Operator - Thermal Biosolids Dryer

Town of Cary•Cary, NC

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Cary is seeking a dependable and safety-focused professional to join the South Cary Water Reclamation Facility team as a Thermal Biosolids Dryer Operator. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced industrial environment, values teamwork, accountability, and environmental stewardship, and takes pride in maintaining high operational standards. Success in this position requires strong situation awareness, attention to detail, and the ability to combine technology-based monitoring with hands-on observation and sound judgment in the field. As part of Cary’s OneCary culture, employees are empowered to collaborate across departments, think creatively, and provide exceptional public service while supporting the Town’s commitment to innovation, safety, air quality, and operational excellence. This position works a non-rotating schedule as follows: Mondays: 6am to Noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: 12am to Noon Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays: OFF Anticipated Hiring Range: $56,867 - $69,867 Hiring range varies based on the level of direct experience and possession of certifications, and it may be higher for exceptionally qualified candidates. Water Reclamation Facility positions are part of our established career ladder program that provides for the advancement of non-supervisory staff members in eligible positions who demonstrate increasing levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Depending upon the level of attainment in the career ladder, an employee may have lead worker duties over other plant personnel. The minimum certification level is determined by the career ladder criteria. This position is a “critical position” meaning you are required to report to work during adverse weather or other emergency situations, to maintain equipment, operate the facility and/or assist the Department in any capacity necessary to continue Town operations. This position will report to the South Cary Water Reclamation Facility located at 4900 W. Lake Rd. Apex, NC 27539.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or possession of a GED
Grade 1 Biological Wastewater Treatment Operator Certification from the State of North Carolina or the ability to obtain certification within a year of employment
Valid driver's license with a satisfactory driving history
Must live within 50 miles or a one hour drive-time to the facility located at 4900 Westlake Road, Apex NC
Thorough knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of a grade IV water reclamation facility
Thorough knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of a wastewater treatment plant/thermal bio-solids dryer
Thorough knowledge of hydraulic, chemical and mechanical principles pertinent to wastewater treatment plant/thermal bio-solids dryer operations
Thorough knowledge of electrical and electronic systems
Thorough knowledge of hydraulic, chemical and mechanical principles pertinent to wastewater treatment
Thorough knowledge of the occupational hazards of work and of necessary safety precautions
Ability to effectively and efficiently communicate with staff and citizens
Ability to operate a computer relative to the operation of the plant and troubleshooting malfunctions, and ability to type and work with computers
Ability to detect flaws in the operation of mechanical equipment and to determine proper remedial measures
Ability to conduct routine laboratory tests
Ability to understand and follow moderately complex oral and written instructions
Ability to read meters and charts accurately and to maintain records of shift operations
Ability to work in adverse conditions such as heat, cold, rain and unpleasant surroundings
Skill in the use and care of equipment and hand tools
Ability to move about freely including climbing stairs/ladders and crawling into tight spaces
Ability to lift moderate to heavy weights in the performance of work
Ability to effectively and efficiently communicate with staff and the public
Ability to hear, talk and smell
Must possess visual acuity necessary to read/write paperwork, read gauges, and make repairs
Work in this class is medium to heavy work and may require exposure to various environmental conditions such as heat, cold, rain, and unpleasant surroundings
An employee must have the physical agility to move about freely including climbing stairs and ladders and crawling into tight spaces
Moderate to heavy lifting is required in performing the work
Visual acuity is necessary to perform paperwork, read gauges, and make repairs
An employee must also be able to hear, talk, and smell

Nice To Haves

Wastewater experience is a plus
Experience with industrial process systems, and/or industrial technology, such as the heat treatment of wood products or cereals, centrifuges, dryer technologies, incinerators, BMP and scrubbers or boilers

Responsibilities

Pre-start up data collection, primary and secondary equipment checks/preparations, process start-ups, steady state operation, and controlled shutdowns of the dewatering and thermal drying processes according to established standard operating procedures
Collect critical process data, on well-established schedules, to demonstrate that the thermal drying process consistently yields a final biosolids product that meets or exceeds the permitted federal and state regulatory requirement of Class A Exceptional Quality
Operate and maintain dewatering processes and equipment including polymer storage, make-up, batching and feed systems, as well as high speed centrifuges to yield the wet material meeting the solids content required by the drying processes
Use of SCADA process screens and live trend charts essential to maintaining optimum dewatering and dryer performance
Operate and maintain air compressors for utility air and pneumatic conveyance system; other conveyance equipment such as screw conveyors, rotary air locks, bucket elevators
Operate and maintain fugitive dust collection system and control devices
Solids handling equipment such as a wet material feed pump, recycle metering screw, mixer, pre-separator, poly-cyclone, rotary shaker, and roll crusher
Emissions control devices including the baghouses, saturator, and venturi-scrubber
Monitor and ensure function of all critical process safety systems including carbon monoxide, oxygen, and temperature instrumentation as well as the inertization system including liquid nitrogen storage and evaporation, and nitrogen gas feed system to the product storage vessels that require this safety control
Basic application of knowledge regarding the 40 CFR 503 sludge regulations as it applies to biosolids processing provided by the thermal biosolids dryer facility
Operate plant in regular or fill in capacity
Performs other job-related tasks as required
Makes regular tours of plant and checks bar screens, engines, generators, pumps, settling tanks, filters, clarifiers
Operates sludge drying facility
Monitors reclaimed water pumping station and tests chlorine residual
Changes flow charts; measures dissolved oxygen and temperature
Wastes the prescribed amount of discharge as determined by superiors
Maintains records and reports
Assists maintenance personnel when needed; performs routine janitorial duties
Regulates and adjusts motors, pumps, blowers, and valves to meet changing operational conditions
Collects samples for laboratory tests; performs a variety of laboratory tests
Operates gravity belt thickener/digestors and records amount of sludge removed from sludge digestors by contractor; maintains supernatant flow from sludge lagoon
Monitors operation of the plant through the use of specialized computer equipment such as SCADA systems, controls and printers
Reports maintenance problems to maintenance personnel