Plant Operator (Open until filled)

City of Columbia•Columbia, TN

About The Position

Job Summary: The primary function of an employee in this class is to perform operations and maintenance duties, including monitoring, operating, maintaining, and adjusting equipment. Employees in this classification will acquire the necessary skills and related training to perform the more routine operation and maintenance duties at the wastewater treatment facility. This position may be required to work varied shifts throughout the year including nights, weekends and holidays and must be able to work overtime and standby as required. Essential Functions: Assists in operating, maintaining, monitoring, and adjusting all wastewater plant process equipment, including pumps, motors, gauges, meters, aerators, blowers, chlorinators, chemical feeds, sludge equipment to ensure treated water meets State quality standards; Performs daily rounds at the plant by visually checking facilities, equipment, machinery, chemical levels and related systems to ensure proper operation and to detect equipment failures, potential leaks, or other problem situations; Assists in monitoring off-site wells and reclaimed distribution systems, including operating equipment by reading chemical and flow levels; inspects equipment, identifies equipment problems, may make minor repairs and adjustments; Operates valves, gates and pumps to adjust water flows and chemical injection rates; performs routine maintenance work on valves, feeders, and related equipment as required; Assists in monitoring and adjusting flows through wells, pumps, and meters to control the distribution system and system pressure; Learns to recognize the need for and may make basic treatment and operational changes to the wastewater processes and distribution systems; Reads and interprets meters, gauges, and instruments; enters daily readings into computer databases and/or spreadsheets; Performs general site maintenance activities; cleans out basins, clarifiers, channels, reservoirs, filters, and cleans plant process and building and areas; Helps organize contracted sludge hauling activities; Assists with maintenance, repair, and overhaul of equipment and machinery; Performs building and facility maintenance and custodial tasks; Prepares and maintains work records, including work orders, maintenance and repair logs, flow records, vehicle inspection forms, daily work logs, and other documentation; Performs general cleaning/maintenance tasks necessary to keep vehicles, equipment, and tools in operable condition, which may include inspecting equipment, checking fluid levels, replacing fluids, washing/cleaning equipment, or cleaning shop/work areas; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with City policies and procedures; Works in a safe manner and reports unsafe activities, conditions and faulty equipment. Follows City-wide safety policy and practices and adheres to responsibilities concerning safety prevention, reporting and monitoring as outlined in the City's Safety Handbook; Monitors operation workers; Answers phone; Displays courteous, civil, and respectful behavior to all persons and shall make every effort to meet the needs of citizens requesting assistance; Refrains from the use of abusive, indecent or profane language or gestures in the workplace, in the performance of duties or in the presence of a member of the public; Performs duties in a manner that is fair, impartial, and without prejudice toward any person or group; Refrains from arguing unnecessarily with any person or otherwise showing a lack of self-control, ridicule, or defame any employee, elected official or any other person or any agency of the City of Columbia; Displays responsibility for attendance and promptness and report to the work area on time. Secondary Functions: Performs other related duties as required. Supervisory Functions: None.

Requirements

Methods, equipment, materials, tools, and standard practices for the operation and maintenance of a wastewater treatment facility
Methods of sampling and laboratory testing of wastewater
Methods of biological, physical and chemical treatment of wastewater
Maintenance procedures, including equipment, pumping systems, and valves related to the operation of a wastewater treatment facility
Operational standards of wastewater treatment
Safety practices in operation of electrical and mechanical equipment used in wastewater facilities
Ordinances and regulations governing operation and maintenance of the wastewater facilities
Wastewater treatment plant emergency procedures
Equipment and tool operation and maintenance practices
Occupational hazards and safety precautions involved in wastewater facility operations
Proper use and disposal of hazardous materials in accordance with established guidelines
Confined spaces entry procedures, Federal OSHA regulations and City policies regarding safe work practices
Must possess computer application skills that at a minimum include Microsoft Office Suite products including Word and Excel.
Read and interpret maps, technical specifications and operation manuals
Read and interpret meters, gauges, control panels, and testing and monitoring equipment
Inspect machinery, equipment, and mechanical systems in operation to detect flaws and defects
Operate manual and automated valve, pump, and control systems; operate a motor vehicle, power equipment, hand tools, sampling and testing equipment, and respirators
Prepare daily logs and maintain system performance records
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent to draw and interpret bar graphs
Ability to speak clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings
Ability to write clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; able to read and interpret written information
Ability to follow instructions, responds to management direction; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternative plan
Ability to meet scheduling and attendance requirements
Tennessee Certificate of Competency (grade 2, 3 or 4) in wastewater operations must be obtained within 4 consecutive testing opportunities after eligibility.
Valid Tennessee Driver's License.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two year-college or technical school; or one year to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

Assists in operating, maintaining, monitoring, and adjusting all wastewater plant process equipment
Performs daily rounds at the plant by visually checking facilities, equipment, machinery, chemical levels and related systems
Assists in monitoring off-site wells and reclaimed distribution systems
Operates valves, gates and pumps to adjust water flows and chemical injection rates
Assists in monitoring and adjusting flows through wells, pumps, and meters to control the distribution system and system pressure
Learns to recognize the need for and may make basic treatment and operational changes to the wastewater processes and distribution systems
Reads and interprets meters, gauges, and instruments; enters daily readings into computer databases and/or spreadsheets
Performs general site maintenance activities
Helps organize contracted sludge hauling activities
Assists with maintenance, repair, and overhaul of equipment and machinery
Performs building and facility maintenance and custodial tasks
Prepares and maintains work records
Performs general cleaning/maintenance tasks necessary to keep vehicles, equipment, and tools in operable condition
Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with City policies and procedures
Works in a safe manner and reports unsafe activities, conditions and faulty equipment
Monitors operation workers
Answers phone
Displays courteous, civil, and respectful behavior to all persons
Refrains from the use of abusive, indecent or profane language or gestures in the workplace, in the performance of duties or in the presence of a member of the public
Performs duties in a manner that is fair, impartial, and without prejudice toward any person or group
Refrains from arguing unnecessarily with any person or otherwise showing a lack of self-control, ridicule, or defame any employee, elected official or any other person or any agency of the City of Columbia
Displays responsibility for attendance and promptness and report to the work area on time
Performs other related duties as required