Water & Wastewater Operator Trainee

Woodard & Curran Inc.; Groveland (FL); On-site; USD 28,929 - 33,062; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k matching up to 3%

Project Bonus

SPARKS Bonus up to $500

8 Paid holidays – 2 floating

Job summary

Woodard & Curran Inc. seeks an Operator Trainee in Groveland, Florida. Shadow certified operators, learn treatment processes, and work toward obtaining the required Florida drinking water and wastewater licenses.

Responsibilities include office-based work with work orders and field tasks to support plant operations. The role offers day-to-day exposure to drinking and wastewater treatment, with duties split between indoor and outdoor environments.

Qualifications

• High School Degree or Equivalent.
• Valid Florida Driver's License required.
• Ability to work towards obtaining State of Florida Class "C" Drinking Water and/or Wastewater license.
• Must follow safety procedures.
• Background check, pre-placement physical and drug screen required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in operating Water, Wastewater, and Maintenance departments to ensure proper plant operation and maintenance.
• Monitor and adjust system flows and treatment conditions; log daily reports.
• Maintain and clean plant equipment and work areas; support pump and motor maintenance as needed.
• Attend training and tests to pursue licensure within 12 months of hire.

Skills

Computer skills

Education

High School Degree or Equivalent

Job description

Woodard & Curran is a national engineering, science and operations firm with a simple vision for clean water, a safe environment, healthy communities and happy people. As an employee-owned company, we strive to cultivate teams that encourage collaboration in an inclusive culture. We seek talented individuals from all backgrounds to help us address a broad range of water and environmental issues. We prioritize our people, offering opportunities for professional growth, ownership and flexibility. This commitment enables us to make a meaningful impact on our clients, communities and the planet.

Are you looking for a stable career with room for growth and advancement? Does working in an industry that gives back to its community by providing clean and safe water sound appealing to you?

Woodard & Curran draws on the experience of hundreds of certified water and wastewater operators across the country to quickly tackle the most challenging operational issues and keep treatment plants running efficiently and in full compliance. We aid our employees in earning, upgrading, and keeping their certifications within the industry, as well as reimbursing employees towards earning, upgrading, and keeping their licenses and certifications within the industry.

What will you be doing at Woodard & Curran?

We are looking for an Operator Trainee in Groveland, Florida. We are looking for someone with strong computer skills who wants to learn the treatment process, work towards obtaining their license, and assist with additional responsibilities that help keep our plant running smoothly and staying in compliance. You will be shadowing certified operators at the treatment facility and in the field to learn the processes and procedures that go into treating both drinking and wastewater. You will also spend some time in the office managing work orders and our computerized maintenance management system, ordering plant supplies, and other projects as needed. If you enjoy working both indoors and outdoors protecting nature’s precious resource, water, then this position is for you!

Schedule

Hours 6:00a.m.-2:30p.m, Monday- Friday, Sunday- Thursday, Tuesday- Saturday based on operational needs with the flexibility to work different shifts to meet the demands of the water and wastewater systems. Reliable and dependable attendance is an essential function of the position.

Some of the duties you will be performing include:

• Perform duties necessary to support the Water, Wastewater and Maintenance departments to ensure the proper operation and maintenance of the water and wastewater treatment systems and equipment. Duties include but are not limited to, assisting with the conducting of lab tests, sample analysis, running tests on various equipment, cleaning bottles for the autosampler, and determining test results.
• Assists with monitoring and adjusting system flows, treatment process conditions, and storage levels by monitoring the status of production, storage, and delivery systems. Duties include maintaining system reports and records by preparing and logging daily reports into the computer system.
• Assists with maintaining and cleaning plant and plant equipment, and cleaning lab counters and floors. Duties include, but are not limited to, grounds maintenance, and basic pump and motor maintenance. May assist and/or be cross-trained in pump and motor repair, maintenance, and installation.
• Attends training classes, takes tests, and participates in on-the-job-training activities that are required by the State of Florida, as a prerequisite for obtaining a Class C wastewater license. This position is classified as an Operator in Training and is responsible for accomplishing licensure requirements commensurate with the position within 12 months of hire.

What will you need to succeed?

• High School Degree or Equivalent.
• Valid Florida Driver's License required.
• The ability to work towards obtaining a State of Florida Class "C" Drinking Water and/or Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators license.
• Being able to make sound decisions in process control and follow instructions, as well as following safety procedures.
• Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check, pre-placement physical and drug screen before employment.

Benefits

• Full benefit package with 401k matching up to 3%.
• Merit increases based on performance
• Project Bonus
• SPARKS Bonus- If we work safely without any incidents maxing out at $500
• Continuous Education- company pays for schooling and certifications for personal growth.
• 8 Paid holidays – 2 additional floating holiday

$21 - $24 an hour

Depending on qualifications and experience.

Mutual Dispute Resolution (MDR)

As part of our commitment to a fair and respectful workplace, Woodard & Curran uses a Mutual Dispute Resolution (MDR) to help resolve most employment-related concerns efficiently and consistently.

What this means:

• MDR applies to both you and the Company
• Most workplace-related disputes are resolved throughbinding arbitration, rather than court proceedings
• Certain exceptions are outlined in the full agreement

Mutual Dispute Resolution Agreement

If you are offered a position with Woodard & Curran, you will be asked to review and sign the MDR as part of your offer packet.

Employee Support & Benefits

Retirement Savings:

• 401(k) Pre-tax or Roth Contributions: The company matches 100% of the first 3% of salary contributed

Time away from work:

• Observed holidays: Choose up to 8 holidays to observe annually
• Vacation: Accrued based on years of experience and calculated on hours worked
• Sick time: Paid sick time for non-work-related illness or injury.
• Parental leave: Up to 80 hours of Paid Parental Leave for child bonding

Coverage and support for your needs and well-being:

• Disability: Paid short- and long-term disability
• Health: Medical plan options; plus dental and vision plans.
• Life: Basic employee group life insurance and AD&D benefits; additional voluntary life insurance for employees and families is available through Sun Life.
• Wellbeing: DarioMind assistance program combined with personalized mental health and wellbeing resources.

Workplace Information

E-Verify Participation

Woodard & Curran participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. As part of this process, we display the required Notice of E-Verify Participation and Right to Work posters.

View required Right to Work and E-Verify posters here.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accessibility

Woodard & Curran is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to non-discrimination and make employment decisions based on job-related factors. Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact Beth Sweitzer.

View our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

View the Workplace Discrimination is Illegal poster

Inclusion & Belonging

We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and believe diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to serve clients and communities.

As an employee-owned company, we are committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment where employees can grow, contribute fully, and deliver meaningful impact.

Recruitment Agency Policy

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Submissions without a signed agreement in place will be considered unsolicited and not eligible for referral fees.

Text Message Communication Notice:

To support an efficient hiring process, we may send brief SMS updates or reminders. You may opt out at any time by replying “STOP.”

Terms, Privacy & Use of AI in Hiring

Woodard & Curran Terms of Use

Woodard & Curran Privacy Statement

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support aspects of the hiring process (e.g., application review or resume screening). These tools assist our team but do not replace human decision-making. All final hiring decisions are made by people.