Manage and support the day-to-day technical operations of the reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant to ensure safe, secure, and reliable operations that meet customer and contractual requirements. Serve as the primary technical point of contact bridging communication between the Customer, the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Contractor, and the Owner, ensuring plant performance, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements are clearly understood and consistently met by all parties.

Key responsibilities

Duties

Provide day-to-day technical support to the O&M Contractor on RO desalination process operations, including pretreatment, RO membrane systems, chemical dosing, energy recovery, and post-treatment/remineralization. Monitor plant performance data (production rates, recovery, permeate/product water quality, energy consumption, chemical usage) and identify trends or deviations from design and contractual parameters. Review O&M Contractor reports, maintenance schedules, and performance data for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements. Troubleshoot operational issues and support root cause analysis for equipment failures, process upsets, or water quality excursions. Support permitting, regulatory compliance, and reporting requirements related to facility operations. Assist with contract compliance monitoring, KPI tracking, and verification of O&M performance guarantees. Review and provide technical input on capital improvement projects, equipment upgrades, and process optimization initiatives. Support incident investigation, corrective action planning, and continuous improvement efforts. Maintain accurate technical documentation, including O&M manuals, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and as-built records.

Coordination, stakeholder & communication management

Serve as the primary technical liaison bridging communication between the Customer, the O&M Contractor, and the Owner regarding plant operations, performance, and maintenance activities. Facilitate and participate in regular technical meetings and site visits with Owner, Customer, and O&M Contractor representatives. Liaise with the O&M Contractor to plan maintenance activities, process changes, and performance reviews. Coordinate with engineering, environmental, and regulatory personnel as needed on facility-related matters. Report plant performance, technical issues, equipment failures, and improvement recommendations to the Owner and Customer. Report critical operational issues, non-conformances, and contractual risks to minimize disruption and maintain operational continuity.

Policies, processes & procedures

Follow all relevant policies, processes, and standard operating procedures so that work is carried out in a controlled and consistent manner. This includes, but is not limited to, maintaining confidentiality and privacy of company data, as well as adhering to security and safety standards, and following professional ethics and behavioral standards. Ensure compliance with company engineering standards, contractual requirements, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Report significant operational, contractual, or compliance issues to [Reports To / Management]. Perform other duties as assigned.

Desired Candidate Profile

Job qualifications and experience requirements

Bachelor s Degree in Engineering required; Chemical Engineering strongly preferred. Other related engineering disciplines (Civil, Environmental, or Mechanical) will be considered with directly relevant desalination experience. Minimum 5 years of hands-on operating experience at a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination facility required. Demonstrated understanding of RO desalination process fundamentals, including pretreatment, RO membrane systems, chemical dosing, energy recovery, brine management, and post-treatment/remineralization. Hands-on experience with membrane cleaning-in-place (CIP) procedures, including cleaning chemistry selection, troubleshooting fouling/scaling, and evaluating post-CIP membrane performance. Experience working with or alongside O&M contractors, owners, and/or customers in a liaison, technical oversight, or owner s engineer capacity preferred. Familiarity with SCADA/DCS systems and plant performance monitoring and reporting tools. Strong technical and process troubleshooting skills specific to RO desalination operations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical information clearly for diverse stakeholder audiences. Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple stakeholder groups (Customer, O&M Contractor, and Owner). Ability to work independently, exercise sound engineering judgment, and manage competing priorities. Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); familiarity with plant historian or SCADA software is a plus. Working knowledge of relevant regulatory and permitting frameworks applicable to water/desalination facilities.