Senior Treatment Plant Operator

Overview

We’re looking for an experienced Treatment Plant Operator to lead complex operations and maintenance at our wastewater and water treatment facilities. If you're ready to take on a key role in ensuring efficient plant performance, we encourage you to apply!

Under general supervision, perform the most difficult and complex operations and maintenance functions for the County's wastewater and water treatment plants; to function as a lead worker to trainee and journey level operators; may act as chief plant operator for a wastewater treatment plant; and to perform other duties as required.
The list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future positions during the life of the eligible list.

Any combination of education and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

• 
  Two years experience comparable to Treatment Plant Operator in Santa Cruz County.

License Requirement:
Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license. Possession of a Grade III or higher Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board. Within three years, possession of a Grade II or higher Water Treatment Plant Operator Certificate and a D1 Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the State of California Department of Health Services.

Special

Working Conditions:

Exposure to: variable temperatures and weather conditions; confined work spaces; heights, such as on ladders; high levels of noise; strong, unpleasant odors; infections which might cause chronic disease or death; electrical hazards; raw sewage; dust; and the possibility of experiencing burns, bodily injury or contact with toxic substances or chemical irritants.

Other Special Requirements: Availability to work irregular hours, including weekends and holidays, as well as responding to 24-hour emergency calls.

Thorough knowledge of regulations related to confined space entry requirements; the methods, materials and tools used to operate maintain, monitor and repair water and wastewater treatment plants; safety practices required in water and wastewater treatment operations; and regulations related to the treatment, transmission and disposal of water and wastewater. Some knowledge of the application of data processing to sanitation operations.

Operate a microscope and recognize the organisms pertinent to an activated sludge plant; perform appropriate analytical tests as required to operate a wastewater plant; maintain and operate a standby generator; diagnose malfunctions in wastewater and water treatment plants and determine appropriate corrective action; read, understand, interpret and apply regulations relating to water and wastewater treatment standards; operate a computer to input, access, and analyze data;

assist in estimating equipment, material and labor needs; maintain records and prepare reports and correspondence; establish effective working relationships; lift items weighing up to 75 pounds; perform tasks requiring strength, such as lifting equipment onto trucks, climbing over rough terrain and pulling hoses up embankments; drive vehicles such as pick-up trucks and utility trucks; and distinguish colors, such as color-coded wires or chemical test.

Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire.

You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the…