPA and state regulatory frameworks governing thermal waste treatment.
Proven leadership experience with the ability to mentor technical teams and interface with operations leadership.
Experience managing large-scale capital projects and vendor contracts.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to lead root cause analysis and technical troubleshooting.
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical or Environmental Engineering or related field - preferred.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
10+ years of progressive experience in environmental services or hazardous waste management, with a strong focus on thermal treatment, waste-to-energy, hazardous waste incineration, or related process industries.
10+ years of experience in a leadership or management role, overseeing multi-facility or large-scale operations.
Rewarding Compensation and Benefits
Eligible employees can elect to participate in:
• Comprehensive medical benefits coverage, dental plans and vision coverage.
• Health care and dependent care spending accounts.
• Short- and long-term disability.
• Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employee discount programs.
• Retirement plan with a generous company match.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Benefits: https://jobs.republicservices.com/us/en/about-us/benefits
The statements used herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by an employee in this position, and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required by an incumbent so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the Company.
EEO STATEMENT:Republic Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, relationship or association with a protected veteran (spouses or other family members), genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) is a leader in the environmental services industry. We provide customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, waste, special waste, hazardous waste and field services. Our industry-leading commitments to advance circularity and support decarbonization are helping deliver on our vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world.
In 2023, Republic’s total company revenue was $14.9 billion, and adjusted EBITDA was $4.4 billion. We serve 13 million customers and operate more than 1,000 locations, including collection and transfer stations, recycling and polymer centers, treatment facilities, and landfills.
Although we operate across North America, the collection, recycling, treatment, or disposal of materials is a local business, and the dynamics and opportunities differ in each market we serve. By combining local operational management with standardized business practices, we drive greater operating efficiencies across the company while maintaining day-to-day operational decisions at the local level, closest to the customer.
Our customers, including small businesses, major corporations and municipalities, want a partner with the expertise and capabilities to effectively manage their multiple recycling and waste streams. They choose Republic Services because we are committed to exceeding their expectations and helping them achieve their sustainability goals. Our 41,000 team members understand that it's not just what we do that matters, but how we do it.
Our company values guide our daily actions:
Safe: We protect the livelihoods of our colleagues and communities.
Committed to Serve: We go above and beyond to exceed our customers’ expectations.
Environmentally Responsible: We take action to improve our environment.
Driven: We deliver results in the right way.
Human-Centered: We respect the dignity and unique potential of every person.
We are proud of our high employee engagement score of 86. We have an inclusive and diverse culture where every voice counts. In addition, our team positively impacted 4.6 million people in 2023 through the Republic Services Charitable Foundation and local community grants. These projects are designed to meet the specific needs of the communities we serve, with a focus on building sustainable neighborhoods.
STRATEGY
Republic Services’ strategy is designed to generate profitable growth. Through acquisitions and industry advancements, we safely and sustainably manage our customers’ multiple waste streams through a North American footprint of vertically integrated assets.
We focus on three areas of growth to meet the increasing needs of our customers: recycling and waste, environmental solutions and sustainability innovation.
With our integrated approach, strengthening our position in one area advances other areas of our business. For example, as we grow volume in recycling and waste, we collect additional material to bolster our circularity capabilities. And as we expand environmental solutions, we drive additional opportunities to provide these services to our existing recycling and waste customers.
Recycling and Waste
We continue to expand our recycling and waste business footprint throughout North America through organic growth and targeted acquisitions. The 13 million customers we serve and our more than 5 million pick-ups per day provide us with a distinct advantage. We aggregate materials at scale, unlocking new opportunities for advanced recycling. In addition, we are cross-selling new products and services to better meet our customers’ specific needs.
Environmental Solutions
Our comprehensive environmental solutions capabilities help customers safely manage their most technical waste streams. We are expanding both our capabilities and our geographic footprint. We see strong growth opportunities for our offerings, including PFAS remediation, an increasing customer need.
SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATION
Republic’s recent innovations to advance circularity and decarbonization demonstrate our unique ability to leverage sustainability as a platform for growth.
The Republic Services Polymer Center is the nation’s first integrated plastics recycling facility. This innovative site processes rigid plastics from our recycling centers, producing recycled materials that promote true bottle-to-bottle circularity. We also formed Blue Polymers, a joint venture with Ravago, to develop facilities that will further process plastic material from our Polymer Centers to help meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging. We are building a network of Polymer Centers and Blue Polymer facilities across North America.
We continue to advance decarbonization at our landfills. As demand for renewable energy continues to grow, we have 70 landfill gas-to-energy projects in operation and plan to expand our portfolio to 115 projects by 2028.
RECENT RECOGNITION
Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies
CDP Discloser
Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies
Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies
Great Place to Work
Sustainability Yearbook S&P Global