Operator - Metro Treatment Plant

City and County of Butte-Silver Bow, MT; Butte (MT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

City and County of Butte-Silver Bow is seeking a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator to monitor and operate the plant, adjust processes, and ensure safe, compliant operations. You will calibrate equipment, collect samples, perform analyses, and perform routine maintenance on pumps and valves.

Candidates should have a high school diploma with wastewater training and be able to work rotating shifts including days, afternoons, nights, weekends, and holidays. CDL/1C certification are required.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of mechanical equipment maintenance for plant operations.
• Ability to respond quickly to emergencies and make decisions per procedures.
• Ability to prepare and maintain detailed records and reports.
• Strong written and oral communication for coordination with team members.

Responsibilities

• Monitor wastewater treatment plant operations using gauges and telemetry.
• Adjust plant processes to meet established parameters.
• Calibrate and maintain control equipment and sensors.
• Perform routine and emergency maintenance on pumps, valves, and related equipment.
• Collect samples and perform laboratory analyses as required.
• Maintain inventory records and order supplies as needed.

Skills

Technical knowledge

Emergency response

Record keeping

Communication

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma

Wastewater treatment training

Job description

General Statement of Duties

Operates a Wastewater Treatment Plant; performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

This is highly responsible technical work involving monitoring, operation, and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities for the City-County. The work is performed under the general direction and supervision of the Treatment Plant Superintendent, but some leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative. The nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain close cooperative working relationships with other division employees.

The applicant must be available to work rotating shifts including days, afternoons, nights, weekends, holidays and on-call, as needed.

This position is covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow and the Local Union No. 400, of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only)

• Monitors wastewater treatment plant operations using telemetry, electronic and physical gauges and measures, and personal observation of operating parameters;
• Adjusts plant processes in accord with established process parameters and procedures;
• Calibrates chemical mixing control equipment to meet process requirements;
• Changes and maintains filters and other process equipment as required;
• Collects water samples for laboratory testing and analysis;
• Records sample collection and operations monitoring data according to established procedures;
• Performs routine maintenance and emergency repair on plant operating equipment including pumps, compressors, valves, and designated electronic equipment;
• Fabricates equipment as needed for plant operations;
• Performs routine maintenance and adjustment on laboratory testing equipment;
• Maintains inventory information for plant and laboratory supplies, placing orders as necessary;
• Cleans plant work areas as required;
• Performs regular and routine laboratory analysis as needed for monitoring and adjusting plant processes;
• Prepares reports and records on plant processes;
• Follows procedures and standards for the work of the division;
• Follows prescribed safety precautions;
• Attends meetings, conferences and workshops as requested and authorized;
• Performs related work as required.
• Perform all duties and work assignments in a safe, healthy, and environmentally sound manner. Specifically, complying with the Health & Safety Program; maintaining work areas in a safe and orderly manner; identifying and reporting unsafe conditions; reporting all accidents; wearing required personal protective equipment; and attending safety-related meetings, training sessions, fit testing, etc.
• Perform all duties and work assignments in compliance with project quality requirements.
• Act responsibly and ethically, and in conformance with generally accepted business, occupational, and professional standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of functions, servicing requirements, and repair of mechanical equipment and machinery used in the plant;
• Thorough knowledge of wastewater treatment operations including collecting, pumping
• Thorough knowledge of the processes and procedures of collecting and testing laboratory samples and performing related mathematical computations;
• Good knowledge of wastewater treatment plant principles and processes;
• Good knowledge of regulations for wastewater treatment;
• Good knowledge of prescribed work procedures;
• Some knowledge of wastewater treatment laboratory procedures;
• Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations;
• Ability to make decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures;
• Ability to independently solve problems within assigned areas of responsibility;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City-County employees, supervisory personnel, contractors, and consultants;
• Ability to prepare and maintain detailed records;
• Ability to perform work with speed, accuracy and attention to detail;
• Ability to make decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures;
• Ability to independently solve problems within assigned areas of responsibility;
• Ability to communicate well with others, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of technical tasks with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;
• Ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

Acceptable Experience and Training

• Graduation from high school, preferably supplemented by additional training in wastewater treatment and equipment maintenance and repair; and
• Some experience in the repair and maintenance of large equipment; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the work.

Required Special Qualifications

• Possession of Class 1C Wastewater Certification issued by the State of Montana, or the ability to acquire a Class 1C Wastewater Certification in one year or less;
• Possession of a Commercial Drivers License issued by the State of Montana. Some positions within this class may require possession of a Commercial Drivers License with specialized endorsements;
• Class B endorsement with air brakes endorsement.
• Pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screen and register with the Federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.

• Must be a resident of Butte-Silver Bow during employment according to Butte-Silver Bow Ordinance. See below.

2.08.010 Residence during employment. From and after October 1, 1979, all employees of the local government of Butte-Silver Bow shall be bona fide residents within the boundaries of Butte-Silver Bow during the period of their employment by the government of Butte-Silver Bow. (Ord. 85 § 1, 1979)

Essential Physical Abilities

• Clarity of speech and hearing, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to communicate well with other division employees, contractors, and consultants;
• Sufficient vision, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to accurately monitor plant processes, and to produce and review a wide variety of reports and related materials;
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to operate a keyboard, to adjust process control valves and other mechanical adjustments, to transport and to perform maintenance and repair on large mechanical equipment, and to produce hand-written materials and notations;
• Sufficient personal mobility, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to inspect plant locations as required for operation and maintenance, work in cramped spaces and maneuver in small openings.

The City-County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical disability, or veteran status.

The job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities. Tasks and duties of the employee may differ from those outlined above.