Lead Operator- Surface Water

City of Pearland, TX; Pearland (TX); On-site; USD 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hiring incentives up to $5,000

Dental insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Life insurance

TMRS retirement with 2:1 match

Paid holidays

Job summary

City of Pearland, TX is seeking a full-time Lead Operator- Surface Water to lead day-to-day operations in the Utilities- Surface Water Department. The role offers a competitive hourly wage and incentives up to $5,000, plus premiums for dental, disability, and life insurance, with substantial TMRS retirement benefits.

Qualifications include a high school diploma or GED, 5 years in surface water treatment, and a TCEQ Class B Surface Water Operator License (Class A preferred).

Qualifications

• High School graduation or GED equivalent.
• Five (5) years of working experience in surface water treatment.
• Certification/licensing: TCEQ Class B Surface Water Operator License is required.
• Preferred: TCEQ Class A Water License.

Responsibilities

• Monitors water quality and conducts laboratory tests across treatment stages (chlorine residual, pH, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, odors).
• Operates pumps, motors, chemical feed systems, air compressors, valves, and hand/power tools.
• Manages chlorination equipment, maintains chemical piping, and calibrates feed equipment.
• Controls SCADA systems without automation and records operational data.
• Performs daily rounds, analyzes plant trends, and adjusts processes to prevent issues.

Job description

Earn up to $5000 in hiring incentives!

The City of Pearland, TX is seeking to hire a full-time Lead Operator- Surface Water to lead and improve aspects of the day-to-day operations of our Utilities- Surface Water Department. Are you service-oriented? Could you excel in a fast-paced environments? If so, you may be perfect for this position!

The Lead Operator earns a competitive hourly salary of $25.76-$27.89/based on experience and qualifications. There is also certification pay for licenses higher than required for the position. Additionally, the city pays all premiums for our employees' dental, long-term disability protection, and life insurance plus the majority portion of the medical premium for employees and their dependents. We also offer a retirement plan through the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) with a 2:1 employer match, life insurance, disability, access to the city's recreation fitness center, employee assistance program, educational assistance, 11 paid holidays and 2 designated paid holidays, paid vacation, sick leave, and an active wellness program focusing on physical, mental, and financial health.

Earn up to $5,000 in hiring incentives when you join the City of Pearland's Utilities team as a licensed TCEQ Water Operator! Incentive amounts are based on your license grade:

Grade C License - $2500
Grade B License - $3500
Grade A License - $5000

ABOUT THE CITY OF PEARLAND

The City of Pearland has received a Top Workplaces of 2023 USA award from Energage, a leading research firm that specializes in employee engagement and workplace culture each year across the United States. The City of Pearland has also been recognized as a Top Workplace in the Houston Metro Area 2023 by The Houston Chronicle.

Pearland is one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas due to affordable housing, outstanding schools, safe neighborhoods, and superb quality of life. Ranked as one of the top ten safest cities in Texas, Pearland residents know their families are safe and secure in the community and surrounding areas. Our close proximity to Houston, just a short 20-minute drive to downtown, allows residents to experience all the city has to offer including professional sports, world-class cultural amenities, and recreation.

Employees of the City of Pearland use multi-directional communication and cross-functional teams to promote a greater understanding of the organization by employees at all levels. We have created a culture of continuous learning that encourages and supports employee development and growth. Our work environment is one where innovation is not only supported but encouraged.

A DAY IN LIFE AS A LEAD OPERATOR- SURFACE WATER

Essential Functions:

• Monitors water quality by performing laboratory tests at various stages in the treatment process including tests for chlorine residual, pH, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, odors and other tests as necessary to maintain water quality.
• Operates mechanical equipment including pumps and motors, chemical feed pumps and systems, air compressors, and valves; operates hand and power tools.
• Operates chlorination equipment; performs maintenance on chlorine system including chemical piping system; calibrates chemical feed equipment. Changes chlorine containers when necessary.
• Demonstrates the ability to extensively control SCADA systems without automation.
• Inventories bulk chemical supply and takes delivery of bulk chemicals.
• Maintains operational logs and records.
• Performs daily rounds and analyzes plant trends to predict and prevent issues.
• Monitors and interprets instrumentation and control systems, evaluates data, and responds to routine alarm conditions to make necessary routine process or equipment adjustments based on written and verbal guidelines.
• Calculates flow changes to maintain adequate storage levels in GSTs and ESTs, as well as system pressure.
• Calculates sludge production and helps manage disposal.
• Provides operation, maintenance, and safety training to junior personnel.
• Monitors integrity test performance, conducts routine backwashing, recovery cleans, and maintenance cleans on membranes. Backwashes and conducts analysis as prescribed on the GACC vessels.
• Remedies maintenance clean issues as they arise.
• Remedies recovery clean issues as they arise, under the direction of the Process Control Supervisor (PCS) or the Plant Manager.
• Works shift schedule that rotates no more frequently than every four (4) months.
• Covers for other operator PTO as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Requires High School graduation or GED equivalent supplemented by specialized courses/training experience in the water industry or related field. Preferences include: college courses or certification(s) in environmental science, microbiology, or chemistry.
• Five (5) years of working experience in surface water treatment. Experience with membrane filters is preferred.

Special Certifications and Licenses:

• TCEQ Class B Surface Water Operator License required
• TCEQ Class A Water License (preferred)