Wastewater Plant Lead Opeator

City of Burlington NC; Haw River (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Burlington NC seeks a skilled wastewater plant operator to oversee operation and maintenance of the East Burlington Wastewater Treatment Plant (EBWWTP). You will perform hourly rounds, record data, conduct tests, troubleshoot equipment, and address issues to ensure compliant plant performance.

Requirements include a High School Diploma or GED with relevant vocational training, 5+ years of experience in wastewater treatment, a valid NC driver's license, and NC Grade III certificate

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED supplemented with vocational wastewater/environmental training.
• Minimum five (5) years experience in wastewater treatment or equivalent education/experience.
• Valid North Carolina Driver's License.
• North Carolina Grade III Wastewater Certificate; Grade IV preferred.
• First Aid and CPR.

Responsibilities

• Regular plant monitoring and equipment maintenance: conduct plant tours and monitor equipment, record readings, and adjust motors, pumps, and valves.
• Sample collection and testing: collect effluents, perform routine tests, and monitor chemical effects on operations.
• Cleaning and maintenance: skim floatables, clean screens, and dispose of waste.
• Plant grounds and facility upkeep: maintain building and grounds, perform minor repairs.
• Preventive maintenance and customer service: complete maintenance tasks and assist customers/report issues.
• Other duties as required by supervision.

Skills

Wastewater operations

Regulatory knowledge

Safety awareness

Testing & reporting

Education

High School Diploma or GED

NC Grade III Wastewater Certificate

Driver's License

Tools

Card system

Job description

About us:

The East Burlington Wastewater Treatment Plant (EBWWTP) is located on Stone Quarry Road in Burlington and was originally constructed in 1961 as 6.0 MGD trickling filter plant. In 1993, the plant was upgraded to an activated sludge with a treatment capacity of 12.0 million gallons per day (MGD) before undergoing further upgrade to include a 3-stage biological nutrient removal (BNR) process in 2014. The plant treats wastewater originates from areas within Burlington’s city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), the Town of Green Level, the Town of Haw River, and portions of the Town of Gibsonville and the Town of Elon.

What you will do:

This position involves the operation and maintenance of the City's wastewater treatment plant. Key responsibilities include conducting hourly rounds, maintaining accurate records, performing tests, documenting, and/or repairing any noted malfunctions, troubleshooting mechanical and electrical issues, sampling, and performing related wastewater treatment plant tasks. This employee is expected to make decisions in response to operational problems, and report more difficult problems to the Wastewater Plant Superintendent.

Regular Plant Monitoring and Equipment Maintenance:

• Conducts regular plant tours, ensuring the proper operation of bar screens, grit collectors, engines, generators, pumps, aerators, settling tanks, filters, clarifiers, and other equipment
• Records and monitors readings from meters and instruments
• Adjusts and regulates motors, pumps, blowers, valves, and equipment to adapt to changing operating conditions

Sample Collection and Testing:

• Collects effluent samples for laboratory analysis and performs routine tests
• Applies chemicals and monitors their effect on plant operations

Cleaning and Maintenance:

• Skims floatables from settling tanks, cleans bar screens, and disposes of waste like sand and trash
• Washes basins and cleans clarifiers to maintain optimal operation

Plant Grounds and Facility Upkeep:

• Ensures the upkeep of plant building and surrounding grounds
• Performs minor and emergency repairs, assisting plant maintenance staff as needed

Preventive Maintenance and Customer Service:

• Carries out preventive maintenance tasks assigned by the plant's card system
• Provides assistance to customers, answers phones, and responds to inquiries as necessary

Additional Duties:

• Performs other related duties as required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations:Possesses a solid understanding of the operating characteristics and maintenance needs of a wastewater treatment plant
  Regulatory Knowledge:Familiar with State and Federal wastewater treatment regulations, ensuring compliance with all applicable standards
  Safety Awareness:Understands the occupational hazards inherent in wastewater treatment work and consistently follows safety protocols
  Testing and Reporting:Skilled in conducting routine wastewater tests, accurately reading meters and charts, and recording results with precision

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency supplemented with additional vocational training in wastewater, environmental sciences, biology, chemistry, mechanics or electronics.
• Minimum Five (5) years experience in wastewater treatment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Valid North Carolina Driver's License.
• North Carolina Grade III Wastewater Certificate; Grade IV preferred.
• First Aid and CPR.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Work in this class is described as strenuous.
• Work typically involves the ability to physically perform the basic life operational functions of balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.
• Work necessitates visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned in preparing and analyzing figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal viewing and extensive reading, conduct visual inspection of small defects or parts, operate a machine, use measurement devices, and to assemble parts at distances close to the eyes.
• Employee is subject to hazards including a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, noise, vibration, oils, and atmospheric conditions.
• Employee is required to be a change team member and be able to wear a SAR mask (supplied air respirator) when necessary.
• Employee may frequently work in close quarters, crawl space, shafts, manholes, small, enclosed rooms, small sewage and water lines, and other areas which could cause claustrophobia.
• Employee is required to function in narrow aisles, passageways, and catwalks. Working conditions include both inside and outside environmental conditions.

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Inclement Weather Classification:

Essential

This job description in no way implies that the duties listed are the only ones the employee may be required to perform. The employee is expected to perform other tasks, duties, and training as requested by the Wastewater Plant Superintendent.