Field Service Technician, Lead

- Provide expert field service and technical support for Sterling’s chemical treatment programs in oil sands tailings operations, with a strong focus on polymer-based flocculants, coagulants, and associated dosing systems.

- Support commissioning, optimization, and troubleshooting of Sterling’s treatment programs to ensure consistent performance, improved dewatering, enhanced fines capture, and reliable water recovery for customer sites.

- Conduct proactive and reactive service visits, performing diagnostics on dosing systems and chemical treatment programmes.

- Ensure Sterling’s product application meets design expectations by verifying dosing accuracy, chemical make-down efficiency, mixing performance, and system reliability under tailings operating conditions.

- Maintain detailed field documentation, including service records, operational observations, equipment performance data, process deviations, chemical consumption patterns, and site-specific challenges.

- Prepare thorough post-service reports for internal and customer stakeholders to support Sterling’s value delivery and continuous improvement objectives.

- Provide onsite training to customer operations teams, covering safe handling of flocculants and coagulants, polymer make-down best practices, storage and preparation requirements, equipment operation, troubleshooting techniques, and proper maintenance of Sterling-supported systems.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

- High school diploma required; Technical Diploma or Certificate in Chemical Technology, Industrial Technology, Instrumentation, Mechanical Technology, or a related field preferred.

- Valid Alberta Class 5 driver’s licence with a clean driving record.

- Ability to obtain/maintain: CSTS-2020, WHMIS 2015, H2S Alive, First Aid/CPR, TDG and Safe Work Permit

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Technical Knowledge & Industry Expertise

- Strong knowledge of flocculants, coagulants and specialty chemical programs used in tailings treatment.

- Understanding of polymer activation, hydration behavior, dilution requirements, and performance impacts on MFT/FFT treatment, thickener feed, cyclone overflow, and secondary dewatering processes.

- Ability to troubleshoot chemical treatment systems including polymer make-down units, dosing skids, aging tanks, dilution water systems, inline mixers, and related equipment.

- Familiarity with oil sands tailings processes, including fines agglomeration, settling, dewatering, water recovery, and tailings deposition strategies.

- Knowledge of SDS documentation, WHMIS standards, chemical-handling requirements, Job Hazard Analysis, and Alberta OHS legislation.

Skills & Competencies

- Strong analytical and diagnostic ability to identify chemical-treatment issues such as under- or over-dosing, polymer degradation, activation failures, or mixing inefficiencies.

- Competent in reading and interpreting P&IDs, chemical dosing schematics, polymer system drawings, and instrumentation diagrams.

- Clear communication skills for interacting with customer operators, process engineers, and Sterling technical specialists.

- High-quality report writing skills to document service activity, dosing adjustments, chemical-performance observations, and improvement recommendations.

- Ability to provide customer-focused technical training, reinforcing Sterling’s commitment to safe, effective chemical program execution.

Abilities & Attributes

- Comfortable working in tailings environments, chemical systems areas, slurry-processing operations, and high-hazard field locations under strict PPE and environmental controls.

- Physically capable of lifting 50 lbs, climbing equipment, working at heights, and performing field service tasks in varying conditions.

- Willingness to travel to multiple oil sands customer sites across northern Alberta.

- Strong safety-first mindset aligned with Sterling’s and customer safety expectations, including full adherence to LOTO, chemical handling procedures, and site-specific protocols.

- Availability for extended hours, overtime, turnaround support, and emergency service calls to meet customer operational needs.