Utility Plant Operator I

Colorado State University; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Fort Collins is seeking a skilled Utility Plant Operator to manage the operation and maintenance of its district heating and cooling systems. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with boilers and chillers, ensuring efficient and safe operations. This role involves troubleshooting, repairs, and collaboration with the Utility Plant Supervisor. The position offers a supportive work environment with a focus on professional growth and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Robust benefits package

Collaborative atmosphere

Focus on work-life balance

Qualifications

• Four years of utility plant operations experience required.
• Experience with steam boilers and chillers preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain district cooling and heating plants.
• Conduct repairs and replacements as needed.
• Monitor and adjust temperatures, pressures, and flows.

Skills

Boiler Operation

Chiller Operation

Chemical Treatment

Problem Solving

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

Steam Boilers

Centrifugal Chillers

Water Treatment Systems

Job description

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

The Utility Services work unit exists to provide, manage, operate, and maintain utility service for the University. Utilities managed by this work unit include: electric, domestic water, sanitary sewer, storm water, natural gas, steam, chilled water, and distributed heating and cooling generation. Unit activities also include master planning for utilities, design review, utility construction inspection, customer allocation, forecasting, billing, support through relevant expertise of other Facilities Management work units, and liaison with utility providers.

Position Summary

The purpose of this position is to operate and maintain the main campus district cooling and heating plants, conduct repairs and replacements as needed, and coordinate with the Utility Plant Supervisor and Lead Operator for any system modification and controlled maintenance needs.

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered for this position, candidates must demonstrate in the application materials:

Experience Only:

Four (4) years of utility plant operations experience related to the work assigned. (Maintain the main cooling and heating plants, conduct repairs and replacements as needed)

OR

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education, formalized apprenticeship program, and/or relevant experience in utility plant operations experience related to the work assigned equal to four (4) years. (maintain cooling and heating plants, conduct repairs and replacements as needed)

* If applying per meeting the education and experience minimum qualifications, an unofficial transcript must be attached at the time of application.

Substitutions

Preferred Qualifications

The highly desired candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills, abilities, personal characteristics, and experience directly related and critical to this position:

• Directly related state service experience
• Experience maintaining and repairing steam boilers
• Experience maintaining and repairing centrifugal chillers
• Ability to observe, define problem areas, identify causes, test, and repair and or replace faulty boiler and chiller components
• Ability to maintain a boiler and chill water treatment program

Job Duty Category

Job Duty Category Boiler Operation and Maintenance Program

Duty/Responsibility

Responsible for safe and efficient operation, maintenance and repair of the district heating utilities and the distributive steam and hot water boilers. Equipment responsibilities include but not limited to – boilers, water softeners, DA feed tanks, pumps, pressure reducing valve’s, boiler primary fire control systems, forced and induced draft blowers, air compressors, diesel and steam driven generators, valves and piping systems, electrical switchgear, controllers, transmitter, positioners and flow devices.
Identifying, planning and scheduling – major repairs, breakdown, planned and corrective maintenance; calibrating; supervision of contractors in the installation of new equipment; Assist with material selection and procurement, coordination of projects, project inspections and design review.
Operations – monitor and adjust temperatures, pressures, levels, flows, firing conditions; collecting and analyzing data; maintaining records and log; fuel handling and off-loading; analytical chemical testing and adjustments

Percentage Of Time

Percentage Of Time 70%

Job Duty Category

Job Duty Category Chiller Operation and Maintenance Program

Duty/Responsibility

Responsible for safe and efficient operation, maintenance and repair of the district cooling utilities and the distributive comfort cooling chillers. Equipment responsibilities include but not limited to – chillers, cooling towers, pumps, pressure reducing valve’s, air compressors, valves and piping systems, electrical switchgear, controllers, transmitters, positioners and flow devices. Identifying, planning and scheduling – major repairs, breakdown, planned and corrective maintenance; calibrating; supervision of contractors in the installation of new equipment; Assist with material selection and procurement, coordination of projects, project inspections and design review.
Operations – monitor and adjust temperatures, pressures, levels, flows, loading conditions; collecting and analyzing data; maintaining records and logs; analytical chemical testing and adjustments.

Percentage Of Time

Percentage Of Time 20%

Job Duty Category

Job Duty Category Chemical Treatment Program

Duty/Responsibility

Responsible for proper operation and maintenance of campus wide water treatment program for steam and hot water boilers; cooling towers; closed loop systems; condensate returns systems. Responsibilities include analysis and treatment of all systems; breakdown, planned and corrective maintenance on chemical feed systems; assist with material procurement and analysis of treatment program. Training of new personnel in this area.

Percentage Of Time

Percentage Of Time 5%

Job Duty Category

Job Duty Category Other Duties as Assigned

Duty/Responsibility

Support the Utility Plant Supervisor, the Lead Operator, and the Utility Services Manager as needed with short-term projects and assignments

Percentage Of Time

Percentage Of Time 5%

Special Instructions to Applicants

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

• Clearly document job duties you have performed that relate to minimum qualifications, preferred qualifications, and essential job duties in the Work Experience section on the application. Human Resources must be able to evaluate your experience based on this information.
• Clearly outline dates of employment and hours worked per week for each employment experience listed in the Work Experience section of the Application so that Human Resources can calculate full-time work experience. Please note: Part-time experience will be calculated to determine the full-time equivalent.
• The Work Experience is the only document that will be utilized to determine if minimum qualifications, as outlined in the job posting, have been met. The Application is considered to be the legal document on file; resumes will not be reviewed for minimum qualification requirements.
• Applicants may redact information from this initial application that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS

• If an Application is considered “Incomplete”, the Application will be removed from consideration for the position.
• An Application is incomplete if no current/ previous employment is included in the Work Experience section of the Application.
• An Application is incomplete if “see resume” (or something similar) is noted, or previous employment does not contain job duties for every position in the Work Experience section of the Application.
• Positions requiring a degree or if using education as a substitution for work experience (e.g.: Associate or Bachelor’s) transcripts are required in order to verify receipt of the required degree or coursework. If official or unofficial transcripts are not supplied at the time of application, the Application is incomplete.

RESUMES

• When a resume is listed as a required document, it may be used in the comparative analysis/ evaluation process to determine the candidates that most closely meet the qualifications of the position. This process occurs after an application has passed the minimum qualifications screening.
• Resumes will not be accepted in place of a completed application; however, some positions may still require a resume as a component for complete application materials.
• Please see the Required Documents section of the posting.

NOTES

• Appointment to the vacancy or vacancies represented by this announcement is expected to be from the eligible list created. However, at the discretion of the appointing authority, the position(s) may be filled by another method of appointment for a valid articulated business reason.
• The selection process for State Classified positions may include an exam(s) and interview(s) which require candidates to physically appear (at the CSU campus in Fort Collins, CO) at the candidates’ own expense.
• Pertinent updates to your Application status can be obtained by logging into your application account at https://jobs.colostate.edu
• All status updates for this position will be sent via email from [e-mail] , [e-mail] , OR the TA Team Member facilitating the search process. In addition to your Inbox, remember to check the Deleted and Junk folders for these important communications.

FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLORADO :

• Per the requirements of the Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024, any State employee must be paid a rate that is equal to or greater than the appropriate step pay rate within their classification’s pay range based on completed years in their current class series as of June 30. All current and former State employees must ensure that your entire work history within the State Classified System, including at Institutions of Higher Education, is indicated in your application so that your time-in-series can be calculated accurately.
  
  

Department Contact Information

Human Resources – Talent Acquisition Team, at [e-mail] or call (970) 491- MyHR(6947).

All other inquiries should be directed to the Colorado State University Human Resources Office at [e-mail] or (970) 491- MyHR(6947).

Conditions of Employment

Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License - Regular , Essential Services Designation, Shift Work - Plant operations is a 24 hour 365 days I year function, On-call Status - Fill in on shift and plant emergencies

EEO

Colorado State University ( CSU ) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Employment and Appeal Rights

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging.


Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director’s Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director’s Administrative Procedures are available at www.colorado.gov/spb .


A standard appeal form is available at: www.colorado.gov/spb . If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: [phone]. Phone: [phone]. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Are you willing and able to submit to a pre-employment background check that may include, but is not limited to, criminal history, national sex offender search and motor vehicle history as a condition of hire?
  • Yes
  • No
• * This position requires applicants to possess and maintain a current and valid driver's license. Do you possess a current and valid driver's license?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Are you willing and able to report to work during inclement weather, without delay or interruption, to provide essential or emergency services to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the campus community?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Are you willing and able to maintain availability for on-call status and shift work as needed?
  • Yes
  • No

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