Wastewater Operator I/II

City of High Point; High Point (NC); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team at a forward-thinking municipal organization committed to environmental protection through effective wastewater management. As a Wastewater Operator, you will engage in skilled technical work, operating and maintaining a computer-controlled wastewater treatment plant. Your role will involve monitoring equipment, conducting laboratory analyses, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. This entry-level position offers on-the-job training, providing you with the opportunity to grow and develop essential skills in a supportive environment. If you are passionate about public service and eager to make a difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required; Associate Degree preferred.
• Must have a Grade III NC Wastewater Operator Certification.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and maintain operations of a computer-controlled wastewater plant.
• Perform laboratory tests and collect samples as required.

Skills

SCADA System Monitoring

Laboratory Analysis

Equipment Operation

Mechanical Knowledge

Communication Skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate Degree in Wastewater or related field

Tools

Laboratory Equipment

Computer Monitoring Equipment

Hand Tools

Job description

City of High Point, NC | High Point, NC 27261

Performs skilled and technical work in the operation and maintenance of a computer-controlled wastewater plant. This includes making minor repairs to equipment; monitoring control panels, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system monitoring, collecting samples, performing various laboratory tests, and other related work as required.

Work is performed under immediate supervision by the Plant Supervisor.

Wastewater Operator I

• Makes regular tours of the plant, which requires a considerable amount of climbing stairs and walking, to inspect process operations including bar screens, mixers, valves, pumps, aerators, settling basins, filters, clarifiers, effluent filters, blowers, pressure gauges, etc., for proper functioning;
• Records instrument readings in the laboratory and throughout the plant, makes necessary adjustments including opening or closing valves and switching process equipment on or off;
• Collect samples as required and runs required laboratory analysis which includes calibrating and operating the instrumentation used in the analysis;
• Operate complex computer-controlled equipment;
• Cleans pumps, motors, and other equipment;
• Reports defects to proper personnel;
• Operates skid steer and other equipment as required;
• Performs minor maintenance activities (PM's, repairs, replace light bulbs, vehicle clean up);
• Assists in cleaning different units of treatment, buildings, and other odd jobs as needed and maintains grounds as necessary;
• Ensures that all work is performed in accordance with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies.
• Entry Level Position - On-the-job training approximately 6 months.

Essential Tasks / Qualifications

Wastewater Operator II

• Assists with on-the-job training of Wastewater Operator I new hires;
• Maintains various recordkeeping and reporting forms;
• Must have a Grade III NC Wastewater Operator Certification;
• Must have a minimum of four years actual operating experience at a Grade IV Biological Wastewater Facility;
• Must have excellent knowledge of computer and SCADA system, and the ability to adjust SCADA program per plant requirements;
• Must have experience in all phases of plant operations and the ability to communicate this knowledge and experience to new employees.

Qualifications

Wastewater Operator I & II

• High School diploma or GED required. Associate Degree in Wastewater or related field, knowledge and experience in mechanics preferred;
• Must be 18 years of age and have possession of an appropriate driver's license issued by the State of North Carolina;
• Must be able to work schedules based on twelve-hour days or nights, whichever the case may be, with rotations every month;
• Must also be able to work other schedules as required (such as 5 day - 8 hr. shifts);
• Sit for State exam within six months of completing Wastewater Operator School or forfeit exam reimbursement benefit.

Wastewater Operator I

• Must be able to obtain a Grade II NC Wastewater Operator Certification within two (2) years of employment to keep the job.

Wastewater Operator II

• Must have a Grade III NC Wastewater Operator Certification;
• Must have excellent knowledge of computer and SCADA system, and the ability to adjust SCADA program per plant requirements;
• Must be able to train and oversee activities of new employees;
• Must have experience in all phases of plant operations and the ability to communicate this knowledge and experience to new employees.

Operators are responsible for a great deal of equipment, and learning to discern between normal and abnormal operations of plant processes and accurately recording results of all monitoring and lab analysis is essential. Wastewater treatment is a public service that involves protecting the environment and downstream users through conscientious and professional job performance.

Mental Activity/Requirements

Wastewater Operator I and II

• Reasoning: Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to work tasks, practical situations, and requests made by supervisor;
• Comprehend and respond to a variety of situations in an expedient manner;
• Interpret data from the laboratory.

Discern between normal and abnormal operations of plant processes. Good judgment is necessary.

Math

Using Mathematics: Essential in performing laboratory analysis.

Language

• Read: Ability to read safety and other manuals, instructions, directions, equipment readings, and other documents relating to the job;
• Write: Necessary to complete required reports;

Speak: Ability to be conversant in voice and diction to participate in discussions with other employees and supervisor in person, over PA system, telephone, and two-way radio.

Training

• On-the-job training approximately 6 months;
• Formal education, which includes Algebra and science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) with completion of high school diploma or GED required;
• A Grade II NC Wastewater Operator Certification is required within two (2) years of employment in order to keep the job;
• Associate Degree in Wastewater or related field, knowledge and experience in mechanics preferred.

Physical Requirements

Hearing/Speaking - Expressing and/or receiving information by means of spoken word are both necessary to converse with internal and external customers including co-workers, citizens, and applicants.

Visual Abilities - The ability to perceive via eyesight is required for this position:

• Acuity, far - clarity of vision at 20 feet or more;
• Acuity, near - clarity of vision at 20 inches or less;
• Depth perception - Three-dimensional vision and the ability to judge distance and space relationships;
• Field of Vision - the area that can be seen up and down or to the right or left while eyes are focused on one point;
• Accommodation - Must be able to adjust the eye lens to glance quickly.

Physical Strength - Degree of physical demands typically associated with this position include:

• Light Work
• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally; and/or
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force frequently; and
• A negligible amount of force constantly to handle or move materials related to the position.

Type of Physical Demands

• Reaching - Extending the hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction;
• Handling - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand(s);
• Fingering - Picking, pinching, or otherwise working with fingers primarily rather than the entire hand or arm.

Environmental Conditions

Wastewater Operator I and II

• Physical Demands
• Medium to Heavy exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 20 pounds of force frequently and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects;
• Physical demand requirements usually require walking, standing, bending, stooping, lifting, climbing, and stretching, although the worker does sit on occasions.

There is significant use of arms, hands, legs, and feet.

Hearing/Speaking

• Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word. Necessary to converse with other employees, supervisor, and visitors;
• Hearing - Perceiving the nature of sounds by ear. Both are necessary to converse with other employees, supervisor, and visitors. Worker often uses the telephone, PA system, and two-way radio.

Visual - Recommended Guidelines

• The ability to perceive the nature of objects by the eye;
• Acuity, far - Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more;
• Acuity, near - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less;
• Depth Perception - Three-dimensional vision;
• Field of Vision - Area that can be seen up and down or to right or left while eyes are fixed on a given point;
• Accommodation - Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus.

Machines, Tools, Equipment, and Work Aids

Wastewater Operator I and II

Operators are responsible for a great deal of equipment and learning to discern between normal and abnormal operations of facility processes and accurately recording results of all monitoring and laboratory analyses is essential.

• Laboratory equipment such as drying oven, muffle furnace, dissolved oxygen meters, pH meters, ammonia meters, scales, conductivity meter, microscope, etc.;
• Chemicals used in the laboratory and wastewater treatment processes such as sodium hypochlorite, lime, aluminum sulfate, alconox glass cleaner, sodium hydroxide, pH 4 acetate, and ammonium chloride;
• Sample collection includes using automatic and manual samplers, reading gauges, and manually adjusting valves;
• Worker also uses computer monitoring equipment, hand tools, Personnel Resolution, and various recordkeeping and recording forms.

Our Commitments

The City of High Point is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer which celebrates diversity and seeks to attract and retain the best qualified partners in service to the Citizens of the City of High Point. The City of High Point is an at-will employer and employees may be terminated or may terminate their employment at any time with or without reason for any reason not prohibited by law.

The City of High Point is committed to classifying and compensating its employees fairly and equitably for the work they do, weighed with both the internal capabilities and the external market. While the job description is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, we are excited to use this "living document" as a guide for managing performance and positions to ensure job descriptions are reflective of the current work required by the incumbent or expected by any candidate to whom an offer of employment is extended.

The City of High Point is committed to providing a safe, comfortable working environment to all employees. To that end, we are proud to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as well as make reasonable accommodations to candidates and employees as we are able in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Candidates selected for employment must undergo (a) a drug screening, in accordance with the City's drug and alcohol policy and (b) a background screening to determine whether there is any current, pending, or previous charge, conviction or other infraction deemed incompatible with service in the capacity for which the candidate is being hired. Certain positions are considered so critical to the health and safety of others that a candidate cannot be placed in any of those positions without passing a pre-placement physical exam. Successful results from these conditions will result in an offer of employment.