Water Plant Operator II/III/IV

City of Fairfield; Fairfield (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS Pension Eligibility

Tuition Reimbursement

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid holidays

Leave accrual

Job summary

The City of Fairfield seeks a Water Plant Operator II/III/IV to operate and maintain its water treatment facilities, ensuring the continuous delivery of safe drinking water to the community.

Operators may advance through certification levels, support plant operations across shifts, and participate in safety and maintenance activities while adhering to regulatory requirements and city policies.

Qualifications

• Safety-minded and able to follow procedures.
• Team-oriented with ability to work across plant staff.
• Attention to detail for monitoring systems and processes.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain water treatment facilities to ensure safe drinking water.
• Monitor instrumentation and adjust processes to meet quality standards.
• Work with hazardous chemicals and follow safety protocols.
• Assist in maintenance and operation of pumps, reservoirs, and associated equipment.

Skills

Safety-minded

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Would you like to be part of a team that provides essential services to your community? The City Of Fairfield Public Works Department is seeking a skilled Water Plant Operator to join the water treatment team!

Are you an experienced water treatment professional looking to make a direct impact on the health and vitality of a thriving community? The City of Fairfield is seeking a dedicated, skilled, and safety-minded individual to join our Public Works team as a Water Plant Operator II, III, or IV. Operating and maintaining state-of-the-art water treatment facilities, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the continuous delivery of safe, clean, and reliable drinking water to the city's residents and businesses. Whether you are stepping up into a journey-level role or bringing advanced supervisory-level technical mastery to our operations, Fairfield offers competitive compensation and a collaborative work environment committed to professional growth and operational excellence.

This classification is represented by the Fairfield Employees’ Association ("FEA") and offers an excellent benefits package, including:

• CalPERS Pension Eligibility
• Tuition Reimbursement - up to $6,000/Year
• Generous contributions towards Medical, Dental, Vision, and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA)
• City-paid Life Insurance
• 50 hours of Personal Leave/year; up to 40 hours eligible for cashout
• Generous Vacation and Sick Leave accrual rates)
• 14 paid holidays
• Employer contribution to 457(b) deferred compensation; employee contribution optional

The posted salary range spans the Water Plant Operator II/III/IV series. Please refer to the specific job descriptions for the individual salary ranges, examples of duties, and knowledge and abilities.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Working environments vary and may include office settings, water treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, valve vaults, confined spaces, and rooftops. Outdoor assignments may include exposure to noise, heights and all types of weather conditions. Must be able to adjust to peak workload periods and work in a team setting with all members of the plant staff including, maintenance, laboratory, and administrative personnel. Employees will work with and around hazardous chemicals and processes typically found in potable water treatment operations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work may include prolonged standing as well as light to moderate lifting (up to 50 pounds), reaching, pulling, and pushing and crawling. Physical agility is required; must be able to climb stairs and ladders, work from ladders, and enter underground valve vaults (25' deep) for extended periods. This position may require the ability to apply correct use of personal protective equipment in an industrial or field setting. Manual dexterity, clear speech, visual and hearing acuity are also required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Water Plant Operator II - Employees in this classification are considered to be on training status until the necessary certification experience requirement for an advanced operator position is met. Incumbents are required to advance to the minimum shift operator certification required to independently operate either water treatment plant (Grade T-3) within two years of their date of hire. An individual may advance to Water Plant Operator III after obtaining the required state certification, gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency that meets the qualifications of the higher level class. An operator may remain in the class Water Plant Operator II beyond two years, subject to management approval.

Water Plant Operator III - This is the journey level class in which incumbents can independently operate either water treatment plant on an assigned shift without direct supervision. Employees have demonstrated a full understanding of all treatment processes, mechanical and electrical systems at both plants, and operations of reservoirs and various pump stations throughout the City's distribution system.

Water Plant Operator IV – This is the advanced journey level class in which incumbents take on a lead role in water treatment operations and provide training to less experienced personnel. Employees may typically be required to complete special assignments and studies. This classification is distinguished from the next lower classification by the greater complexity of assignments and exercise of higher degree of independent action.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Water Plant Operator II - Receives direct supervision from a Water Treatment Supervisor. May receive direction and assistance from higher level plant operators.

Water Plant Operator III & IV - Receives general supervision from a Water Treatment Supervisor; does not exercise supervision, but may provide direction and assist in the training of new plant operators.

Experience:

• Water Plant Operator II - One (1) year of experience as a Water Plant Operator with a SWRCB Water Treatment Certificate Grade T-1 or above is desirable.
• Water Plant Operator III - Two (2) years of experience as a Water Plant Operator II or higher and a SWRCB Water Treatment Certificate Grade T-3 or above is required.
• Water Plant Operator IV - Two (2) years of experience as a Water Plant Operator III or higher and a SWRCB Water Treatment Certificate Grade T-4 or above is required.

Education:

• All classifications - Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade is required. Course work in chemistry is desirable.

LICENSES AND / OR CERTIFICATES

• All classifications - Possession of a valid a California Class "C" driver's license is required; Class "A" license is desirable, but not required. Possession of an AWWA Water Quality Analyst and or State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Distribution System Operator certificate is desirable, but not required
• Water Plant Operator II – Possession of a State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Treatment Certificate Grade T-2 is required.
• Water Plant Operator III – Possession of a State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Treatment Certificate Grade T-3 is required.
• Water Plant Operator IV – Possession of a State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Treatment Certificate Grade T-4 is required.

For the complete job descriptions please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/fairfield/classspecs

THE SELECTION PROCESS:

Based on the information provided in the application documents, the best-qualified applicants will be invited for further examination. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Depending upon the number of applications received, the examination may consist of an application screening, written and/or practical exam, oral interview, or any combination.

REFERENCE CHECKS:

The City utilizes an electronic reference check process to gather references of candidates once mutual interest is established. Please note that if you include your current supervisor in the “References” section of your application, they may be contacted once you have accepted a conditional job offer from the City.

Candidates are encouraged to notify anyone they list in the “References” section to help ensure a timely response. When listing references, please identify persons who can assess your professional qualifications in the context of the workplace. Examples include former colleagues/supervisors, mentors, etc. If you have limited or no work experience, you may identify personal references familiar with your qualifications that correlate to workplace experiences. Examples include teachers, volunteer coordinators, mentors, etc.

The City of Fairfield is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and professionalism.