SR Plant Operations Specialist

City of Durham; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 54,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Vacation days

Medical insurance

Retirement plans

Life insurance

Job summary

The City of Durham’s Water Management Department is seeking a Wastewater Plant Operator to monitor plant processes and ensure compliant operation at the Chapel Hill facility. This role supports public health and environmental protection while maintaining systems critical to customers.

Ideal candidates hold a Grade II wastewater certification, have 2+ years of relevant experience, and possess a valid NC driver’s license. The team emphasizes safety, reliability, and community service.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid Grade II in Wastewater or higher.
• Two years of wastewater treatment/operations experience.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Must have NC Class C Driver's License or be able to obtain within 60 days.

Responsibilities

• Monitor plant operations and adjust processes as needed.
• Collect samples, run lab analyses, and maintain logs.
• Inspect equipment, perform preventative maintenance, and report needs.
• Prepare reports and maintain records in databases.

Skills

Wastewater grade II certification

2 years wastewater experience

Strong mechanical skills

SCADA familiarity

Math calculations

CDL a plus

Education

Wastewater Grade II certification

High School Diploma

Tools

SCADA

Job description

Position Description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $53,962.00-$59,493.00

Hours: 7am -3pm/7:30am-3:30pm/8am-4pm, Weekend rotations and holidays (on occasion cover off shift rotations). This job is subject to recall for weather-related emergencies. You must be readily available by phone with ability to work rotational stand‑by/recall duty.

The City of Durham’s Department of Water Management (DWM) wants YOU to join our team of more than 380 talented and dedicated employees that provide critical water and sewer services for Durham’s 309,000 plus residents. Not only do we deliver the Best Tasting Water in the state to our customers each and every day, but we also make sure that the wastewater leaving our facilities is carefully treated to protect the environment. We have a wide-ranging variety of positions open to match your skill set – mechanics, engineers, maintenance specialists, technicians, customer billing techs, and much more. If you have a passion for managing vital water resources, protecting the environment, providing excellent customer service, and keeping the water and wastewater in the pipes, bring your skills and talent to Durham!

Water Management seeks a wastewater plant operator who will be located at the Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 6605 Farrington Road, Chapel Hill , NC

We have a Senior Plant Operations Specialist (Wastewater Plant Operator (POII) vacancy. This position is responsible for monitoring plant operations by physical observation of plant processes; sampling units to ensure proper operation; maintaining accurate records; cleaning and calibration process meters; monitoring chemical feeds and making process adjustments as needed. Checks equipment and adjust as necessary.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Performs as a journey-level plant operator; monitors operational processes and conditions; operates, adjusts, and performs routine predicted maintenance on plant equipment; collects samples and conducts lab analysis as assigned; obtains and interprets data from instruments and lab results; reviews data and makes process adjustments; and ensures compliance with applicable safety and operational policies and procedures.
• Inspects plant equipment and systems; calibrates equipment; performs predicted preventative maintenance, including performing minor repairs and maintaining lubricant levels in equipment; ensures proper working condition and functioning of equipment and reports additional maintenance needs.
• Participates in reviewing operating policies and making recommendations; cleans equipment and assigned areas, including washing filters and removing sludge; and receives and unloads chemicals.
• Prepares, maintains, and reviews reports, records, logs, work orders, and other documentation; maintains databases and online systems; enters, updates, compiles and submits information; and proofs and reviews work to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Must have a valid Grade II in Wastewater or higher.
• Two years of wastewater treatment experience and/or operations experience based on assignment.
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Must have a valid, unrestricted, NC Class "C" Driver's License “or” if you currently have another state driver’s license, must be willing and able to obtain a valid NC driver’s license within 60 days of hire.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Familiarity working with a wastewater plant/system via a SCADA interface.
• Make mixed arithmetic calculations involving multiplication, addition, subtraction, & division of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions.
• Education in Biology or Environmental Science is a plus.
• Strong mechanical skills are a plus
• CDL a plus but not required.

Benefits – General Full-Time Employees

• 12-13 paid holidays per year
• 13 standard work days of vacation per year
• 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
• 2 weeks paid military leave per year
• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
• State and City retirement plans
• Short and long term disability plans
• Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
• City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
• Paid funeral leave
• Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
• Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
• 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
• 4 hours parental leave each year
• Workman's Compensation Insurance
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
• Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service