Principal Plant Operator - Night Shift

Chesterfield County, Virginia; Chesterfield Court House (VA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO accrual 14 hours/month (first five

Tuition reimbursement

Professional Development & Learning

Job summary

Chesterfield County Department of Utilities in Virginia is seeking a Principal Plant Operator to oversee wastewater treatment operations. You will operate equipment, monitor SCADA, document trends, adjust instrumentation, manage chemical inventories, and collect samples while following OSHA safety rules.

The role requires physical work and outdoor conditions, with a 3-days on/3-days off schedule, typically 6am–6pm.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Wastewater license not required for hiring.
• Pass the Class 3 wastewater exam within one year and continue toward Class 1 license.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Safety Sensitive position, random drug/alcohol testing.

Responsibilities

• Operate process equipment and systems in wastewater treatment.
• Monitor the SCADA system.
• Record process trends on daily log sheets.
• Adjust process control instrumentation.
• Inventory chemicals and inspect dosing pumps and storage tanks.
• Collect process monitoring samples and perform field tests.
• Transfer sludge by manually turning valves with pumping equipment.
• Perform preventive maintenance and housekeeping.
• Work outdoors in the elements.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Verbal communication

Teamwork

Self-starter

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

SCADA

Job description

Who We Are

Chesterfield County Department of Utilities is a public water and wastewater utility that uses state‑of‑the‑art technology to deliver the highest quality service to our approximately 121,000 water customers and 103,000 wastewater customers. We have a culture that is invested in making a difference in the community by meeting or exceeding water quality standards while also protecting the James River and the Chesapeake Bay. We pride ourselves in being fiscally fit as one of only a handful of water and wastewater utilities nationwide to have achieved AAA ratings on its revenue bonds from each of the three top rating services.

What You Will Do and How You Will Do It

You will be operating a state‑of‑the‑art wastewater treatment facility to ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws. This will require observations and/or adjustments of physical, chemical, and biological treatment process, teamwork and communication.

This Principal Plant Operator will serve as a shift operator within the Wastewater Treatment section of the Department of Utilities along with a Chief Plant Operator, Assistant Chief, Plant Operator, a Maintenance team, and other Plant Operators. The position is responsible for being a dependable and supportive member of our team by ensuring proper operation of the wastewater treatment plant, communicating and troubleshooting operational concerns with team members, supporting maintenance activities, and meeting overall Utilities Department goals. This includes wearing appropriate PPE (provided by the county) and following county and OSHA safety rules and regulations for General Industry and Construction.

Your assigned work hours are 3-days on/3-days off, 6am-6pm. You are considered an essential personnel position meaning that the work schedule is not impacted by inclement weather, county holidays, or county closure as we operate 24/7. Our facility is operational through rain, snow, and shine. There may be times when you will be required or volunteer to work longer hours due to unforeseen circumstances. You will be compensated for overtime under FLSA guidelines. Due to the schedule of 3-days on/3-days off, some pay periods will be less than 80 hours, while other pay periods will have more than 80 hours.

In this position, you will:

• Operate process equipment and systems associated with wastewater treatment
• Monitor the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA)
• Observe and record process trends related to equipment operation and plant performance on daily log sheets
• Monitor and adjust process control instrumentation
• Inventory chemicals and inspect chemical dosing pumps and storage tanks
• Ensure proper operation of samplers, collect process monitoring samples and perform field analytical tests
• Transfer sludge by manually turning valves in correct sequence with operation of pumping equipment
• Perform preventive maintenance and Housekeeping
• Work outdoors in the elements

You will assist the team in:

• Troubleshooting operational issues around the plant
• Assisting in maintenance projects
• Ensuring safety is upheld
• Performing other work, as required

Here’s What You Need

High school diploma or GED is required; or equivalent combination of training and experience. A wastewater license is not required for hiring! Although not required for hiring, you will be required to pass the class 3 wastewater exam within one year of employment and continue working toward obtaining your class 1 license. You’ll need to be able to lift 50 pounds.

This position is considered Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. Current valid driver’s license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, records must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty‑four months preceding the anticipated hire date, or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty‑six months. Out‑of‑state driving records must be obtained by applicant and presented at time of interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of interview date. Pre‑employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check and education/degree verification required.

PLEASE NOTE: We strictly adhere to policy guidelines for secondary/outside employment, which may include prohibiting such employment while working for Chesterfield County.

Wastewater treatment experience is preferred but not required. We are willing to train motivated candidates who demonstrate a strong mechanical aptitude and an eagerness to learn. The successful candidate will be a self‑starter, possess excellent verbal communication skills, work well in a team, and possess the ability to develop positive working relationships.

What’s In It for You

If you are passionate about making a difference in the community, join our team. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes the Virginia Retirement System and long and short‑term disability. We work hard to achieve our mission, and we also value work‑life balance through paid time off (PTO). For the first five years of employment, you will accrue 14 hours of PTO per month with the balance, up to the maximum carryover limit, rolling over from year‑to‑year. You will also be granted 40 hours of PTO on their second paycheck.

Salary offered will be based on qualifications and experience. You may be hired above entry level in the CDP if you possess the required skills and experience. In addition to CDPs, we support professional development through tuition reimbursement program, our award‑winning Learning and Performance Center programs, and opportunities for advancement within the organization. For more information, please visit Chesterfield County Department of Utilities.

Our career development plan does allow you to increase your salary as you pass wastewater licensure exams as described below.

• $59,053-$100,390 for applicants with a Commonwealth of Virginia Class I Wastewater Operator's License and three years of related experience.
• $53,309-$90,625 for applicants with a Commonwealth of Virginia Class II Wastewater Operator's License and two years of related experience.
• $48,123-$81,809 for applicants with a Commonwealth of Virginia Class III Wastewater Operator's License and one year of related experience or hold a bachelor's degree in biological, chemical, or engineering science or related field.
• $43,442-$73,852 for applicants without a license- Unlicensed

This position is part of an approved Career Development Plan (CDP) and offers career progression opportunities and salary incentives, as funding permits, based on performance, qualifications, and experience.

PLEASE NOTE: Position is open until filled (first review to begin November 2, 2026).

Night shift; 3 days on/3 days off; 6:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.

Utilities - Proctors Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant