Operator (All Levels)

NW Natural•Newberg, OR

1d•$25 - $52•Remote

About The Position

NW Natural Water owns and operates water and wastewater utilities in communities throughout Texas, Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Since 2018, NW Natural Water has acquired more than 30 utilities and today serves more than 190,000 people via 76,000 connections. Our parent company, NW Natural Holding Company (NYSE: NWN) (NW Natural Holdings), is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and has been doing business for over 165 years. The company operates through NW Natural Gas Company (NW Natural), SiEnergy Operating (SiEnergy), NW Natural Water Company (NW Natural Water), NW Natural Renewables Holdings (NW Natural Renewables), and other business interests, serving a combined population of over 2.6 million people. This position will not be assigned to a specific work center location. The primary service territory for this position is Cloverdale, OR to Corvallis, OR. This position requires a 2-hour on-call response time to the surface water treatment plant facilities in the primary territory. The Operator monitors and manages water treatment plants and distribution systems. The Operator will be responsible for oversight of water treatment plant equipment and processes to meet permit requirements and plant performance goals across five unique surface water treatment plants. This also includes performing field tasks related to operation and repair of the water distribution system, including emergency response. The level at which a candidate is hired will depend on their qualifications, relevant experience, and applicable certifications. This position does not directly oversee other employees on a permanent basis but does frequently have responsibility and oversight of personnel directly related to specific advanced projects as assigned. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. They will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other work-related duties requested by their supervisor.

Requirements

High school education or equivalent
Valid driver’s license (or obtain within 90 days if out-of-state), required certifications/endorsements, and satisfactory driving record.
Must consent to annual Motor Vehicle Records check and pass Criminal History check
Must be able to safely lift a minimum of 50 pounds, more with additional help.
Must be able to physically accommodate and use respirators and self-contained breathing apparatuses.
Must be physically able to access and egress trenches, manholes and lift stations as well as water reservoirs and towers.
Ability to safely work with hazardous chemicals
Must be able to accommodate a weekend or variable shift, participate in a 24-hour emergency call rotation when assigned, and work beyond regularly scheduled hours as needed to meet operational and project deadlines.
Oregon State Flagger certification card - employer provided (Must be obtained within six months of employment)
First Aid & CPR – employer provided (Must be obtained within six months of employment)
High school diploma or equivalent (Operator Technician)
Prior utility, construction, or related field experience (Operator Technician)
Ability to obtain required certifications within established timelines (Operator Technician)
Note: Additional Operator 1 certification must be obtained within 18 months of employment. (Operator Technician)
2 or more years of relevant water utility or closely related experience (Operator I)
Demonstrated working knowledge of water distribution systems (Operator I)
Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) / Oregon Health Authority certification: Water Distribution Level I (D1) or Water Treatment Level I (T1) (Operator I)
3 or more years of progressively responsible water utility experience (Operator 2)
Strong working knowledge of water system operations, troubleshooting, and safety practices (Operator 2)
Higher level Oregon certification consistent with role assignment, such as: Water Distribution Level II (D2) and/or Water Treatment Level II (T2) (Operator 2)
5 or more years of progressively responsible water utility experience (Operator 3)
Advanced knowledge of water distribution and/or treatment system operations, maintenance, regulatory compliance, and safety requirements (Operator 3)
Demonstrated ability to diagnose complex operational issues and implement corrective actions (Operator 3)
Experience providing technical guidance, training, or lead direction to other operators (Operator 3)
Higher-level Oregon certification consistent with role assignment, such as: Water Distribution Level III (D3) and/or Water Treatment Level III (T3) (Operator 3)
7 or more years of progressively responsible water utility experience (Operator 4)
Expert-level knowledge of water distribution and/or treatment systems, regulatory requirements, and operational best practices (Operator 4)
Demonstrated leadership in managing complex projects, emergency response activities, and system optimization efforts (Operator 4)
Proven ability to provide technical direction, training, and mentorship to operators and work teams (Operator 4)
Higher level Oregon certification consistent with role assignment, such as: Water Distribution Level IV (D4) and/or Water Treatment Level IV (T4) (Operator 4)

Nice To Haves

Performs routine tasks with training and oversight (Operator Technician)
May assist higher level operators on more complex work (Operator Technician)
Does not routinely lead or direct work activities (Operator Technician)
Independently performs standard operational and maintenance tasks (Operator I)
May provide task level guidance to Operator Technicians (Operator I)
Participates in more complex repairs and troubleshooting (Operator I)
Performs advanced operational, maintenance, and repair activities (Operator 2)
Frequently provides oversight or direction to other operators on complex or specialized projects (Operator 2)
Serves as a technical resource within the team (Operator 2)
Performs highly skilled operational, maintenance, and repair activities (Operator 3)
Leads complex troubleshooting efforts and provides guidance on system performance and reliability (Operator 3)
Serves as a subject matter expert and mentor to less experienced operators (Operator 3)
Supports planning, coordination, and execution of major maintenance, construction, or improvement projects (Operator 3)
Provides technical leadership on critical system operations and strategic projects (Operator 4)
Leads response and resolution efforts for major operational challenges, emergencies, and system incidents (Operator 4)
Advises management on operational best practices, regulatory compliance, and system improvements (Operator 4)
Serves as a mentor and resource for operators across all levels (Operator 4)

Responsibilities

Monitor and maintain water treatment plant equipment (such as filters, pumps, UV, chemical dosing and related equipment)
Collect samples in accordance with OHA compliance standards.
Participate in system wide flushing and valve exercising operation.
Read and record meter and gauge readings related to plant operations and input into electronic database
Locate, identify and mark distribution system facilities, including valves, fire hydrants and blow-offs
Locate and identify leaks
Report malfunctioning equipment and perform minor maintenance
Assist in distribution leak repair and capital improvement projects.
Perform other related work as required
Operate service trucks; routinely inspect and perform minor maintenance on assigned vehicles; remove and replace defective parts. Assist with transporting vehicles to repair shops.
Comply with all NW Natural Water Services policies, procedures and safety regulations.
Comply with NW Natural Water Services grooming and uniform policy.
Provide effective communication, in written and verbal form, with management and/or other operators on the technical level required of this position.
Participate in specialized training for the safe handling of hazardous materials and confined space entry.
Participate in weekly team meetings
Ability to work on a team, and independently with or without supervision.