Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (Open To All Levels)

Salary : $4,114.93 - $6,600.53 Monthly
Location : Oak Harbor, WA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: 23032
Department: Public Works
Division:Wastewater Treatment Plant
Opening Date: 11/10/2023
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: UNION
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.
Description
OPEN UNTIL FILLED TO ALL
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT LEVELS
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator-in-Training (WWTP OIT)
Salary Range:$23.74 per hour to $30.98 per hour
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I (WWTP Op I)
Salary Range: $25.94 per hour to $33.85 per hour
Wastewater Treatment PlantOperator II (WWTP Op II)
Salary Range: $29.20 per hour to $38.08 per hour
Position level and salary placement is dependent on qualifications and an experience credit review. Union negotiations are currently in-progress which will adjust the above salary ranges for 2024.
Job Summaries
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator-in-Training (OIT)
Perform work under the direction of an experienced licensed operator to acquire the training and experience to perform Wastewater Treatment Plant duties. This position will assist with or perform varied duties such as customer service, plant operation, maintenance and repair, as well as collection and analysis of plant samples. This position will also perform a variety of skilled and semi-skilled maintenance tasks involving the use of mechanical and electrical skills. The employee will attend city provided training that will allow the understanding and application of safe operating practices and to perform the technical operation of a Wastewater Treatment Plant following standard operating procedures.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I
Perform Wastewater Treatment operations, maintenance and other related duties. Assist 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.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II
Functions as a journey level operator and performs advanced and specialized process control, operations, maintenance, and other duties 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. Duties depend on weekly rotations and other assignments and include checking equipment, troubleshooting, modification of equipment, collecting samples, performing laboratory tests, maintaining and understanding logs and records. You will be asked to assess and respond to public inquiries, assist in training, community tours and education and lead special projects.
Essential Job Functions
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator-in-Training (OIT)
Work activities involve multiple skills and may include any or all of the following duties depending on level of skill development, area of assignment, crew needs, emergency services, special projects and seasonal factors:

1. Assist in monitoring wastewater process flows, draining and flushing tanks and basins for inspection, operating pumps to transfer wastewater and sludges from one process to another and monitoring ongoing operations. Assist in the operations of the biosolids drying facility
2. Assist in monitoring automated alarms/controls and maintaining electronic control and flow monitoring devices.
3. Collect Process samples. Assist in conducting and recording laboratory tests such as temperature, settleable solids, residual chlorine, pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and gain experience with other tests.
4. Assist in maintaining daily operations logs, record meter/gauge readings, weather conditions, equipment malfunctions and related information. Utilize computer to gain proficiency.
5. Perform Treatment Plant and collection system maintenance duties such as lubricating pump bearings and changing oil. Assist in repairs as needed. Clean, scrape and paint machinery, equipment and facilities. Clean, sweep and mop office and restroom floors, wash windows, maintain landscaping as necessary.
6. Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, other departments and the general public using good judgment, tact and courtesy.
7. Assist in responding to customer and public inquiries in a courteous manner. Assess concerns or complaints. Follow-up with customers or the public. Refer appropriate matters to the Operator II or the Lead Treatment Plant Operators.
8. Assist in troubleshooting plant equipment while maintaining safety at all times.
9. Foster a work environment that supports and facilitates the performance of efficient, effective, high-quality teamwork.

Associated Job Functions:
1. Attend various workshops, operator training classes and instructional functions.
2. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Performance Requirements (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

• Ability to learn operation and maintenance of electrical motors, controllers, sensors and alarms.
• Ability to learn the principals of pump operation and theory.
• Ability to learn basic hydraulics as related to water movement, measurement and control.
• Knowledge of fundamentals of workplace health and safety issues.
• Knowledge of English, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, punctuation and mathematics.
• Skills in operation of power and hand tools.
• Able to work with mechanic's tools and other tools required for minor repairs and routine maintenance.
• Skills in customer service (internal and external customers).
• Ability to learn to use laboratory equipment, miscellaneous tools/equipment specific to Wastewater Treatment Plant maintenance and repair.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively with coworkers, supervisors, regulatory officials and the general public.
• Ability to respond to city owned facilities within 30 minutes when assigned standby duty.
• Ability to carry out assigned projects to their completion.
• Ability to clearly communicate in person and in writing for information sharing, work instruction/direction, coaching, facilitating, consensus building and educating.
• Ability to gain a basic knowledge of standard Treatment Plant mathematics and sciences
• Ability to learn to read and understand design drawings, blueprints and wiring diagrams.
• Ability to keep accurate records and input and retrieve data on a personal computer using Microsoft Windows, Excel, and Word.
• Ability to work in accordance with OSHA/DOSH/WISHA regulations and established safety practices and procedures.
• Ability to assess, respond or refer public complaints and concerns in a friendly and productive manner.
• Ability to comprehend and follow all city policies as described in the Personnel Policies Manual.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I
Work activities involve multiple skills and may include any or all of the following depending on area of assignment, crew needs, emergency services, special projects and seasonal factors:

1. Participate in on-the-job customer service, project training, work study and skill development functions.
2. 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,
3. Monitor automated alarms and controls and assist in calibrating and maintaining electronic controls and flow monitoring devices.
4. Collect various process samples. Set-up, conduct and record laboratory tests such as temperature, settleable solids, residual chlorine, pH, alkalinity.
5. Gain experience with volatile acids, volatile solids, BOD, CBOD, Ammonia Nitrogen, Nitrite, Nitrate, gas analysis and bacterial tests
6. Assist in maintaining daily operations logs. Record meter and gauge readings, weather conditions, equipment malfunctions and related information.
7. Assist in maintaining electrical equipment and mechanical systems.
8. 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.
9. Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, other departments and the general public using good judgment, tact and courtesy.
10. 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.
11. Maintain and service division equipment.
12. Assist in the division public education and community service functions and conduct plant tours for citizens, schools, and other persons
13. Complete required safety checks following mandated procedures. Work in a safe and self responsible manner.

Associated Job Functions:
1. Attend various workshops, meetings, seminars, and conferences to maintain skills and meet job requirements.
2. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Performance Requirements (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

• Knowledge of principles, practices, materials and process controls relating to the operation of a laboratory and MBR plant.
• Clear and concise communication skills in person and in writing for information sharing and work instruction/direction.
• Knowledge of English, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, punctuation and mathematics.
• Ability to apply Wastewater Treatment technical, operator and customer service skills to resolve problems which may occur and to contribute suggestions for improvements and procedures in operations, training and special projects.
• Ability to operate all equipment and tools normally associated with maintenance activities in an industrial plant.
• Ability to work independently as well as cooperatively with co-workers, supervisors, regulatory officials and the general public.
• Ability to keep accurate records and input and retrieve data on a personal computer using a maintenance program and associated software.
• Ability to understand and perform work in accordance with OSHA/WISHA regulations and established safety practices.
• Ability to develop problem solving skills to troubleshoot and apply knowledge of plants and collection system operations, maintenance, and testing.
• Apply basic knowledge of Wastewater Treatment Plant science and mathematics.
• Read and understand blue prints, schematics and technical manuals.
• Ability to respond to city owned facilities within 30 minutes when assigned standby duty and have the confidence to correct any alarm condition(s).
• Gain skills and knowledge regarding Treatment Plant and public works operations, customer service, maintenance, and technologies.
• Ability to operate centrifugal, piston, rotary lobe and metering pumps to move wastewater and sludges from one process to another.
• Ability to gain awareness of what these various tests are telling us as operators and how to react to abnormal results.
• Ability to utilize a computer and gain proficiency with maintenance management systems and process control.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II
Work activities involve multiple skills and may include any or all of the following depending on area of assignment, crew needs, emergency services, special projects, and seasonal factors:

1. 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 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.
2. Monitor automated alarms and controls and perform duties such as calibrating and maintaining electronic control and flow monitoring devices.
3. Perform weekend and after-hours functions including process control, sampling, testing, operations, and maintenance.
4. Assist in the division public education and community service functions and conduct plant tours for citizens, schools, and other persons.
5. Collect influent, effluent and process samples; set-up, conduct and record laboratory tests such as volatile acids, volatile solids, BOD, CBOD, bacteriological testing, temperatures, settleable solids, residual chlorine, pH, and alkalinity.
6. Maintain log of daily operations; record meter and gauge readings, weather and tide conditions, equipment malfunctions and related information. Utilize computer spreadsheets, reports and maintenance management systems accurately.
7. Perform Treatment Plant maintenance duties such as lubricating pump bearings, basic oil services, mechanical maintenance; clean, scrape and paint machinery, equipment, walls, floors and railings. 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.
8. Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, other departments and the general public using good judgment, tact and courtesy...