Operator 1 - WWTP

Objective & Relationships

CITY OF JANESVILLE DIVERSITY STATEMENT:
The residents of Janesville choose this community, not just as a place to live, but as a place to realize life’s opportunities. We strive to sustain a community culture where differences are recognized, understood, and appreciated. As such, the City of Janesville recognizes the importance of developing an environment where diversity is not merely accepted but embraced and celebrated. As public servants, we believe everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. To this end, we will diligently recruit and retain the most talented employees in an environment that fosters maximizing one’s potential. Therefore, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to consider employment with the City of Janesville and serve the residents of “Wisconsin’s Park Place”.
OBJECTIVE:
Under the direct supervision of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator, this position performs a variety of skilled and semi-skilled tasks in the safe, efficient, and economical operation, control, and maintenance of the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant.
RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports to: Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator.

Has work contacts with City employees, Department, Division, and Office Heads, supply vendors, contractors and general public.

Supervises: None.

Essential Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by the incumbent. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Checks plant equipment for proper operation and lubrication.
• Adjusts valves, pumps, etc., to properly route the flow of wastewater, sludge, chemicals or other process liquids or gases.
• Serves as a substitute laboratory technician and performs non-laboratory process or field tests.
• Operates all process equipment including primary settling secondary treatment (activated sludge), electrical generation, disinfection, sludge thickening (dissolved air floatation), sludge dewatering (centrifuges), solids handling and conditioning (anaerobic digestion), and other plant processes which have not specifically been mentioned or which may be added in the future.
• Operates and maintains equipment used in sludge application program.
• Assists in performing custodial and maintenance work necessary to keep the building and plant grounds clean. Tasks may include sweeping or mopping floors, miscellaneous painting and cleaning, snow removal, lawn and landscape maintenance outside tank and equipment cleaning.
• Operates hand or power tools and power-driven equipment including front end loaders, skid steer loaders, sludge application vehicles and miscellaneous other vehicles.
• Documents completed daily maintenance assignments; prepares and maintains accurate reports for Wastewater Plant.
• Follows all safety regulations, policies, and procedures; reports all unsafe conditions and acts to supervisor; reports all accidents to the supervisor immediately whenever possible; follows recognized safe work practices.
• Performs other special projects and other job duties as assigned or required during regular and non-business hours.
• All employees may be assigned by the City Manager or their designee to perform duties and assume responsibilities that are outside the scope of their work duties when the City Manager has declared a City disaster or the City Emergency Operations Center has been initiated.

Minimum Position Requirements/Qualifications

The requirements listed below are necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Possession of a valid state-issued Class “B” (preferably A) Commercial Driver’s License, or ability to obtain such license within one (1) year of hire is required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience as a WWTP Operator Trainee is required.
• Successfully complete the Basic Wastewater General Exam and all six of the applicable DNR subgrade exams at time of hire or progression.
• A valid, state-issued driver’s license at time of hire or promotion is required.

• General knowledge of wastewater treatment plant operation and maintenance.
• General knowledge of the operation and maintenance of pumps, valves and other mechanical equipment is desired.

• Organizational and time management skills to prioritize duties and accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Exceptional communication skills, paired with a strong customer service background, and effective interpersonal skills.
• Collaboration skills to effectively work with others to achieve common goals through communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
• Basic level of technical proficiency skills, including computer applications and software such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.

• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records.
• Ability to assist in and maintain plant cleanliness and general maintenance.
• Ability to route the flow of wastewater, chemicals or other process liquids or gases.
• Ability to identify, report, and repair malfunctioning equipment and/or machinery.
• Ability to operate City vehicles and various types of equipment (ex. Lawn mower, skid steer, front end loader, power tools to include drills, sludge equipment, etc.) in a safe manner.
• Ability to make accurate numerical readings and perform basic mathematical calculations, including the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals, and to compute percentages.
• Ability to work independently, and within the boundaries of areas of responsibility to complete daily work activities.
• Ability to learn and apply new technology and computerized systems/building systems in order to detect and diagnose operational problems and maintenance needs.
• Ability to comply with all safety policies, practices, and procedures, and report all unsafe activities or conditions to supervisor.
• Ability to maintain a valid, state-issued driver’s license.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City appointed officials, Department, Division, and Office Heads, City employees, supply vendors, contractors and general public.
• Exhibit exceptional professionalism, tact, and decorum in all areas of work duties.
• Strong ethics base built upon integrity, honesty, initiative, and respect; maintain strict confidentiality.
• Interact positively with a diverse group of individuals, and work effectively both as part of a team and independently.
• Embrace and actively promote an inclusive and equitable work environment.
• Conduct all business and working relationships in an accurate, fair, equitable and highly ethical manner.
• Reliable, timely, and proactive in the completion of duties, meeting deadlines and responding to inquiries.
• Work with others in a positive and supportive manner to solve problems, generate ideas, and accomplish division and City goals.

Supplemental Information

Machinery and equipment including, snow plows, lawn mowers, hand or power tools, and power-driven equipment including front -end loaders, skid steer loaders, sludge application vehicles, City vehicles, and other miscellaneous vehicles.
WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL FACTORS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position performs strenuous labor for extended periods of time under varying weather conditions. This position occasionally walks, stands, stoops, kneels, crouches, crawls, and exerts up to 85 pounds of force by lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling objects. The employee is frequently required to see/observe, talk/speak, and listen/hear; use their hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects and equipment; repetitive arm, wrist, hand, and eye movements are included. There is frequent twisting, reaching, wrist turning, and grasping. The employee may be required to climb or balance.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of equipment. Employee is required to use cognitive ability to reason, analyze, and verbalize thoughts and ideas. Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes, and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials or tasks.
The employee may, on occasion, be exposed to undesirable weather conditions, including extreme heat and extreme cold. The employee may work near moving mechanical parts in precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic, or caustic chemicals, and vibration. The working conditions in the office environment are comfortable. The noise level in the office environment is generally quiet to moderately noisy, but can, on occasion, be loud in the field.
A typical, Monday – Friday, 40-hour work schedule is required for this position. Additionally, the employee will be required to be “on-call”, that includes responding to alarms at the Treatment Plant after normal working hours, and reporting to the Treatment Plant during the weekend to take readings and conduct lab tests. This assignment will last 7 days in the rotation with the other staff Operators.
DISCLAIMER
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position, or is responsive to the needs of the City of Janesville.
The job 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 job change.
The City of Janesville, Wisconsin, is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.