Waste Operations Technician

Requisition Id 12873 

Overview:  

We are seeking a Waste Operations Technician who will focus on facilitating the physical management and disposal of hazardous, radioactive, and mixed wastes from laboratory operations.  This position resides in the Waste Handling and Facilities Operations Group in the Transportation and Waste Management Division; Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

As part of our team, you will be a member of the TWMD Waste Handling, Facilities, and Operations Team whose mission is to support the Laboratory by facilitating the physical management of hazardous, radioactive, and mixed wastes. Activities of this team include waste packaging, pick-up, transport, segregation, temporary storage, and inspection of waste and waste accumulations/storage areas. The Waste Handling Team also serves as members of the ORNL Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Spill Response Team, serving as Hazmat Technicians during spills and other site emergencies.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Prepare and/or package hazardous, radioactive, and mixed (both hazardous and radioactive) wastes for on-site or off-site shipment in accordance with applicable regulations and established procedures.
• Working with other ORNL personnel, support the physical pick-up and movement of waste from waste generating locations across the Laboratory to defined waste accumulation and storage areas in accordance with regulatory requirements and procedures.
• Perform required field activities to prepare waste shipments for transport to off-site waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities in accordance with program needs and schedules.
• Perform required inspections of waste containers and waste accumulation/storage areas to assure compliance with regulatory and procedural requirements. 
• Perform excess material/waste sampling in accordance with sample plan needs and applicable operating procedures.
• Assist in operation of TWMD facilities, including performing inventory and inspection of empty and full waste containers, inventory and inspection of equipment and materials (including emergency response equipment).
• Serve as a Hazmat Technician (as defined in 29CFR 1910.120) on the ORNL Spill Response Team.  Responsible for containing, stopping, and cleaning up hazardous material spills under the direction of a scene Incident Commander. This involves responding to spills by going into chemically and/or radiologically hazardous environments using specialized protective equipment.
• As requested, serve as the Hazmat Leader/Hazmat Incident Commander of the ORNL Spill Response Team, responsible for managing and supervising activities of the team in coordination with the applicable Emergency Director or emergency Incident Commander.
• Available for calls during off-hours and weekends (24/7/365) in order to respond to emergencies.
• All major job duties described above require completion of appropriate training and documentation in accordance with regulatory and procedural requirements (including use of electronic documentation tools such as bar code readers and electronic data recorders).

Basic Qualifications:

• An A.S degree in a physical science-related technical field plus a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in waste operations/waste management is desired (or an equivalent combination of relevant education, experience, and specialized training).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in packaging, transporting, and handling of hazardous/radioactive materials/waste is preferred.
• Basic mechanical and coordination skills and be familiar with common equipment and instrumentation used in waste management operations.
• ORNL experience, including operational experience related to typical ORNL waste streams and associated waste management challenges is desired.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Physical Requirements:

Work involves various physical requirements and working conditions. As such, a pre-hire physical will be required after offer.

HSPD-12 PIV badge: 

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.

Q clearance: 

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

Benefits at ORNL:  

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: [email protected] or call 1.866.963.9545.

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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email [email protected].

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.