Plant Operator III

University of Louisville; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Louisville is seeking a Plant Operator III to oversee the independent operation, monitoring, and routine maintenance of the Belknap Campus steam and chilled water plant. You will manage boilers, chillers, pumps, and distribution systems to ensure safe and efficient utility production and delivery.

Shifts vary during heating season to keep plant operations continuous. A high school diploma with 4+ years’ related experience or equivalent is required, along with a valid driver’s

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED and 4+ years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Pre-employment physical exam required.
• Valid driver’s license required and must be insurable by the University’s insurance carrier.

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and maintain boilers, chillers, pumps, cooling towers, and other equipment to ensure safe, reliable production and distribution of steam and chilled water.
• Maintain steam pressures, temperatures, and plant output to meet campus utility demands.
• Perform routine maintenance and minor equipment adjustments to maximize performance and minimize downtime.
• Inspect underground steam and chilled water distribution systems to ensure delivery of utilities to campus facilities.
• Perform and monitor boiler and water chemical treatment to maintain water quality and protect system integrity.
• Record equipment status and maintenance needs, ensuring effective shift turnover.

Skills

Boiler operation

Chiller operation

Plant monitoring

Safety procedures

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Job description

Department:

Location:
Belknap Campus

Time Type:
Full time

Worker Type:
Regular

Job Req ID:
R109148

Minimum Requirements:
High School Diploma/GED and a minimum of four (4) years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Pre-employment physical exam required. Valid driver's license required and must be insurable by the University's insurance carrier. Grade 5 (Hourly)

Position Description:

The Plant Operator III position is responsible for the independent operation, monitoring, control, and routine maintenance of the University's Steam and Chilled Water Plant, including oil- and gas-fired boilers, centrifugal refrigeration equipment, and the underground tunnel system that distributes steam and chilled water throughout Belknap Campus. This position ensures the safe, reliable, and efficient production and distribution of utilities by monitoring plant performance, adjusting operating equipment, maintaining water chemistry, documenting system conditions, and responding to operational issues to minimize service interruptions.

During the heating season, this position works variable shifts to maintain continuous plant operations.

This is a required personnel position that necessitates the employee's physical presence in the workplace. The employee must report to or remain at work during university emergencies or closures and maintain a valid, insurable driver's license under the University's insurance policy.

• Operate, monitor, and maintain boilers, chillers, pumps, cooling towers, and other associated equipment and systems to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient production and distribution of steam and chilled water.
• Maintain established steam pressures, temperatures, and plant output to meet campus utility demands for heating and cooling.
• Perform routine operational maintenance and minor equipment adjustments to maximize equipment performance, improve efficiency, and minimize system downtime.
• Operate and inspect the underground steam and chilled water distribution systems to ensure the reliable delivery of utilities to campus facilities.
• Perform and monitor boiler and chilled water chemical treatment through mechanical and chemical means to maintain water quality, protect system integrity, and support efficient plant operations.
• Complete and submit required documentation, including operational logs, records, inspection reports, and water data. Record equipment status, operating conditions, maintenance needs, plant and tunnel equipment issues, and abnormal events to ensure effective communication during shift turnover.
• Follow all applicable safety procedures, environmental regulations, operating procedures, and University policies to promote safe, compliant, and efficient plant operations.
• Assist in providing operational guidance to Plant Operator II employees and perform other job-related duties as assigned by the Foreman.

Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Louisville is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The University strives to provide equal employment opportunity on the basis of merit and without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, or pregnancy. In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veteran Readjustment Act of 1974, the University prohibits job discrimination of individuals with disabilities, Vietnam era veterans, qualified special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans. The University acknowledges its obligations to ensure affirmative steps are taken to ensure equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. It is the policy of the University that no employee or applicant for employment be subject to unlawful discrimination in terms of recruitment, hiring, promotion, contract, contract renewal, tenure, compensation, benefits, and/or working conditions. No employee or applicant for employment is required to endorse or condemn a specific ideology, political viewpoint, or social viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, contract renewal, tenure, or promotion.

Consistent with applicable law, demographic information is collected for aggregate reporting requirements. Demographic information provided through this application is not available to hiring managers/committees and is not considered in hiring or employment decisions.