Central Heating Plant Operator

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Bread Loaf (VT); On-site; USD 39,950 - 46,838; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

MiddleCard Privileges

Discounts on season passes

Partner Inclusion Program

Educational assistance programs

Job summary

Middlebury College in Vermont is seeking a Central Heating Plant Operator to operate and maintain campus heating systems, manage steam production, and support 24/7 operations consistent with the college's environmental goals. The role requires hands-on boiler and turbine experience and a commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

This full-time, benefits-eligible position involves coordinating fuel deliveries, performing routine maintenance, and collaborating with Facilities Services staff

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Basic math and computer skills.
• Driver's license required.
• Minimum 2 years' experience in power plant, turbine generator, or equivalent industrial process operations.
• Power plant operating certification/license (e.g., NUILPE) or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Flexible with work schedule; plant operates 24/7/365. Must work days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and occasional overtime.
• Operate boiler plant (biomass gasification plant, natural gas, and fuel oil boilers) to produce 125 psi and 250 psi steam to serve all campus systems. Collect plant process data and maintain logs throughout shift.
• Receive and coordinate fuel deliveries for all fuels utilized by plant.
• Receive water‑treatment chemicals at heating plant.
• Successfully pass the Central Heating Plant Operating Training, which includes sign‑off of the training manual.
• Maintain Central Heating Plant equipment for continuous operation. Perform basic maintenance and routine housekeeping.
• Operate steam‑driven turbines and auxiliary equipment for 480‑volt 3‑phase power generation.
• Ensure plant operation complies with all Air Quality Permit requirements.
• Coordinate work with contractors and ensure compliance with safety standards for ongoing contracted work in the heating plant.
• May cross‑train in other mechanical/electrical trade shops and support other Facilities Services department needs.

Skills

Basic math

Computer skills

Driver's license

Job description

Central Heating Plant Operator

Operates and maintains Central Heating Plant systems and equipment. Maintains steam flow to accommodate needs of the College. Operates CHP in manner to achieve the College's environmental goals.

This is a full‑time, benefits‑eligible, hourly position with a hiring range of $28.98 – $34.05 per hour.

Core Responsibilities

• Flexible with work schedule; plant operates 24/7/365. Must work days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and occasional overtime.
• Operate boiler plant (biomass gasification plant, natural gas, and fuel oil boilers) to produce 125 psi and 250 psi steam to serve all campus systems. Collect plant process data and maintain written and computer logs throughout shift. Receive and coordinate fuel deliveries for all fuels utilized by plant. Receive water‑treatment chemicals at heating plant.
• Successfully pass the Central Heating Plant Operating Training, which includes sign‑off of the training manual.
• Maintain Central Heating Plant equipment for continuous operation. Perform basic maintenance and routine housekeeping (dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, garbage removal, painting). Perform standard tests on boiler feed water and steam condensate, and chemically treat as needed.
• Operate steam‑driven turbines and auxiliary equipment for 480‑volt 3‑phase power generation.
• Ensure plant operation complies with all Air Quality Permit requirements.
• Coordinate work with contractors and ensure compliance with safety standards for ongoing contracted work in the heating plant.
• May cross‑train in other mechanical/electrical trade shops and support other Facilities Services department needs. Perform other duties as assigned to assist the department in obtaining and maintaining its mission.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required. Basic math and computer skills required. Driver's license required. Minimum 2 years' experience required in power plant, turbine generator, or equivalent industrial process operations.
• Power plant operating certification/license (e.g., NUILPE) or equivalent power plant or process experience preferred.
• Preferred knowledge of maintenance and troubleshooting skills for heating plant electrical, steam, condensate, heating oil, natural gas, feed water, propane, compressed air equipment and systems.
• Possess basic knowledge of proper cleaning, Factory Mutual annual inspection, maintenance and inspection of boiler steam drums and fireside area. Possess working knowledge of boiler combustion control and burner management systems. Possess basic turbine/generator operation and maintenance.
• Familiar with basic OSHA regulations including lockout‑tagout, fall protection, confined space, handling hazardous materials and waste, fire safety.
• Knowledge of steam and electrical distribution systems preferred.
• Forklift experience preferred.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Work is performed in a heating plant. Conditions can be loud/dusty on occasion. Requires the ability to operate equipment.

Benefits

As an employee of Middlebury College in Vermont, you will enjoy being part of a vibrant supportive community. Middlebury offers its employees excellent compensation and competitive health, dental, life, disability, generous retirement matching, and vision benefits, and a generous time‑away program—up to 34 days per year, increasing as the term of service lengthens. Employees are eligible for robust educational assistance programs. The result is a very high quality of life in a gorgeous setting. Middlebury College offers its employees excellent compensation and other perks of employment including:

• MiddleCard Privileges: access to athletic facilities, discounts at the college store, library privileges, and cultural and sporting events. Spouses or domestic partners are eligible to receive a card with the same privileges.
• Discounts on season passes at Middlebury College's Snow Bowl, the Ralph Myhre Golf Course, and the Rikert Outdoor Center.
• Access to our Partner Inclusion Program that provides comprehensive support services to the spouses and partners of Middlebury employees.
• A full listing of our benefit offerings can be found on our website or click to see some of the other fun perks of working at Middlebury, whether in Middlebury, VT or Monterey, CA.

Equal‑Opportunity Employer

Middlebury College is an equal‑to‑opportunity employer where diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values. To this end, the College recruits talented and diverse faculty, staff, and students from across the United States and around the world. Middlebury College encourages applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of other protected classes and historically underrepresented communities. The College also invites applications from individuals who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.