Water Plant Operator

About Us:The City of Glendale's Water Services Department provides over 250,000 residents with safe, reliable, and high-quality water and wastewater services. Glendale Water Services promotes industry best practices, leadership, and innovation to ensure our employees put public health and the vitality of our community first. The Role:The Water Services Plant Operator, Sr. performs intermediate to advanced operation, maintenance, and control of the City's water/wastewater plant facilities. Job duties include operating, maintaining, and monitoring water/wastewater plant equipment; obtaining water samples and performing water lab tests; and assisting water treatment personnel with remote facility maintenance. Salary and Hiring Bonus:This position is: FLSA non-exempt, and will earn overtime for any hours worked over 40 in a week. A Grade 317 with with an hourly salary between $28.8957 - $43.3438. In addition to a generous salary, this position offers a $3,000 Hiring Bonus. Hiring Bonus to be paid as follows: $1,000 after 30 days of employment, $1,000 after 6 months of employment, and $1,000 after 12 months of employment. You must be an active employee at the time the hiring bonus is scheduled to be paid to receive the bonus. Current regular status City of Glendale employees are not eligible for hiring bonuses. Benefits: The City of Glendale offers a generous benefits package with competitive rates that become effective the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment. You can review the FY25 Benefits Guide or visit the City of Glendale's Benefits page for more information. Holiday, Vacation, and Sick Leave: Regular status positions offer: The City of Glendale observes 10.5 holidays per year, and full-time employees are also granted an additional 12 hours of holiday special leave per calendar year to celebrate their cultural or religious holidays. Vacation leave accrues at: 5.33 hours per pay period (138 hours/17.25 days per year) Increases to 6.12 hours after 5 years Then caps out at 7.6 hours after 10 years of service. Sick leave accrues at 4.4 hours per pay period (114 hours/14.25 days per year). Days per year estimates are based on an 8-hour work day. Retirement: This position participates in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Contribution is mandatory, and the current contribution rate is 12.27%. To learn more about this role, please watch the video below: This position will be open until filled; applicants will be reviewed as they are received. Operates, maintains, monitors, controls, and repairs all water/wastewater plant process equipment, including pumps, motors, blowers, chlorinators, chemical feeds, sludge equipment, and basic laboratory instruments to ensure treated water meets city, state, and EPA quality standards. Obtains water samples and performs water or wastewater lab tests. Conducts various lab tests to determine proper process and operational controls. Recognizes the need for and makes basic treatment and operational changes to the water and wastewater processes and distribution systems to meet water quality standards. Changes pump settings as needed. Monitors and adjusts flows through wells, booster pumps, zone splits, and reservoirs to control the distribution system and system pressure. Monitors and operates telemetry system and computerized process monitoring equipment. Makes equipment adjustments, lubrications, and minor repairs and/or prepares problem reports. Reads and interprets meters, gauges, and instruments. Enters daily readings into computer databases. Inventories, estimates usage, and prepares orders for supplies. Insures quality of material received. Resolves water and wastewater complaint calls. Unloads and stores hazardous chemicals, changes chlorine cylinders as necessary, batches and mixes hazardous chemical solutions and transfers bulk storage to day tanks for chemical feed operations. Assists other water treatment personnel in the performance of remote facility maintenance. Records daily activities in logbook. Assists with public relations by answering inquiries and complaints and giving plant tours. Assists in training lower level operators Performs other related duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications: Two years of increasingly responsible experience in the operation and maintenance of water and/or wastewater treatment plants and related facilities. Candidates must possess an Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Grade 2 Water Treatment Plant Operator's Certification at time of application. Knowledge of: Operations, methods, practices, techniques, and servicing requirements of water/wastewater plants and related facilities Safety practices in operation of electrical and mechanical equipment used in water/wastewater plants Ability to: Recognize and react to treatment process changes and demands Perform arithmetic calculations Comprehend and operate telemetry and computerized process control systems Perform standardized water quality tests Operate a microcomputer Keep neat and accurate records and make computer entries Read and interpret meters, charts, gauges and recording devices Understand and follow written and oral instructions and regulations Provide training to lower level operators Establish and maintain effective working relationships Any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. Special Requirements: Must obtain ADEQ Grade 3 Water Treatment Plant Operator's Certificate within twelve (12) months of hire. Applicants will be required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and will be subject to further drug and alcohol testing throughout their period of employment in accordance with the City of Glendale Substance Abuse policy Rotating shift work is required to cover weekends and holidays; flexible hours and seasonal variations may be necessary. Must posses a valid Arizona driver's license. After one year of employment in the Water Services Department and meeting the program criteria, employees will be eligible for the Certification Incentive Program for those employees who obtain additional Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) certifications above what is required for their position. Success Factor Classification Level: Professional/Supervisory: (To view the success factor definitions please click here.) Physical Requirements: Work requires sustained climbing, standing, lifting of up to 50 pounds, and walking. Working Conditions: Works with hazardous chemicals, voltages, and adverse weather. Hazards can be controlled through the use of proper safety precautions.