Utilities Control Center Operator I

City of Mes; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Mesa is seeking an Utilities Control Center Operator I to learn and monitor the SCADA system for water distribution, natural gas usage, and wastewater flow. You will handle after-hours calls, assess urgency, dispatch appropriate crews, and coordinate with city departments.

Under supervision, you will progress to Operator II after on-the-job training and successful evaluations. This trainee role may require varying shifts, weekends, and holidays, with a strong emphasis on safety and

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED.
• Some 6 months to 1 year of full-time employment in at least one of: water supply, water distribution, natural gas distribution, wastewater, electric distribution, or related operation.
• Certification requirements: Grade 1 water operator (treatment or distribution) with ADEQ or reciprocity within 3 months; Grade II water operator within 24 months; gas system operator certification within 1 year.

Responsibilities

• Learn to monitor and operate the SCADA system for water, gas, and wastewater components.
• Handle after-hours calls from City of Mesa customers, respond to inquiries, and dispatch appropriate personnel.
• Assess urgency, determine the correct department, and coordinate stand-by personnel as needed.

Education

Grade 1 Water Treatment System Operator or Water Distribution System Operator certification

Grade II Water Treatment System Operator or Water Distribution System Operator certification

Gas system operator certification (CFR) within 1 year

Job description

First review of applications will be on Monday, August 31, 2026, then weekly thereafter until filled.

A Utilities Control Center Operator I, under direct supervision, is responsible for learning how to monitor and operate the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system in the recording and regulating of water distribution and the monitoring and recording of natural gas usage and wastewater flow. Additionally, incumbents will be responsible for receiving after-hours calls from City of Mesa customers, responding to their inquiries, and dispatching appropriate personnel as required. When handling calls, an employee must make determinations and decisions regarding the urgency of the problem, the appropriate City department to handle the problem, and stand-by-duty personnel to be contacted. This class performs related duties as required.

Employees in this class may be required to work varying shifts, weekends, and holidays. This class is distinguished from the Utilities Control Center Operator II class by its status as a trainee class in which incumbents learn the duties of a Utilities Control Center Operator II. The Utilities Control Center Operator I receives close-to-general supervision from the Utilities Control Center Supervisor and/or the Utilities Control Center Shift Leader, who review the employee's work through work in progress, meetings, and by the evaluation of results achieved. Employees in this class will be eligible to progress after one year of service by noncompetitive promotion to the classification of Utilities Control Center Operator II. Promotion is accomplished after successful completion of on-the-job training, achievement of successful performance evaluation, and completing initial City probation. An incumbent who fails to complete the training and noncompetitive, criteria-based promotion within two years of hire may be transferred, demoted, or terminated. This class is FLSA nonexempt.

Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.

Minimum Qualifications Required. Graduation from high school or GED. Some (6 months - 1 year) full-time employment in at least one of the following: water supply system, water distribution system, natural gas distribution system, wastewater system, electric distribution system, or closely related operation.

Special Requirements. Must possess a Grade 1 (or higher) Water Treatment System Operator or Water Distribution System Operator certification from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) or equivalent certification from another state through reciprocity with Arizona by application date. Certification through reciprocity must be obtained within three months of hire or promotion. Must obtain Grade II Water Treatment System Operator or Water Distribution System Operator certification from the ADEQ within 24 months of hire or promotion. Must obtain certification as a gas system operator in accordance with 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) within one year of hire or promotion date.

Substance Abuse Testing. This class is subject to Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol testing to comply with DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regulations 49 CFR Part 199.