Director Wastewater Treatment Technology

Valero is the best-in-class producer of essential fuels and products that are foundational to modern life. We invite you to join our ~10,000 employees to drive exceptional results for our company, the energy industry and our community.

As a Director Wastewater Treatment Technology, you will provide corporate-wide technical leadership for refinery wastewater systems while also supporting other Valero businesses (renewable diesel, ethanol, pipelines & terminals). The role Identifies and communicates technical solutions that improve compliance, reliability, operability, and overall refinery performance across multiple sites. As the primary technical resource for managing complex wastewater issues the role diagnoses problems, guides response, stabilizes operations, and translates lessons learned into standards.  The role also supports capital project development for wastewater treatment system upgrades from early framing through execution and start‑up to ensure safe and operable outcomes. 

At Valero, we are committed to advancing the future of energy through innovation, ingenuity and unmatched execution. You can help achieve this goal if you can:

• Provide technical leadership for refinery wastewater treatment across multiple sites, ensuring safe, reliable, and compliant performance.
• Lead high level troubleshooting of complex wastewater upsets and permit risk events; direct diagnostics, stabilization plans, and durable corrective actions.
• Translate operating data and field observations into root cause findings; convert lessons learned into updated procedures, operating windows, and standards.
• Support project development for wastewater improvements—framing opportunities, evaluating options, and maturing scope.
• Apply refinery relevant wastewater practices across integrated treatment trains and interfaces with upstream units to protect effluent quality and plant operability.
• Partner with Operations, Environmental, Process Control/Automation, Maintenance, Lab, and Project teams to align technical decisions and execute improvements efficiently.
• Communicate risks, trade offs, and progress with clear, data driven recommendations and decision criteria for stakeholders at all levels.
• Validate strategies under constrained conditions (e.g., hydraulic and contaminant loading, toxicity, nutrient balance, temperature) and recommend safe, value maximizing operating moves.
• Represent the organization with licensors, vendors, and external forums to benchmark refining industry practices and inform internal standards.
• Stay abreast of and, when appropriate, recommend application of new/emerging refinery wastewater treatment technologies in areas that include (but are not limited to) gravity oil/water separation, flotation processes, chemical coagulation/flocculation, biological and chemical treatment, clarification and management of WWTP residuals such as oily sludge, biosolids and air emissions.
• Coach and develop engineers in wastewater fundamentals, troubleshooting methods, and consistent best practice application across sites.
• Develop and deliver internal technical training on refinery wastewater treatment technology fundamentals.

This position is salaried exempt status, which means you are not eligible for overtime pay.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor Degree in a related field, required.
• 15 years of increasingly responsible related professional experience at multiple locations with various technologies, required. 
• 15 years of wastewater treatment experience, required 
• Works on-site full time at corporate headquarters and maintains availability during standard business hours. 
• Travels to refinery locations as needed to support programs, technical reviews, and operational issues, including periodic short-notice travel, up to 25% based on business needs.
• Provides on-site support at refineries outside normal business hours, including evenings and weekends, when required to address urgent operational, reliability, or troubleshooting needs. 
• Able and willing to work on-site, in-person at the Valero San Antonio location, required.

Preferred Requirements: 

• Wastewater treatment experience in a refinery setting, preferred.

Need more reasons to work for a company that is both professionally challenging and culturally rewarding?  Take a look at some of our best-in-class benefits:

• Competitive Pay and Annual Bonus Program
• 100% match on 401(K) up to 7%, with immediate vesting
• Company-sponsored Pension Plan
• Comprehensive Healthcare and Wellness Programs
• Onsite Daycare Center
• Onsite Employee and Family Wellness Centers (Physician & Pediatrician)
• Onsite Pharmacy
• State-of-the-art 24-hour Fitness Center free for employees and spouses with access to Tennis and Basketball Facilities
• Onsite cafeteria open for breakfast and lunch
• Sprawling campus with walking paths and access to biking trails

Benefits described above are highlights only, subject to an employee’s eligibility and work location.

All successful candidates must be eligible to obtain a TWIC card (Transportation Worker Identification Credential). It is Valero’s policy that employees must wear this card at all times while working at the refinery. Please review eligibility criteria at https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic.  

Position level and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Valero's employees and team-focused culture drive our success. We’re invested in our dedicated workforce through a comprehensive, customizable benefits package, while supporting a caring culture that delivers a rewarding work environment built on teamwork, excellence and career growth. To explore the ways we build a stronger team, visit Valero.com/Careers.

Valero is an EEO Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Please be advised, if you are viewing this position on a website that lists an estimated salary rate/range, it was not provided by Valero.  Valero’s market specific salary rate/range will be provided during the recruiting process and tends to be higher than what is estimated by such websites.  

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