Plant Operator (S/L/V)

Carbondale, City of•Carbondale, IL

23h•Onsite

About The Position

This is a regular, full-time position at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Sewer Division of the Public Works Department. The Plant Maintenance Operator is responsible for assigned duties related to the operation and maintenance of the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant and Systems. Duties are usually routine but can vary from day to day. This position requires the ability to respond quickly to emergencies, changing situations, and environments, to think critically, and to problem-solve. The Plant Maintenance Operator reports to and is evaluated by the Wastewater Plant Superintendent and Director of Utilities or Designee.

Requirements

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Must possess or obtain and maintain a valid CDL Class B Illinois driver’s license with air-brake and tank endorsements within sixty (90) days of employment.
Must pass pre-employment and ongoing random drug screening tests; a pre-employment background check; and a pre-employment job duty physical evaluation.
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, and Outlook) and computer aptitude is required.
Employee must obtain and maintain a Class “C” water license from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) within four (4) years of employment; obtaining and maintaining this license is a condition of employment.
Residency within the City’s “20 mile boundary” is required within six months of employment.

Nice To Haves

An applicable associates or technical degree is preferred.
Maintenance experience applicable to the job duties enumerated herein and a good mechanical aptitude are desired.

Responsibilities

Perform regular maintenance of all treatment plant facilities, equipment, pumps, motors, hoists, control panels and systems, valves, actuators, water and sewer lines, electrical systems, remote pumping stations, and other plant wastewater treatment and distribution appurtenances.
Use miscellaneous hand tools to diagnose and make repairs and perform maintenance as needed, including minor electrical repairs.
Use various power tools such as drills, saws, weed eaters, lawn mowers, buffers, and the like to perform maintenance, repairs, and all phases of janitorial work.
Work in and around raw water and sludge on a daily basis; enter tanks, manholes, and the like to perform duties as assigned, sometimes requiring hip waders/boots to walk in or through raw or processed water.
Enter and work in confined spaces using proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety precautions.
Safely and effectively operate vehicles, equipment, and tools, including: Lifting, carrying, and operating machinery, tools, pumps, generators, and other items weighing 75 to 150 pounds or more.
Manually drive vehicles, pickup trucks, dump trucks, end loaders, backhoes, skid loaders, tractors, mowers, and other heavy equipment.
Conduct pre-operation visual and manual checks of vehicles, tools, and equipment before use; remedy and promptly report problems and/or issues to supervisor.
Visually read and record information in writing on maintenance records.
Perform preventative maintenance on valves, drives, motors, pumps, handrails, equipment, and the like.
Manually operate gate, plug, butterfly, sluice gates, and other standard valves using hand wheels, bars, chains, or wrenches.
Perform Wastewater Plant Operator duties, including: observing the appearance of the raw water entering the plant for color, odor, and temperature; performing bench tests of the water from various treatment points, including turbidity, pH, chlorine, and other parameters; exercising independent judgment to regulate treatment and chemical feed depending on changing conditions; preventive maintenance checks/rounds of the complete plant complex every two (2) hours regardless of weather conditions.
Use a personal computer to operate, monitor, and record plant systems, flow rates, operational information, and the like.
Proficiently use plant computerized and SCADA (Supervised Control and Data Acquisition) systems; comprehend, understand, and make adjustments to treatment processes based on information and feedback from the SCADA system and personal observations of treatment plant conditions.
Operate variable frequency drives (VFD’s) both automatically and manually.
Monitor and respond to the Inter-Plant Safety Call System and the Water & Sewer Hotline.
Pick up liquid samples from various areas of the plant for the purpose of testing in either the plant laboratory or the Central Laboratory, which requires walking around open tanks on grating walkways and entering confined spaces.
Perform laboratory tests as required, using various laboratory instruments and chemicals, and record the results in writing and/or in a computer.
Manually handle bulk and other chemicals, etc. in containers and bags weighing fifty (50) pounds or more.
Be knowledgeable of and practice good safety procedures at all times, use proper PPE and good judgement.
Comprehend and follow oral and/or written instructions.
Verbally operate two-way base, mobile and portable radios.
Legibly document and fill out log books and maintenance records as required and directed by your supervisor.
Use tact and good judgment and utilize strong and effective interpersonal skills in interacting with co-workers and the public.
Work effectively both independently and as a team member.
Possess relevant computer skills and be experienced in the use and operation of Microsoft Office Software Suite.
Arrive at work on-time every day and be prepared to begin work at the start time of your shift.
Respond to overtime calls and be regularly available for overtime and emergency work as needed and required.
Perform all other tasks as and duties as assigned to carry out the mission of the Public Works Department.