Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I - Trainee

Job Description:

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I - Trainee

Description

Introduction

This is a hands-on training opportunity with starting pay at $25.64 an hour, with great benefits and promotional opportunity within your first year of hire.

At Scottsdale Water, we pride ourselves on delivering superior quality water and service to the Scottsdale community. Our employees ensure a safe, sustainable drinking water system, operate an innovative water reclamation system and help Scottsdale Water consistently maintain its position as one of the nation's most advanced and efficient water utilities.
We value our employees and challenge them to constantly improve how we do business. Our team is made up of professionals from all disciplines - engineering, finance, operations, laboratory science, chemistry, public relations, hydrology, customer service, electrical, maintenance and so much more.

About the Position
Under direct oversight from a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II, III, IV performs a variety of skilled work in the operation and maintenance of the City's water or wastewater treatment plant equipment and processes.

Performs mid to high journeyman-level operational tasks involved in the operation and maintenance of complex water and wastewater treatment systems, processes, and facilities. May provide daily leadership and direction to Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators Apprentice's and Operator II as delegated by Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor.

Please Note:

• This position is being posted as a training opportunity ("underfill") to the W/WW Treatment Plant Operator II position. Successful candidates must meet performance and certification requirements and be eligible to promote to W/WW Treatment Plant Operator II position within one year of hire.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• A High School diploma or General Educational Development (GED) equivalency.
• The ability to demonstrate some basic knowledge of the principles involved in the operation of advanced, and complex water or wastewater treatment facilities.
• Preferred: Knowledge of advanced computerized systems such as those utilized in water and/or wastewater treatment facilities.
  

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements:
All Assignments:

• Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted driver's license with no major citations within the past 39 months prior to the start date. The Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles requires that out-of-state driver's licenses must be surrendered within 10 days of relocating to the State of Arizona.
• Every person employed by the City of Scottsdale shall reside in the State of Arizona during his or her active employment by the City, regardless of whether the employee is approved to remote work.

Wastewater Assignment:

• Must possess upon hire or promotion and maintain a Grade I operator certification from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality within the discipline of Wastewater Treatment.

Other pertinent licenses and/or certifications may be required of some positions depending on department/section assignment.

Essential Functions

Performs duties and responsibilities commensurate with assigned functional area which may include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following:

• Performs and assists maintenance staff and basic facility maintenance of assigned facility as directed.
• Maintains and operates plant equipment and processes related to water, wastewater and advanced water treatment systems on an assigned shift.
• Prioritizes activities between the different treatment facilities and systems, including the operation of valves, gates, pumps and machinery manually, locally in automatic mode or remote via computerized control strategy.
• Samples and analyzes influents/effluents, source water/product water, feed water and permeate to detect quality variations, interpret laboratory results, reading sheets, process test, computerized data and information trends to identify variations in flow and water quality and make appropriate changes.
• Operates assigned treatment facility to maintain day to day operation necessary to meet all required Local, State and Federal regulations pertaining to the production of reuse, ground injection and potable water and comply with prescribed operating and safety standards.
• Uses a variety of standard testing procedures to determine problems and any adjustments needed in the treatment process.
• Conducts tours of facilities; responds to plant emergencies; and maintains a safe, clean and orderly work environment.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position or that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Most work is performed in plant/field settings, with occasional work done in an office environment.
• Operate equipment used in a modern conventional water or wastewater treatment plant.
• Perform laboratory procedures and maintenance functions requiring manual dexterity and precision movements.
• Works with highly hazardous chemicals such as chlorine, sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide following strict ADOSH and Water Resources departmental guidelines.
• Operate a variety of equipment and machinery requiring continuous or repetitive arm and hand movements.
• Enter data into a terminal to calculate chemical usage.
• Use common hand tools such as: hammers, screwdrivers and pliers to operate equipment and perform maintenance tasks.
• Work around or uses potentially hazardous materials requiring the use of specialized equipment.
• Lift and carry heavy materials weighting up to 50 pounds for distances of up to 25'.
• Perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, depth and visual cues or signals.
• Exert moderate, though not constant physical effort, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, climbing stairs, lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds).
• Visual and muscular dexterity to operate a motor vehicle, equipment, hand tools and computer.
• Seldom sedentary and includes walking or moving. Work sometimes involves climbing elevations; requires moderate muscular exertion and lifting.
• Work rotating shifts, weekends and a call-out schedule.
  
  

Benefits Highlights:
The City of Scottsdale offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 12 Paid Holidays, which includes 1 Floating Holiday
• Vacation Accrual; starts at 10.3 hours/month
• Sick Leave Accrual; 8 hours/month
• Medical (which includes behavioral health coverage), Dental and Vision Benefits
• City Paid Basic Life Insurance (equal to one times employee annual salary); option of Supplemental Life Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement; $2,500/year
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Defined benefit plan with mandatory employer and employee contributions currently at 12.27% which includes a Long-Term Disability benefit
• Supplemental Retirement Plans through Nationwide; 457
• Pet Insurance
• Bilingual pay compensation

Please visit the Human Resources and Benefits Information page for more information.

Selection Process:
The application and supplemental questions are an integral part of the selection process and must be completed in full in order for you to be considered as a candidate. Please complete each section and answer all questions as thoroughly as possible. DO NOT state "See Resume" in lieu of answering. Unanswered questions, incomplete responses, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process.

Applicants whose education, training and experience most closely meet the needs of the position may be invited to participate in a selection process that may include a panel interview. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening that may include:

• Fingerprinting search of the national FBI Database
• Criminal Background screening
• Drug Screen
• 39-Month Motor Vehicle Department Records Check

The City of Scottsdale reserves the right to change this process at any time, potentially without advance notice.

PLEASE NOTE: Years of experience are based on a work schedule of 2,080 hours per year for full-time positions and 1,040 hours per year for part-time positions, and while work experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis, depending upon the job classification, education may not be substituted for work experience.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: It is the policy of the city to provide employment opportunities to all persons based solely on ability, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
When advised, reasonable accommodations will be made in order for an "otherwise qualified applicant" with a disability to participate in any phase of the recruitment process. Please contact Human Resources to request an accommodation. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting HR at (480) 312-2491. Requests should be made 24 hours in advance or as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. For TTY users, the Arizona Relay Service (1-800-367-8939) may contact HR at (480) 312-2491.

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.
Closing Date/Time: 1/9/2025 11:59 PM Arizona

Salary:

$25.64 - $34.64 Hourly