Facility Operator

The employee will begin reporting to Winter Park from May through the end of October. Outside of this period, the employee will report to the main campus in Denver and may also be assigned to various SOS locations throughout the Denver metro area, including the High Line Canal and Ralston Reservoir. A Denver Water vehicle will be provided for commuting to Winter Park.

A $500 monthly housing stipend is available for this role.

Posting: Summary: Denver Water’s Moffat Collection System, a nearly 100-year-old network of dams, tunnels, canals, and pipes, transports water from the west slope to Denver via the Moffat Tunnel. Covering 100 square miles in the Fraser River Valley, it collects and diverts snowmelt into the system. Facility Operators manage water flows at 38 diversions, record weather and water data, perform maintenance, and work outdoors year-round in varying conditions.

Spring runoff marks the busiest season, requiring operators to drive over 100 miles daily to monitor and adjust flows, clear blockages, and ensure system security. Environmental stream flows and diversions are regularly checked, and vegetation, ditch, and culvert maintenance is an ongoing task. Summer and fall bring additional responsibilities, such as brush clearing, concrete patching, painting, and facility repairs, often with the help of youth corps teams.

In winter, Operators focus on equipment upkeep, snow removal, and system monitoring while also working toward certifications. Though water flow slows, the system continues operating, with transportation via snowmobiles or Sno-Cats ensuring year-round maintenance. By late April, flows begin increasing again, marking the cycle’s renewal.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have formal supervisory responsibilities over other employees.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Take and record information, including reservoir elevations, streamflow readings, and weather data.
• Patrol assigned departmental property to prevent vandalism, trespassing, and fires and cooperate with various local public and private agencies.
• Maintain and repair roads, buildings, and other structures in assigned area. Perform related unskilled and semi-skilled labor including lifting, digging, carrying, mixing concrete, grounds and road repair, and carpentry work.
• Maintain liaison with visitors to department facilities. Work with local agencies concerning recreational opportunities at these facilities.
• Operate valves to regulate flows, check emergency valves periodically, and maintain outlet piping, valves, and valve chambers.
• Operate and maintain equipment including trucks, bulldozers, front-end loaders, road graders, air compressors, and pumps.
• Ensure safety and security of Denver Water facilities and property.
• Must be able to perform safety sensitive functions.
• Perform related work as required.