Job Opening: Process Technologist Trainee

Is this what you're going to do?

Imagine this: you start your workday at the wastewater treatment plant in Leek. Together with an experienced process engineer, you walk through the facilities and discuss the results from the past few days. Why does a process run differently at one location than at another? What adjustments could improve water quality? You dive into the data, conduct a test in the lab, and discuss your findings with operators and colleagues. By the end of the morning, you present an initial analysis. Your ideas are taken seriously and form the basis for the next step in the research.

In the months that follow, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the wastewater management chain. You’ll work on your own trainee assignment, attend training sessions, and discover how technology, sustainability, and collaboration come together in practice. You’ll have the freedom to ask questions, try out new ideas, and take on responsibility. With the guidance of experienced colleagues, you’ll gradually develop into a process engineer who not only understands processes but also helps improve them. And as you grow professionally, you’ll contribute every day to providing clean and healthy water for thousands of residents.

About the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority

Noorderzijlvest Water Authority waterproofing the future for waterproofing the future, clean and healthy water, and sufficient water in every season across a large part of Groningen, North and Central Drenthe, and a small part of Friesland. For our more than 400 employees, ensuring a healthy and future-proof living and working environment for the approximately 383,000 residents in our region is our top priority. This requires dedicated professionals who excel in their respective fields and are driven by passion.

Where will you be working?

You’ll be working as part of the Wastewater Chain Management team, which is part of the Wastewater Chain and Digitalization process. The team consists of about thirty colleagues with various areas of expertise. Together, they manage the wastewater treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, pressure pipelines, and sludge processing. You’ll work closely with process engineers, operators, and other specialists. It’s precisely this collaboration that makes the work so varied. Operators know the facilities better than anyone else. You’ll investigate how processes can be organized to be better, more sustainable, and more efficient.

What are you going to do?

During your internship, you’ll combine hands-on experience, research, and personal development. You’ll learn how the wastewater management chain works and apply that knowledge directly in practice. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions, develop ideas, and take on responsibility.

Your responsibilities will include, among other things:

• analyse improvement of wastewater treatment and sludge treatment processes;
• Discussing process results and opportunities for improvement with operators and team leaders;
• Supporting operators in optimise daily operations;
• Conducting laboratory tests, microscopy, and practical experiments;
• Preparing mass and energy balances;
• Monitoring and evaluating new developments in process technology;
• Designing and supervising small-scale studies and experiments.

During the traineeship, you will also work on your own development project:

As a process technology trainee, you will develop an optimization plan for a wastewater treatment plant. You analyses , examine the plant in practice, and delve into the underlying theory. Based on your findings, you will develop improvement proposals that contribute to more efficient, sustainable, and robust operations.

Together with experienced colleagues, you will oversee the implementation of the selected measures. You will monitor the results, assess their impact on the treatment process, and translate your findings into concrete recommendations. In this way, you will combine in-depth technical knowledge with practical experience and make a tangible contribution to the performance of the treatment plant.

Why You Don't Want to Miss Out on This Job

At Noorderzijlvest, you’ll have the opportunity to grow. You’ll work on social challenges that visibly contribute to a healthy living environment. At the same time, you’ll invest in your own development, alongside colleagues who are eager to share their knowledge with you. You’ll be given responsibility, trust, and the freedom to come up with new ideas. We challenge you to learn, explore, and make an impact. This way, you’ll lay a solid foundation for your future career. 

You certainly won’t be on your own. You’ll be supported by an experienced process engineer, your manager, and the New Professionals Coordinator. In addition, you’ll participate in a development program alongside other trainees, which includes training sessions, peer review, and inspirational sessions. This way, you’ll not only develop your professional knowledge but also skills such as collaboration, communication, and personal leadership.

Are you excited? Apply now!

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