Operations Specialist

JOB TITLE: Operations Specialist 

REPORTS TO: Plant Manager

STATUS: Full time, non-exempt 

LOCATION: Beaumont, TX (on-site)

SALARY RANGE: $33-35/hour depending on experience and interview outcome

BENEFITS: Medical, dental, and vision insurance, optional FSA/HSA, 401k with 6% employer match, life and AD&D insurance, Employee Assistance Program, short & long term disability, tuition reimbursement, 21.67 days of paid time off + 10 holidays 

About Tidal Vision:

We believe that sustainability should not require customers to compromise on price, convenience, or performance. Our mission is to create positive and systemic environmental impact by making our biopolymer solutions cost competitive, more convenient, and better performing than the synthetic chemicals we displace. We value innovation and take pride in challenging the status-quo; we choose to view obstacles as opportunities. We value new ideas and encourage the team to apply creativity and invent new solutions to meet challenging demands. We foster open, direct communication, and a collaborative working environment through our unique approach to work culture. We value our employees and demonstrate that through our compensation and benefits programs and opportunities for growth and development.

About Tidal Vision’s Unique Work Culture:

Tidal Vision strives to build and invest in the highest performing and most innovative team. We put our people and customers above process, avoid company-wide rules as much as possible, and have the courage to take unusual approaches to advance our mission. With this approach, we believe we can create a more flexible, fun, stimulating, creative, collaborative, and innovative organization.

Our commitment to developing, practicing and promoting direct and open communication, responsibility and freedom, and leading with and seeking context is a responsibility for every role at Tidal Vision.

Position Summary:

The Operations Specialist is a multi-functional production operator responsible for safely operating and maintaining multiple production lines across the facility, including fertilizer processing, liquid chemical production, and chitofining/flakeline operations. The individual will support production execution, QA/QC testing, inventory control, and continuous improvement initiatives, while working across multiple process areas to ensure efficient and reliable plant operations. 

This role integrates material handling, chemical processing, biological feedstock processing (fish waste), and mechanical system operation. The Operations Specialist is expected to operate entire production systems from raw material intake through finished product, while maintaining strict adherence to safety, quality, and environmental standards. The position requires strong mechanical aptitude, the ability to operate automated and manual systems (including HMI-controlled processes), and the capability to troubleshoot and maintain equipment such as pumps, motors, boilers, dryers, evaporators, and associated systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operate full production lines (fertilizer, liquid, chitofining) from start-up to shutdown
• Monitor and control processes via HMI and manual systems
• Process fish-based materials and chemical ingredients
• Operate boilers, dryers, evaporators, pumps, motors, and valves
• Perform inspections, maintenance, and troubleshooting
• Read and interpret P&IDs
• Load/unload trucks and manage materials via forklift
• Maintain warehouse organization and inventory
• Conduct QA/QC testing and document results
• Record process data (weights, temperatures, batch data)
• Follow all safety procedures and wear PPE
• Work with hazardous chemicals and biological materials
• Maintain cleanliness and pressure wash equipment as needed
• Support continuous improvement and waste reduction

Basic Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 1–3+ years industrial or production experience
• Mechanical aptitude
• Ability to work with chemicals and biological materials
• Computer literacy
• Ability to operate or learn HMI systems
• Forklift capability or ability to obtain certification
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with multi-stage production systems
• Knowledge of boilers, dryers, evaporators, cooling systems
• P&ID familiarity
• QA/QC or lab experience
• Lean / Continuous Improvement experience
• HAZWOPER 40 or OSHA 10
• Technical or vocational education

Licensing & Special Requirements:

• Subject to a criminal background check and drug screening upon hiring.
  
  

Working Conditions:

Primarily on-site at our Beaumont production facility. The work will primarily be performed within a warehouse environment, and you must adhere to all company safety standards, including wearing required PPE. You should be able to: work in temperature-variable, humid, and odorous environments; lift and carry up to 65 pounds; and perform physical tasks including pushing, pulling, and standing for extended periods. 

Tidal Vision provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.