Utilities Apprentice (Temporary) - Water/Wastewater Treatment Plants

The Utilities Apprentice – Water/Wastewater Treatment Plants will receive training and instruction to learn the essential job functions of a Plant Operator I–IV. In addition, the Apprentice will accompany and assist City electricians and maintenance staff, utility technicians and heavy equipment operators in the field to operate and maintain pumps, valves, meters, water mains, sewer lines, PRVs, storage tanks and other water distribution/collection related field infrastructure. This is a safety sensitive position.

The Utility Operations Division is divided into four workgroups: Water Plant Operation, Water Field Operations, Wastewater Field Operations, and Wastewater Plant Operations. The Water Plant workgroup operates and maintains two Class A Water Treatment Plants. The Wastewater Plant operates and maintains one Class A Wastewater Plant and one Reclaimed Water Treatment Plant. The initial focus of the apprentice is on training; with ever-increasing knowledge, experience, certification level and responsibility eventually leading to the attainment of independent working abilities, on an assigned shift. It is a mandatory requirement for apprentice(s) assigned to the plant operations to work rotating eight (8) to 12-hour shifts; including nights, weekends, and holidays and at times required to be on call. The apprentice must demonstrate flexibility, and be willing to accommodate changes in the work schedule as required.

The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage, and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: The City of Westminster provides high-quality core services and fosters resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – People – Integrity – Respect – Innovation – Teamwork).

This position supports the goals of the Public Works and Utilities Department, which maintains and enhances the safety and well-being of the community by providing exceptional water and wastewater service and maintaining the city’s extensive network of street infrastructure. The Department continuously strives to meet the needs of the community by focusing on customer service, efficient and effective utilization of resources, safety, innovation, and teamwork.

Every employee is accountable to:

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

GENERAL COMPETENCIES
Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific – Every employee in this position must learn to be able to:

• Perform thorough daily operator walk-through inspections of Water/Wastewater Treatment Facilities to detect problems in equipment through visual inspections
• Collect and analyze routine samples using process control testing to detect potential problems in various water/wastewater unit processes
• Demonstrate ability to make significant, independent decisions affecting the final quality of water/wastewater treated and delivered
• Demonstrate considerable knowledge of principles and practices applied to the operation and maintenance of water/wastewater treatment equipment and machinery including chemistry, hydraulics and mathematics
• Demonstrate knowledge of safety practices common to hazardous chemicals used in the treatment of water/wastewater such as oxidants, strong acids and strong bases
• Demonstrate knowledge of proper use and maintenance of tools and equipment used in the water/wastewater industry
• Demonstrate knowledge of SCADA systems, personal computers, and Microsoft software applications for daily use in preparing reports, data management and analysis
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, citizens, and other City employees
•  Understand and follow oral instructions or written diagrams on a single-person, rotating shift, that includes nights, weekends, holidays and on-call as required
• Demonstrate knowledge of and willingness to apply Department policies and procedures and work safely, following rules and procedures
• Demonstrate knowledge of the laws and regulations pertaining to operation and maintenance of a Class A Water/Wastewater Treatment and Reclaimed Water Treatment Facilities

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks
Water Treatment Plants Only

1. Operate and maintain two water treatment facilities, a conventional dual-media filtration facility and a micro-membrane filtration facility on a rotating 24 hour shift basis
2. Determine appropriate facility treatment rates in relation to water consumption
3. Monitor and evaluate process water quality readings via SCADA interface programs and perform water quality analyses as needed using a variety of lab equipment for the assessment of process performance; interpret data, make necessary process adjustments to control the finished water quality of both treatment facilities to maintain standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the City of Westminster
4. Responsible for the installation, calibration, on-going maintenance, record keeping and operation of up to 90 different benchtop and in-line water quality monitoring instruments; including the attendant sampling systems including sample pumps, pipelines, valving configurations, and varying types of pH meters, turbidimeters, chlorine analyzers, ORP meters, and spectrophotometers; an extremely high level of professionalism is required; system performance must be able to withstand the most intense scrutiny of periodic inspection by the CDPHE inspecting engineers during periodic sanitary surveys
5. Utilizes required personal protective equipment and safety apparatus
6. Maintains regular and punctual attendance

Wastewater/Reclaimed Water Treatment Plants Only

1. Operates a wastewater treatment facility and a reclaimed water treatment facility on a rotating 24-hour shift basis making periodic checks of plant mechanical equipment
2. Observes and monitors preliminary treatment, secondary treatment (activated sludge Biological Nutrient Removal), sedimentation, Ultraviolet light for disinfection, sludge thickening, re-use processes and water reclamation processes
3. Performs operational control tests to check overall plant efficiency used to maintain discharge regulations for Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Environmental Protection Agency
4. Monitor facility SCADA system and making adjustments to the facility via computer terminals throughout the facility
5. Maintains regular and punctual attendance
6. Utilizes required personal protective equipment and safety apparatus

Other Duties and Responsibilities
Water Treatment Only

1. Monitor the City radio system after normal working hours and dispatch repair crews
2. Receive external customer service phone calls regarding water service, breaks and sewer backups and dispatch appropriate field personnel, as needed
3. Maintain and/or complete proper reports, i.e. log books, operations reports and lab analysis
4. Monitor surveillance cameras utilized for facility security and process monitoring
5. Utilize required personal protective equipment and safety apparatus
6. Maintain inventories of all plant treatment chemicals
7. Maintain plant and work area cleanliness
8. Perform a variety of tasks related to water treatment plant operation and maintenance including but not limited to; filter maintenance, membrane CIP, chemical feed system maintenance, flushing of plant residuals, general equipment and building maintenance
9. Perform/assist in small construction/installation projects related to chemical feed systems and water quality instruments

Wastewater/Reclaimed Treatment Only

1. Monitors influent raw domestic sewage for treatment to remove inorganic matter by physical removal and organic compounds by physical and biological means
2. Makes microscopic examinations of the secondary treatment at regular intervals to insure proper balance in the system, including:

• Interpreting data and making corrections in plant operations to maintain discharge standards set by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Environmental Protection Agency
• Completing proper log sheets, charts, reports, lab analysis and data entry to produce data on which future adjustments can be based
• The operator must also monitor the reclaimed water treatment and distribution system, including:
  • Making adjustments to the reclaimed system as the flow demand increases or decreases
  • Monitoring the production and making chemical feed adjustments based on water quality analysis
• Operates sludge conditioning equipment as needed

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion.Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications
Required:

• Graduation from high school or completion of GED
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, provide proof of a safe driving record, and maintain a safe driving record for continued employment
• Safety sensitive positions are subject to random drug and alcohol testing
• Ability to obtain a Class D Colorado Water Plant Operator’s certification within six months, with the ability to advance to a Class C certification within two (2) years
• Willingness and ability to start a career in rotating shift work

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Education and/or experience in scientific fields (biology, chemistry, environmental science, etc.)
• Education and/or experience in skilled trades (plumbing, electrical, mechanical, etc.)
• Knowledge of CPR/first aid
• Basic experience in water or wastewater field

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.
Physical Requirements
This position is physical in nature and requires sufficient physical stamina and strength to:

• Constantly sit, stand and walk through a multilevel water treatment facility
• Occasionally squat, bend and kneel to perform inspections and repairs; Occasionally crawl through confined spaces, climb ladders up to forty (40) feet and balance at various heights; Occasionally reach overhead and below shoulder to perform inspections and repairs; Frequent twisting to operate valves and move equipment
• Frequent light/firm grasp, fine manipulation and handling to perform daily office tasks and equipment repair and maintenance
• Frequent step up/down and actuate mechanism to safely enter, exit and operate vehicles and equipment
• Normal near and far acuity and hearing are needed to identify potential mechanical problems and hazards
• Constantly lift and carry twenty (20) pounds 200 yards to move supplies and equipment to work area; occasionally lift and carry up to 100 pounds up to ten (10) feet to move chemical bags and other supplies to work area; occasionally push/pull up to 120 pounds with the use of a dolly or pallet jacks to store chemicals and heavier equipment

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is constantly performed indoors and outdoors with occasional exposure to extreme temperatures during a mandatory twelve-hour shift. While performing the duties of this job, the employee works near moving mechanical parts and high-speed rotating equipment; work can be performed in high and precarious places with exposure to wet or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, must be able to pass a respirator fit-test.
Required Materials and Equipment
May operate light equipment and machinery used in Water Treatment operations, such as: forklifts, dump buckets, pallet jacks, sampling boats, snowplows, lab equipment, sludge pumps, centrifugal air blowers, influent pumps, general shop equipment, air compressors, welders, hydraulic pump units, two-way radios, cellular phones and chlorine feeders. Personal computers and keyboards, telephones, adding machines, and other basic office equipment.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification
• Drug screen
• Physical
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States

Salary : $41,538 - $53,144