Maintenance Mechanic – OWEF

Association of Minnesota Counties; Copeland (KS); On-site; USD 57,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance

Job summary

Olmsted County is seeking a Maintenance Mechanic for the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility (OWEF) in MN. The role focuses on installation, upkeep, repair and inspection of mechanical equipment and electrical systems in a refuse-fired cogeneration plant. Work hours are 8 a.m.

to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with union support from Local 49 - OWEF. Regular full-time employment in a Rochester, MN based position, not remote eligible.

Qualifications

• Experience equivalent to three years of industrial maintenance.
• OR Post-secondary certificate in Industrial Mechanics or Electronics or Robotics and one year of industrial maintenance experience.
• Regular and reliable attendance; valid driver’s license and clean driving record for last three years.

Responsibilities

• Performs preventive and corrective maintenance tasks as assigned by the Maintenance Supervisor or OWEF Leadership.
• Performs a wide range of maintenance mechanic tasks under supervision of the Maintenance Supervisor.
• Assists in maintaining spare parts and materials inventory.
• Operates forklifts and other rolling stock as needed.
• Performs routine welding and related maintenance tasks.

Skills

Safety awareness

Plan reading

Forklift operation

Troubleshooting

Preventive maintenance

Use of hand tools

Education

Post-secondary certificate in Industrial Mechanics or Electronics or Robotics

Three years experience in industrial maintenance

Job description

• Benefits

Life Insurance

Maintenance Mechanic - OWEF
Salary
$27.14 - $45.35 Hourly
Location
Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility (OWEF), MN
Job Type
Regular Full-Time
Department
Environmental Resources
Opening Date
08/04/2026
Closing Date
8/17/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Hours of Work
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Union
Local 49 - OWEF

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions
  

Recognized as one of the best places to work in Southeast Minnesota for three consecutive years, at Olmsted County every role helps to foster a vibrant community where everyone thrives. Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, driving public service excellence and community well-being.
We don’t just offer a job, we offer a career filled with purpose, growth, and fulfillment. Our benefits package ensures your wellbeing, while career advancement opportunities and professional development empower you to reach your full potential.
Join us, and you'll be part of a purpose-driven team where your work truly makes a difference. Together, we build a sustainable, healthy, and welcoming community.
Minimum Qualifications Of Education And Experience
Experience equivalent to three (3) years of industrial maintenance.
OR
Post‑secondary certificate in Industrial Mechanics or Electronics or Robotics and one (1) year of industrial maintenance experience.
Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position. Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid driver’s license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.
Desirable Qualifications

• Registered with the State of Minnesota as an unlicensed electrician or a maintenance electrician license.
  

Nature of Work
Under the supervision of the Maintenance Supervisor, responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair, and inspection of mechanical equipment and electrical systems in a refuse fired cogeneration plant. Mentors Olmsted County Maintenance Mechanics. Supports a diverse, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
Examples of Work

• Performs preventive and corrective maintenance tasks as assigned by the Maintenance Supervisor or OWEF Leadership.
• Performs a wide range of maintenance mechanic assignments under the supervision of the Maintenance Supervisor.
• Assists in maintaining spare parts/materials inventory.
• Performs routine housekeeping in assigned areas.
• Operates loaders and forklifts and other rolling‑stock as needed.
• Performs routine welding tasks.
• Operates scale house as needed.
• Assists in parts/materials procurement.
• Operates ash/trash haul truck.
• Takes responsibility for the safe use of all tools.
• Responds to after hour needs on assigned weeks.
• Assists in training lower grade maintenance mechanics.
• Performs related duties as required.
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Knowledge of the precautions necessary to work safely with and around mechanical and electrical equipment
• Knowledge of the standards, materials and methods of the mechanical, machining, welding and electrical trades
• Knowledge of the functioning of a typical preventive maintenance system
• Skill in operating forklifts and other industrial rolling‑stock
• Skill in the use of computers and technology
• Ability to read and understand plans, sketches, diagrams and blueprint
• Ability to use both simple hand tools and complex machine tools
• Ability to understand and comply with written and oral procedures and instructions
• Ability to recognize, diagnose and repair faulty operation of various power plant systems
  

Persons with disabilities: the above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.
Physical Demands and Work Environment: In compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the Physical and Environmental Demands:
Function
24% or Less
25% - 49%
50%-74%
75% or more
Office environment
X
Outdoors environment
X
Lab/shop environment
X
In vehicle/operating equipment
X
Energy Plant environment
X
Exposure to needle sticks/sharps exposure
X
Exposure to human blood/pathogens/body fluids
X
Exposure to hazardous materials/chemicals/toxic or caustic chemicals
X
Confined/restricted working environment
X
Exposure to atmospheric conditions, weather
X
Exposure to extreme heat, wet and/or humid
X
Exposure to extreme cold
X
Exposure to noise
X
Exposure to vibration, electrical current
X
Sitting, climbing, crouching, kneeling, stooping, balancing, crawling, feeling
X
Standing, walking, reaching, pulling, handling
X
Pushing up to 50 pounds
X
Lifting up to 50 pounds
X
Repetitive hand movements
X
Typing/data entry, repetitive foot movements
X
Talking, hearing
X
Operate vehicle, heavy equipment
X
Close vision, depth perception, Field of vision
X
Color vision
X
Distance vision
X
Accommodation
X
Sedentary (exert up to 10 pounds of force)
X
Light effort (exert up to 20 pounds of force)
X
Medium effort (exert up to 50 pounds of force)
X
Heavy effort (exert up to 100 pounds of force)
X
Very heavy effort (exert over 100 pounds of force)
X
Proximity to moving, mechanical parts
X
Working in high, exposed places
X
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Additional Considerations

• This is a Rochester, MN based position and is not remote eligible at this time.
• International relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.
• Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States.
• Olmsted County does not sponsor applicants for this position.
  

Provisional employees are eligible for benefits if employment is projected to be 12 months or longer and work at least 40 hours per pay period.
This document is a brief Summary of Benefits for Olmsted County Employees on the Paid Time Off Program.
Paid Time Off
Employees over .5 FTE accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) based on their length of service as follows:
First year to 5 years of service - accrue up to 23 days
6 to 10 years of service - accrue up to 25 days
11 to 15 years of service - accrue up to 27.5 days
16 to 20 years of service - accrue up to 30 days
21 to 26 years of service - accrue up to 32.5 days
Over 26 years of service - accrue up to 35 days
Employees begin accruing PTO on their first day of work and can use it as soon as accrued with supervisor approval.
Flexible Time Leave
All regular, full-time employees and part-time employees who are scheduled to work at least twenty (20) hours or more per week on an ongoing basis shall receive up to 28 hours (prorated by FTE) of paid FTL at their regular base pay each calendar year.
Commencement of Employment # of FTL Hours
Between January 1 and June 30 28 Hours
Between July 1 and August 31 16 Hours
Between September 1 and November 30 8 Hours
Between December 1 and December 31 0 Hours
Paid Holidays
Olmsted County Recognizes The Following Legal Holidays
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (4 hours when December 24th falls on a Monday – Thursday only), Christmas Day
Employee Health And Insurance Benefits
Health, Dental, Vision, Basic Life, Health Care Spending Account and Dependent Care Spending Account benefits become effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
Health Insurance
The self‑insured Olmsted County Employees’ Health Plan is administered by Medica. Under the plan, eligible employees and their dependents have access to all providers in the Medica Health Plan Solutions network,
including Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center.
The plan offers a comprehensive preventive care program to help protect the health of employees and their dependents, 80% co‑insurance on most services (after deductible) and access to Nice Healthcare, which offers no-cost virtual and in‑home appointments, labs, x‑rays, and more.
There is a base in‑network deductible of $1,500/person, $4,500/family with the opportunity to earn a reward to lower the deductible to $500/person, $1,500/family. The in‑network out‑of‑pocket maximum is $3,000/person, $6,000/family for those who earn the reward.
Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
The Monthly Rates For Healthcare Coverage Are As Follows
Health Insurance Rates
Single health coverage monthly cost to the employee is $110.00 per month or $55.00 per pay period. Employee Plus Children monthly cost to the employee is $500 per month or $250 per pay period. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $546.00 per month or $273.00 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $690.00 per month or $345 per pay period.
Nice Healthcare
Nice Healthcare is an additional healthcare option for employees on our health plan. The plan includes virtual and in‑home care, primary care, convenient medication delivery, lab work and diagnostics, and comprehensive family care. There is no premium to the employee. Coverage is available for employees enrolled in the health plan and their eligible dependents (even if not enrolled in the health plan).
Prescription Drug Plan
The Olmsted County Employees’ Health Plan prescription drug benefit is part of the health plan and is administered by Alluma. Covered prescriptions are based on the Alluma Advantage Formulary. The plan contracts
with Express Scripts to provide a national network. This allows members to receive prescriptions conveniently at home, or across the country, for the same co‑insurance amount. Prescription co‑insurance is 25% or 40%
depending on whether the prescription is formulary or non‑formulary, with the opportunity to lower co‑insurance through mail order. Prescriptions are subject to minimum and maximum charges. Both retail and mail order
prescriptions apply toward an annual $2,400/person or $4,800/family out of pocket limit.
Dental Insurance
The Olmsted County Dental Plan is self‑insured and administered by Delta Dental. Coverage includes Diagnostic & Preventive Services – 100%; Basic Services - 80%; Major Restorative Services - 50%; and Orthodontics - 50%. Lifetime maximum for Orthodontics is $1,500 per eligible dependent child. Diagnostic and Preventive Services do not apply to the yearly individual maximum benefit of $1,500. There is a $50 deductible per family member per year, with a maximum of $150 per family. The deductible does not apply for Diagnostic and Preventive Services.
Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
Single dental coverage monthly cost to the employee is $14.00 per month. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $25.00 per month or $12.50 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $56.00 per month or $28.00 per pay period.
Life Insurance
Benefits