Water Reclamation Plant Operator

City-of-Reno,-N; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Reno is seeking a Water Reclamation Plant Operator at the Reno-Stead facility to monitor and adjust treatment processes, operate and maintain plant equipment, collect samples, and perform routine laboratory testing to ensure safe water quality.

Responsibilities include inspecting gauges, maintaining motors and pumps, performing carpentry, electrical and plumbing tasks, and logging operations. Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in wastewater plant operations and maintenance.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and ability to obtain Nevada Grade III Treatment Plant Operator certificate.
• Ability to perform essential duties in plant and field environments, including lifting and climbing.

Responsibilities

• Operate wastewater treatment and sludge equipment; regulate flow via valves and pumps.
• Inspect plant operations using gauges and instrumentation; log readings and results.
• Maintain motors, pumps, and related equipment; perform mechanical repairs as needed.
• Take liquid samples and conduct routine laboratory tests for water quality.
• Perform basic carpentry, electrical, plumbing, welding tasks as required.
• Maintain operation logs and perform mathematical calculations for processes.
• Support on-call rotation, including evenings, nights, or weekends.

Skills

Teamwork

Reading gauges

On-call readiness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Specialized wastewater training

Job description

The City of Reno is seeking a Water Reclamation Plant Operator to join the Utility Services Department at the Reno-Stead Water Reclamation Facility (RSWRF), a modern wastewater treatment and water reclamation facility.

This hands-on position supports the operation and maintenance of the City’s wastewater treatment system through monitoring and adjusting treatment processes, operating and maintaining plant equipment, collecting samples and performing routine laboratory testing, and responding to changing operating conditions. Operators work as part of a team to help ensure safe, reliable facility operations and compliance with applicable water quality standards.

Work Location:

Reno-Stead Water Reclamation Facility, 4250 Norton Drive, Reno, NV 89506

There is currently one vacancy in the Utility Services Department, with hiring anticipated to begin immediately following the close of this recruitment. This recruitment will also establish an eligible list that may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.

This is both an internal and external recruitment to provide a promotional opportunity for all qualified current classified City of Reno employees and an open competitive opportunity for all other qualified applicants.

The City of Reno is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to everyone. This commitment is an integral part of our efforts to ensure that we have a diverse and representative workforce that serves the community of Reno.

• Operate wastewater treatment, sludge processing and disposal equipment, and lift stations; adjust valves and gates and start and stop pumps, engines, and generators to regulate the flow through filtering, settling, aeration, and sludge digestion processes; clean and level sludge beds.
• Observe variations in operating conditions; inspect, monitor, and document plant operations by reading plant equipment gauges, dials, graphs, and other instrumentation.
• Inspect and maintain electric motors and pumps for proper operation; lubricate, overhaul, and install new and rebuilt motors and pumps; replace worn bearings; perform mechanical adjustments and repairs to ensure efficient operation of equipment.
• Collect liquid samples and perform a variety of routine water quality laboratory tests; ensure proper treatment of sewage and purification of water.
• Operate a variety of vehicles, tools, and equipment necessary to maintain the water reclamation plant system and equipment.
• Perform a variety of carpentry, electrical, concrete, plumbing, pipe fitting, soldering, and welding functions as required.
• Maintain, compile, and update plant operations logs and reports; perform and record mathematical calculations related to plant operational activities.
• Perform general plant facility maintenance such as cleaning, painting, and repairing plant facilities, various grounds maintenance duties, and weed abatement.
• Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education/Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by specialized training in wastewater or sewage treatment plant operations or a related field. *Additional relevant work experience beyond the two year experience requirement will substitute for the required specialized training.
• Experience: Two years of experience in wastewater plant operations and maintenance.
• License or Certificate: Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.
• License or Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid Grade III Treatment Plant Operator Certificate issued by the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection.

Requirements of the Position:

This position participates in an on-call rotation and may require evening, night, and weekend work. The position requires the ability to perform essential duties in a wastewater treatment plant and field environment, including prolonged standing and walking, climbing, bending, kneeling, crouching, and lifting or carrying moderate to heavy amounts of weight.

Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Contact Information:

Reports (Rule XV, Section 2). Applicants are responsible for keeping the Reno Civil Service Commission informed of their current contact information, including phone number, email, and mailing address.

Employee/Veteran Preference in the Event of Tie Scores:

1. City of Reno classified employees who are veterans
2. City of Reno classified employees who are not veterans
3. City of Reno non-classified employees and external candidates who are veterans

The preference is only used to break ties. Proof of honorable discharge must be submitted with the application.

Promotional Examinations (Rule VIII, Section 7): If two or more employees earn the same final score (including seniority points), veterans’ preference will be applied if any of the tied employees have submitted proof of an honorable military discharge. This preference is only used to break ties. If a tie still remains, it will be broken based on seniority in the current classification. Proof of honorable discharge must be submitted with the application.

Seniority Credit (Rule VIII, Section 9): Classified employees of the City of Reno shall receive seniority credit computed by adding to a passing score as follows: The final ranking will include the applicable seniority points added to the overall grade of the examination process. For each full year of continuous service completed, 0.2 points will be added up to a maximum of ten (10) years… 2 points will be the maximum.

Appointment and Certification: Appointments to positions in the City's Civil Service system are made on the basis of examination. Scores resulting from a competitive examination are used in determining a person's rank on an eligible register. The department may hire any of the persons referred. The names of those persons not hired may be considered when the next vacancy occurs, for as long as that register is viable.

Probationary Period: Certification of Eligibles, Appointments, and Probation (Rule VII, Section 12). Classified employees who are newly hired, promoted, reclassified, transferred, or who voluntarily demote to a lower position are subject to a probation period. The only exception is if an employee chooses to voluntarily demote back to the exact job they previously held within 24 months of being promoted.

Questions and Updates: Questions about the information on this announcement and updates to application information should be directed to Civil Service at [phone] or [e-mail].

The City of Reno is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, retention, and disciplinary decisions will be made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association, or any other protected class status applicable under federal or state law or City Charter.