Plant Operator

City of Carbondale, Illinois

Job Description/Job Opening Announcement

Title: Plant Maintenance Operator (Sewer Division) – Sick Leave/Vacation Shift

4-year apprenticeship (2-year opportunity to advance), with a graduated salary scale and annual raises to the Journeyman rate, currently $29.93/hour.

Dept./Div.: Public Works – Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant

Nature of Work: This is a regular, full-time position at the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Sewer Division of the Public Works Department. The Plant Maintenance Operator is responsible for assigned duties related to the operation and maintenance of the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant and Systems. Duties are usually routine but can vary from day to day. This position requires the ability to respond quickly to emergencies, changing situations, and environments, to think critically, and to problem-solve. The Plant Maintenance Operator reports to and is evaluated by the Wastewater Plant Superintendent and Director of Utilities or Designee.

Essential Duties:

• Perform regular maintenance of all treatment plant facilities, equipment, pumps, motors, hoists, control panels and systems, valves, actuators, water and sewer lines, electrical systems, remote pumping stations, and other plant wastewater treatment and distribution appurtenances. This requires existing knowledge and maintenance skills applicable to wastewater treatment plant facilities and equipment as stated herein.
• Use miscellaneous hand tools to diagnose and make repairs and perform maintenance as needed, including minor electrical repairs.
• Use various power tools such as drills, saws, weed eaters, lawn mowers, buffers, and the like to perform maintenance, repairs, and all phases of janitorial work.
• Work in and around raw water and sludge on a daily basis; enter tanks, manholes, and the like to perform duties as assigned, sometimes requiring hip waders/boots to walk in or through raw or processed water. Enter and work in confined spaces using proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety precautions.
• Safely and effectively operate vehicles, equipment, and tools, including:
• Lifting, carrying, and operating machinery, tools, pumps, generators, and other items weighing 75 to 150 pounds or more.
• Manually drive vehicles, pickup trucks, dump trucks, end loaders, backhoes, skid loaders, tractors, mowers, and other heavy equipment.
• Conduct pre-operation visual and manual checks of vehicles, tools, and equipment before use; remedy and promptly report problems and/or issues to supervisor.
• Visually read and record information in writing on maintenance records.
• Perform preventative maintenance on valves, drives, motors, pumps, handrails, equipment, and the like. Manually operate gate, plug, butterfly, sluice gates, and other standard valves using hand wheels, bars, chains, or wrenches.
• Perform Wastewater Plant Operator duties, including: observing the appearance of the raw water entering the plant for color, odor, and temperature; performing bench tests of the water from various treatment points, including turbidity, pH, chlorine, and other parameters; exercising independent judgment to regulate treatment and chemical feed depending on changing conditions; preventive maintenance checks/rounds of the complete plant complex every two (2) hours regardless of weather conditions. These checks/rounds include walking to floors of different levels, opening and closing heavy doors and gates, going up and down stairways, entering confined spaces, climbing up and down entrance ladders, reading and recording numbers from various meters and gauges and using standard mathematical calculations in this process, checking operating machinery and equipment for unusual noises, checking bearings for overheating and adding oil to equipment as needed. Manually enters findings and notes in a Logbook. Use a personal computer to operate, monitor, and record plant systems, flow rates, operational information, and the like.

• Proficiently use plant computerized and SCADA (Supervised Control and Data Acquisition) systems; comprehend, understand, and make adjustments to treatment processes based on information and feedback from the SCADA system and personal observations of treatment plant conditions. Operate variable frequency drives (VFD's) both automatically and manually.

• Monitor and respond to the Inter-Plant Safety Call System and the Water & Sewer Hotline.

a. The Inter-Plant Safety Call System includes making and receiving telephone calls at designated times between the two (2) Wastewater Treatment Plants or Police Dispatch Center and the Water Treatment Plant to help ensure the safety of the on-duty operators.
b. The W&S Hotline is a 24-hour emergency phone number for use by the public for reporting W&S emergencies and loss of service. Record the customer's information and call the W&S Foreman on duty or Water Operations Manager to respond to the call/report to the site.
c. Visually observe indicator lights (red, green, yellow, etc.) and listen for sound/buzzer alarms to be notified when problems arise with the monitored equipment and the treatment process. Properly acknowledge indicator lights, alarms, and the like, and perform an immediate inspection of the troubled area.

• Pick up liquid samples from various areas of the plant for the purpose of testing in either the plant laboratory or the Central Laboratory, which requires walking around open tanks on grating walkways and entering confined spaces. Perform laboratory tests as required, using various laboratory instruments and chemicals, and record the results in writing and/or in a computer. It may also be necessary to use a self-contained air breathing unit when handling chlorine and/or entering a confined space.
• Manually handle bulk and other chemicals, etc. in containers and bags weighing fifty (50) pounds or more.
• Be knowledgeable of and practice good safety procedures at all times, use proper PPE and good judgement.
• Comprehend and follow oral and/or written instructions. Verbally operate two-way base, mobile and portable radios. Legibly document and fill out log books and maintenance records as required and directed by your supervisor.
• Use tact and good judgment and utilize strong and effective interpersonal skills in interacting with co-workers and the public. Work effectively both independently and as a team member.
• Possess relevant computer skills and be experienced in the use and operation of Microsoft Office Software Suite.
• Arrive at work on-time every day and be prepared to begin work at the start time of your shift. Respond to overtime calls and be regularly available for overtime and emergency work as needed and required. Overtime work is a necessary and expected part of this position.

Other Duties: Perform all other tasks as and duties as assigned to carry out the mission of the Public Works Department.

Work Environment: Work is performed primarily outdoors in and around a treatment plant setting exposes the employee to fumes, odors, dust, smoke, gases, excessive noise, extreme heat/cold weather, and working in and around moving vehicles, equipment and machinery. PPE such as ear plugs, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves and steel toe shoes are required to be worn. Sick Leave/Vacation Shift Operators often work independently and work along on 2nd and 3rd shifts.

Physical Demands: Work requires the regular and frequent performance of physical tasks such as walking over rough or uneven surface, standing, sitting or walking for extended periods of time, bending, stooping, crouching, crawling, kneeling, working in restricted and/or confined spaces, climbing ladders and stairs, frequent lifting and carrying of moderately heavy objects between 15 and 49 pounds, occasional lifting and carrying of heavy objects 50 to 75 pounds or more. Work also requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time, to operate vehicles and machinery, and the operating hand and power tools and equipment. Work also requires the ability to perceive and/or discriminate colors, sounds, depth, and texture.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications: Must have a high school diploma or equivalent, an applicable associates or technical degree is preferred; must possess or obtain and maintain a valid CDL Class B Illinois driver's license with air-brake and tank endorsements within sixty (90) days of employment. Must pass pre-employment and ongoing random drug screening tests; a pre-employment background check; and a pre-employment job duty physical evaluation.

Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, and Outlook) and computer aptitude is required. Maintenance experience applicable to the job duties enumerated herein and a good mechanical aptitude are desired.

Employee must obtain and maintain a Class "C" water license from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) within four (4) years of employment; obtaining and maintaining this license is a condition of employment.

Normal Work Hours (Sick Leave/Vacation Shift): Normal work hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Friday, 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM (Saturday); however, work hours will vary to cover employees on sick leave or vacation, or should it become necessary to cover other shifts due to employee absence. Depending on seasonal demand and water production rates, the Friday shift will be adjusted to 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the discretion of the Water Operations Superintendent. Overtime work is mandatory for this position and will include tasks such as special projects, training, after-hours emergencies, holidays, and other work as necessary for Wastewater Plant Operations and to meet the Department of Public Works' mission.

Residency Boundary Requirement (Residency within the City's "9 mile boundary" is required within six months of employment.)

Regular, Full-time Position, Overtime Eligible.

Salary: $22.45/hour (after 6 months of satisfactory probationary employment, the employee may be moved to the Plumber's Union first six-month apprentice wage, which is currently $21.59/hour; this position has a 4-year (2-year opportunity to advance) apprenticeship period with a graduated salary scale with annual raises to the Journeyman rate which is currently $29.93/hour.

Complete online application or submit completed City of Carbondale Application for Employment to the Human Resources Office, 200 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, Illinois Position is open until filled.