Utilities System Specialist - Apprentice - UIC Municipal Services, LLC

Bowhead Support Services Inc; Alaska; On-site; USD 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Utilities System Specialist Apprentice to join their team in Alaska. This exciting role offers hands-on training in the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems, ensuring compliance with environmental standards. As an apprentice, you will work closely with experienced professionals, rotating through various villages and gaining invaluable experience in a critical field. This position not only provides a unique opportunity to contribute to local communities but also offers competitive per diem and travel expenses covered by the employer. If you're ready to embark on a rewarding career path in municipal services, this is the chance for you!

Benefits

Paid Travel Expenses

Provided Local Housing

Daily Per Diem

Qualifications

• Ability to pass a respirator fit test and valid driver's license required.
• High school diploma or equivalent necessary for the role.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations for utility plants.
• Perform daily reporting and maintain logs of plant operations.
• Support maintenance and emergency protocols for water and sewer systems.

Skills

Operational Compliance

Water Treatment Knowledge

Communication Skills

Safety Awareness

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Tools

SCADA Systems

Windows Software

Job description

Join to apply for the Utilities System Specialist - Apprentice - UIC Municipal Services, LLC role at UICGS / Bowhead Family of Companies.

Overview: UIC Municipal Services is based in Utqiagvik. Our mission is to help the North Slope Borough achieve their goals “to sustain and improve the quality of life for the North Slope Borough residents by providing a wide range of cost-effective and well-coordinated essential municipal services.” During their certification training, the USS Apprentice will be expected to work with a Utility System Specialist (USS) on the operation and maintenance of treatment, distribution and collection systems. The USS Apprentice will be under the direct supervision of the USS (Utility System Specialist). Work with a team of local operators to maintain operational and regulatory compliance status of local municipal water and sewer utility systems. USS Apprentice will rotate in and out of each of the seven villages on North Slope, where populations range from 250 to 1000 residents. Work schedule will be 10 hours daily at a minimum, with longer days to meet repair and call out needs. Summer water pumping will be 12 hour days for approximately 3 calendar months. Rotation schedule will be 3 weeks on (23 days), 3 weeks off (19 days). $70 a day per diem is provided.

The USS Apprentice will be staying in provided local housing (no camp). Travel from/to Anchorage, AK or Fairbanks, AK to the villages are paid by employer - all other travel expenses are responsibility of the employee. The USS apprentice will report directly to the Field Operations Lead, or to the Project Manager when the Field Operations Lead is unavailable. Equipment preventative maintenance and repairs will be required. This will include directing or accomplishing the excavation and repair of buried pipes in arctic conditions, and repair of individual residential and commercial service connections. The USS Apprentice will be trained to maintain, clean and organize the Water and Wastewater plants. Maintain daily reporting to the central office in Utqiagvik. Report emergency incidents when they occur. Communicate system issues to engineers. Keep daily water and wastewater logs on the Windows software. Prepare and send wastewater samples on a timely basis for monthly discharge monitoring reports. These are municipal sites and systems; they are not industrial. The USS Apprentice must be able to interface with the public, maintain a professional demeanor, and work with municipal employees to maintain utility service. On-the-job training of local operators may be required.

General System Descriptions

Water Treatment:

• Raw water intake
• Bag/Micro/Nano filtration with chemical disinfection, backwash, and cleaning systems
• Short water production season to store annual water supply

Water Distribution:

• Water storage tanks with volumes totaling 3 to 10 million gallons in storage
• Central water circulation plant with fire pumps, water monitoring systems, and chemical dosing
• Direct-buried water circulation loops
• Residential and commercial service connections

Wastewater Collection:

• Direct-buried gravity or vacuum collection systems
• Sewage holding tanks

Wastewater Treatment:

• Extended aeration/activated sludge/MBBR waste treatment and sludge dewatering
• Ocean, surface water, and sub-surface effluent discharge

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Ensures Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation compliance of utility plants
• Maintains a safe working environment and reports safety concerns to supervisor
• May train, mentor, or direct and oversee local resident utility operators as needed or as requested
• Daily reporting to central office by phone or email
• Performs a variety of duties essential to the operation of a small water and wastewater treatment facility
• Performs a variety of duties essential to the operations of water distribution and wastewater collection systems
• Inspects; operates; monitors; and maintains a variety of facilities; equipment; and systems involved in various processes of water and wastewater treatment plants
• Monitors plant operation through visual observation and SCADA
• Regulates flows
• Performs chemical analysis and tests
• Performs a variety of related duties to ensure the facility’s final finished water and effluent is of the best quality and compliant to regulatory requirements
• Perform seasonal raw water pumping and treatment to meet anticipated water reserves
• Maintains logs of plant operations – periodic checks on fire hydrants, fire pumps, generators, valves, etc.
• Perform annual inspections of residential service barrel services
• Daily completion of work order reporting – detailing incidents, repairs and call outs conducted by all the W&S staff on all aspects of W&S infrastructure.
• Supports the maintenance (preventive and corrective) of the utility plants and systems
• Implement emergency protocols to protect the W&S systems, water reserves and general public safety during W&S emergencies or system failures.
• Coordination between W&S Operators and other local resources to identify, locate, isolate and repair leaks in W&S systems within the expertise of the W&S Operators onsite.
• Notify public of boil water notice or shut down of W&S services
• Provide temporary water and sewer to individuals that experience interrupted services
• Maintain and inventory parts and materials in the utility plants
• Work with vendors on soliciting quotes for parts and supplies
• Submit purchase requisitions and receiving reports on orders
• Submit service requests to local municipality for non-water/sewer repairs to facilities and equipment
• Coordinate water and sewer repairs with local village supervisor
• Will act as the water/sewer plant manager overseeing all water sewer related activities
• Assume the lead operator's role in the absence of a local operator or as needed
• Operation of heavy equipment, if pre-approved
• Monitor assigned village cell phone
• Subject to twenty-four (24) hour call outs and works varied shifts as assigned
• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Essential Knowledge; Skills and Expertise:

• Follow directions and respond to requests given by the USS, Training Administrator, and other Water and Sewer Project staff
• Study the exam prep materials outside of normal work hours.
• Coordinate with the Training Administrator and exam proctors to take the required exams while off rotation.
• Take one exam while off work every six weeks.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to pass a respirator fit test
• Valid driver's license
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Seniority level

Internship

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Management and Manufacturing

Industries

IT Services and IT Consulting