Plant Operator

Halifax Health•Daytona Beach, FL

About The Position

The Plant Operator operates, monitors, inspects, maintains, and supports repairs to central plant and facility utility systems in a hospital environment. The role supports safe, reliable, continuous operation of boilers, chillers, cooling towers, pumps, steam and condensate systems, domestic water systems, medical facility utility infrastructure, building automation systems, alarms, and related equipment. The position coordinates with facilities, engineering, clinical departments, infection prevention, safety, security, and vendors to support utility reliability, regulatory readiness, emergency response, accurate documentation, and uninterrupted services for patient-care and support areas. This is a tiered role with a technician ladder intended to support development and advancement within the department. Technician I is an entry-level position performing foundational rounds, readings, inspections, cleaning, and corrective support under close supervision. Responsibilities and autonomy increase with level. The position supports three-shift coverage and may be assigned to day, evening, or night shift according to operational needs. The operator works in accordance with applicable codes, life-safety practices, infection-prevention procedures, utility-management requirements, equipment-manufacturer guidance, and facility standards for occupied healthcare environments. The work includes indoor and outdoor areas such as mechanical rooms, central plant areas, rooftops, interstitial spaces, and above-ceiling spaces, with exposure to operating equipment and varied environmental conditions.

Requirements

Technician I typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent plus trade school, apprenticeship training, military technical training, or equivalent facility operations experience.
For Technician I, the stated minimum experience is 0–2 years.
Experience requirements for Technician II, Technician III, and Senior levels are described as progressively higher, but specific amounts are not provided in the supplied description.
A valid driver license is required if required by the role.
Complete required safety, infection-prevention, utility-systems, and facility onboarding training.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, mechanical aptitude, knowledge of central plant and building utility systems, and effective communication are required.
Ability to monitor equipment, respond to alarms, accurately document work in CMMS and logs, follow safety and shutdown procedures, and support continuous hospital operations in patient-care and support spaces.
Build foundational proficiency in safety, lockout/tagout, PPE, infection-prevention awareness, alarm response, utility rounds, and safe work practices in occupied healthcare environments.
Learn plant operations basics, including boilers, chillers, cooling towers, pumps, valves, steam and condensate systems, BAS screens, gauges, meters, logs, and routine use of hand and power tools.
Meet physical demands including frequent walking, standing, bending, kneeling, climbing, and reaching; perform rounds, inspections, operator-level maintenance and repairs, and use hand and power tools.
Occasionally lift, push, or pull 25–50 pounds or equivalent during the regular work shift.
Follow applicable codes, life-safety practices, infection-prevention procedures, utility-management requirements, manufacturer guidance, and facility standards for occupied healthcare environments.

Nice To Haves

Experience in hospital, central plant, utility systems, commercial, industrial, or other regulated institutional environments is strongly preferred.
Trade program completion, OSHA 10, boiler safety awareness, HVAC/central plant fundamentals, or documented completion of introductory plant operations training.
Readiness to independently complete routine rounds, readings, preventive maintenance, and service calls.
For Technician I, dependable attendance, safe work habits, accurate logs and documentation, and the ability to complete routine assignments with decreasing supervision support promotion readiness.

Responsibilities

Maintain and update CMMS information, logs, rounds sheets, BAS records, and other facility-system documentation for plant equipment and utility infrastructure.
Operate, inspect, monitor, maintain, troubleshoot, and support repairs to central plant and facility utility systems, including boilers, chillers, cooling towers, pumps, steam and condensate systems, heat exchangers, compressed air, domestic-water support systems, and associated controls.
Perform assigned rounds, readings, alarm response, water-treatment support, temperature and pressure checks, inspections, testing support, corrective work, and documentation in accordance with facility procedures and applicable standards.
Assist the Facility Manager, Project Manager, and/or representative with engineering, construction, renovation, replacement, and commissioning activities involving plant equipment, mechanical rooms, utility systems, and associated infrastructure.
Coordinate planned and emergency utility shutdowns, equipment changeovers, and service interruptions with leadership, affected departments, infection prevention, safety, security, and other stakeholders to minimize disruption to patient care and maintain safe conditions.
Monitor vendors and contractors performing plant operations, utility, mechanical, boiler, chiller, HVAC, or controls-related work for safe execution, compliance with facility procedures, scope, quality, and documentation.
Maintain logs, inspection records, spreadsheets, and other documentation for testing, deficiencies, repairs, and items due.
Perform general maintenance, operator-level preventive maintenance, minor repairs, rounds, cleaning, lubrication, filter changes, and operational checks related to plant equipment, and support other facility operations as assigned.
Assist with and coordinate purchase requisitions, materials, repair parts, chemicals, filters, tools, and replacement-project needs for plant equipment and facility utility systems.
Communicate with leadership, team members, clinical and support departments, vendors, safety, and security; promptly escalate conditions that may affect safety, utility reliability, patient care, comfort, or operations.
Test and verify plant and utility systems and associated components to support operations, equipment reliability, environmental conditions, energy efficiency, and compliance; keep required documentation updated regularly.
Maintain certifications and pursue continued-learning courses and training related to boilers, chillers, HVAC, central plant operations, BAS, emergency response, infection prevention, utility management, and regulated healthcare facility operations.
Complete other tasks assigned by leadership and participate in on-call needs, urgent response, and troubleshooting.