Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I

City of Charlotte • Charlotte, NC

3d • $24 - $31

About The Position

Charlotte’s local government, with more than 9,000 employees and a total budget of $3.65 billion budget, works hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Charlotte Water is an enterprise department of the City of Charlotte and one of the largest public water and sewer service providers in the southeast with over 330,000 customer accounts and over 1100 employees. Our service area includes the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mint Hill, Matthews and Pineville. Charlotte Water’s FY 26 budget is $651 million and a five-year capital program of $2.2.28 billion. We enjoy the highest credit ratings from Moody’s and S&P Global as a result of sound financial planning and management and strong support from our City Council. We value competent, skilled candidates with a customer service focus to work in a team environment.
A Plant Operator will perform duties critical to the operation of a 13.1 million-gallon-a-day wastewater treatment plant. These duties include monitoring equipment and processes for proper operations, troubleshooting and resolving issues with plant equipment, conducting testing and analysis of samples, endeavoring to keep the wastewater plant operating at optimum levels, communicating any potential issues to supervisory staff, providing technical assistance to other employees, following safety rules and protocols, performing audits, and maintaining records.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the science of wastewater treatment, including biological and chemical processes.
• Skill in communicating, both verbally and in writing.
• Skill in basic math.
• Skill in using computers and job-related software.
• High School diploma or GED from an accredited school.
• Requires a valid North Carolina or South Carolina Driver's License.
• Must obtain and maintain a City Driver's Permit.
• NC Grade I Wastewater Operator Certification (or obtain within one year of hire)
• NC Grade II Wastewater Operator Certification (or obtain within two years of hire)
• NC Grade III Wastewater Operator Certification (or obtain within four years of hire)
• NC Grade IV Wastewater Operator Certification (or obtain within six years of hire)

Nice To Haves

• NC Grade I Wastewater Operator Certification
• NC Grade II Wastewater Operator Certification
• NC Grade III Wastewater Operator Certification
• NC Grade IV Wastewater Operator Certification
• Desires NC Water Pollution Control System Operator Certification
• One to Four Years of related work experience in a Wastewater Treatment Plant environment.

Responsibilities

• Observes/reports on facility conditions and operations.
• Uses biological/chemical parameters to analyze overall wastewater treatment plant operations, reports anomalies.
• Performs process control activities by collecting, testing, and analyzing process control samples, inputting operational data into computer software, analyzing biological bacteria, conducting settleability tests, collecting composite samples, monitoring sludge blanket levels, calibrating and monitoring automatic samplers for permit compliance, and running additional tests as needed to ensure proper process control.
• Monitors SCADA computer workstations for plant equipment and process conditions.
• Maintains flows and loading by continuously monitoring dissolved oxygen, returns activated sludge rates, ammonia levels, suspended solids levels, alkalinity chemical levels, wasting rates, flows, digester temperatures and levels, chemical feed rates and tank levels, methane gas pressures and flows, and other process indicators.
• Performs laboratory analysis on wastewater samples to recommend/implement operational changes.
• Maintains facility equipment and housekeeping in assigned areas.
• Operates various types of pumping systems, clarifier equipment, aeration equipment, sand filters, and other plant equipment.
• Inspects a wide range of various wastewater equipment for noise, vibration, and any abnormal operating characteristics; performs minor maintenance and preventive maintenance tasks; and completes rounds and records operational data.
• Briefs other operators at shift change; assists maintenance staff with shutdown and startup of equipment.
• Updates database information.
• Collects data and maintains records.
• Manages bulk chemicals onsite, communicates with chemical vendors, orders, and accepts chemical deliveries.
• Assists visitors and contractors.
• Conducts internal audits and assists with external audits for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compliance.
• Conducts plant tours.
• Assists in training new employees.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.
• Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.
• The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.

What This Job Offers

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