Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I or II (WWTP Op I or II)

City of Oak Harbor • Oak Harbor, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Join our City of Oak Harbor team to help build a legacy of commitment to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion in our vibrant waterfront community. This role involves performing wastewater treatment operations, maintenance, and other related duties. The position assists in controlling flows, processing wastewater, and maintaining regulatory and permit standards. Duties depend on weekly rotations and other assignments and include checking equipment, troubleshooting, collecting samples, performing laboratory tests, maintaining logs and records, and assisting in responding to public inquiries. The Operator II functions as a journey-level operator and performs advanced and specialized process control, operations, and maintenance at our MBR plant, including duty calls, emergency services, flagging, safety awareness, customer service, and technical duties to control the flow and processing of sewage and maintain regulatory and NPDES permit requirements. Operator II duties also include troubleshooting, modification of equipment, assisting in training, community tours and education, and leading special projects.

Requirements

• High school graduation/GED or equivalent
• Minimum one (1) year of experience in a treatment plant, including customer service and problem solving (for Operator I)
• Minimum of three (3) years progressively responsible experience in a wastewater treatment plant, process control, operations, customer service, training, and special projects (for Operator II)
• Must have and maintain a valid Washington State certification as a Group I Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator at the time of hire (for Operator I)
• Must have and maintain a valid Washington State certification as a Group II Wastewater Treatment Operator at the time of hire (for Operator II)
• Must obtain CPR and Industrial First Aid certification within six (6) months of hire date, and maintain currency for the term of employment (for Operator I)
• Must obtain CPR and Industrial First Aid certification within one (1) year of hire date, and maintain currency for the term of employment (for Operator II)
• Must obtain a valid Washington State Department of Transportation certification in flagging, traffic control and safety within six (6) months of hire, and maintain currency for the term of employment (for Operator I)
• Must obtain a valid Washington State Department of Transportation certification in flagging, traffic control and safety within one (1) year of hire date and maintain currency for the term of employment (for Operator II)
• Experience and familiarity with personal computers, printers and faxes, and software such as Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Must have a valid Washington State Driver's License and a good driving record.
• Must provide a drivers abstract prior to hire.
• Must pass criminal background and reference check prior to hire.
• Must be able to obtain security clearance for access to the local Navy base.
• Thorough knowledge of and ability to apply wastewater treatment technical, operational, and customer service skills to resolve problems which may occur, and to contribute suggestions for improvements to procedures in process control, operations, training, and special projects (for Operator II).
• Knowledge and ability to utilize Fluke multimeters, specialized laboratory instruments, specialized equipment associated with treatment plant operations and its maintenance and repair (for Operator II).
• Operation of full sized pick-up trucks, flat bed trucks, tailgate lifts, forklifts, generators, various pumps, backhoes, hand and power tools (for Operator II).
• Good oral and written communications skills; ability to work independently as well as cooperatively with co-workers, supervisors, regulatory officials, and the general public (for Operator II).
• Knowledge of English, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, punctuation and mathematics.
• Ability to keep accurate records, and to input and retrieve data on a personal computer using a maintenance program and associated software.
• Ability to perform work in accordance with OSHA/WISHA regulations and established safety practices.
• Ability to respond to city owned facilities within 30 minutes when assigned standby duty and have the confidence to correct any alarm condition(s).
• Good judgment and problem-solving skills to troubleshoot and apply knowledge of plants and collection system operations, maintenance, testing, and control to resolve unusual and critical problems (for Operator II).
• Advanced knowledge of wastewater treatment plant science and mathematics and ability to read and understand blue prints, schematics, and technical manuals (for Operator II).
• Knowledge and ability to function as the sole operator on weekend duty and perform callout requirements (for Operator II).
• Experience in the operation of an MBR or Activated Sludge process (for Operator II).

Nice To Haves

• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Perform plant operations and maintenance duties to develop skills in process control, calculating chemical feeds, tracing plant flows, adjusting wastewater flows, using various type gates and valves, flow meters and related telemetry.
• Monitor automated alarms and controls and assist in calibrating and maintaining electronic controls and flow monitoring devices.
• Collect various process samples.
• Set-up, conduct and record laboratory tests such as temperature, settleable solids, residual chlorine, pH, alkalinity.
• Gain experience with volatile acids, volatile solids, BOD, CBOD, Ammonia Nitrogen, Nitrite, Nitrate, gas analysis and bacterial tests.
• Assist in maintaining daily operations logs.
• Record meter and gauge readings, weather conditions, equipment malfunctions and related information.
• Assist in maintaining electrical equipment and mechanical systems.
• Perform treatment plant and collection system maintenance duties such as lubricating pump bearings, basic oil services, mechanical maintenance; clean, scrape and paint machinery, equipment and facilities.
• Under direction repair or replace valves, switches, motors and related equipment as required or assigned.
• Clean, sweep and mop office and restroom floors, wash windows as necessary.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, other departments and the general public using good judgment, tact and courtesy.
• Respond to customer and public inquiries in a courteous manner.
• Assess concerns or complaints, problem solve or follow-up with customers or the public.
• Refer appropriate matters to the Lead Treatment Plant Operator.
• Maintain and service division equipment.
• Assist in the division public education and community service functions and conduct plant tours for citizens, schools, and other persons.
• Complete required safety checks following mandated procedures.
• Work in a safe and self responsible manner.
• Attend various workshops, meetings, seminars, and conferences to maintain skills and meet job requirements.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• Oversee and perform plant operations and maintenance duties such as process control, regulating chemical flows, starting and stopping pumps, adjusting wastewater flows, and maintaining electrical and mechanical systems, draining water from clarifiers and operating various pumps to transfer sludge from one process to another and monitoring plant operations.
• Perform weekend and after-hours functions including process control, sampling, testing, operations, and maintenance.
• Utilize computer spreadsheets, reports and maintenance management systems accurately.
• Ability to repair or replace valves, switches, motors, basic electrical equipment and any other related equipment as required or assigned.
• Clean, sweep and mop offices, process areas and restroom floors, wash windows, and maintain facilities as necessary.
• Respond to customer and public inquiries in a courteous manner and perform duties such as assessing concerns or complaints, problem solving and leading response efforts, and follow-up with customers, vendors, the public, other operators, Leads, or other colleagues when appropriate.
• Conduct complete safety checks.
• When assigned standby duty, you must be able to respond to City owned facilities within 30 minutes.
• Assist the Lead Treatment Plant Operator in work scheduling, training, special projects; assist in training and cross training functions; and serve as a backup to the Lead Treatment Plant Operator, Laboratory Technician.

Benefits

• Resume
• The past 5-10 years of work experience on application, do not use "see resume" anywhere on application
• Three professional references on application, at least one of which should be a past supervisor

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED