Water Treatment Plant Trainee Operator

City of Lebanon • Lebanon, TN

3d • $21 • Onsite

About The Position

Performs routine tasks while learning to operate and maintain water treatment facilities. Assists with sampling, testing, and recording data; performs manual labor and maintenance; and learns to monitor and control water treatment processes. Works under close supervision and established procedures and participates in training to become a certified water treatment operator.

The employee trains on plant equipment and operations, including monitoring treatment processes, maintaining equipment and grounds, performing laboratory tests and plant calculations, operating SCADA and other controls, and keeping records. The role requires obtaining a Grade 1 certification within 18 months of hire and attending the training courses needed for certification. This is a safety- and security-sensitive job, with a career ladder for Grades 1–4 operator certifications tied to on-the-job demonstration of capability.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Valid Tennessee driver's license and clear driving record.
• Strong knowledge of MS Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to follow detailed written or oral instructions using commonsense understanding.
• Knowledge of modern water treatment plant operating practices.
• Ability to inspect operating plant machinery and detect flaws.
• Ability to keep accurate records and prepare reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and other employees.
• Ability to read and understand instructions, correspondence, memos, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; write simple correspondence and routine reports; and present information effectively in one-on-one situations.
• Ability to perform arithmetic with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals; understand basic algebraic formulas and equations; and work with flow rates, dosing rates, and chemical concentrations.
• Must obtain Grade 1 certification within 18 months of hire and attend all training courses necessary for certification.
• Able to meet the stated physical demands, including frequently lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Some college experience.

Responsibilities

• Train to operate and maintain water treatment plant equipment.
• Inspect the plant and equipment regularly to confirm proper operation.
• Operate treatment facilities to control the flow and processing of raw water and effluent.
• Monitor gauges, meters, and control panels and keep logs of readings.
• Learn to recognize plant status and troubleshoot or perform corrective actions as directed by a supervisor to maintain finished-water quality at or above EPA and TDEC standards.
• Observe changes in operating conditions and interpret meter and gauge readings and test results to determine processing requirements.
• Clean and perform routine maintenance on buildings, grounds, and operational equipment, including calibrating feeders and instruments, feeders, and pumps.
• Keep records and prepare reports.
• Wash and grease plant equipment.
• Operate the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
• Use a computer to enter and update files for reports, spreadsheets, historical information, maintenance records, and letters.
• Perform calculations for chemical dosages and usage, flow rates, detention time, and other needs of plant operations.
• Operate valves and gates manually or by remote control.
• Start and stop pumps, engines, and generators to control flow and treatment processes.
• Collect samples and perform routine laboratory tests and analyses.
• Promote teamwork and assist coworkers when necessary.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays.
• 18 PTO days during the first year, increasing to 23 days after the first year and with additional increases based on years of service.
• Health insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• Pension/401(k) hybrid retirement plan through the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS).

What This Job Offers

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