Wastewater Treatment Operator/Senior Operator - South Plant Offsite

About the Role:
The candidate will operate, monitor, and control wastewater treatment equipment using manual operations or complex computerized systems. The individual will be expected to troubleshoot all wastewater equipment, systems, and processes with limited supervision. An ability to provide clear and effective communications with the public, fellow team members, other treatment plant staff, and other King County work groups to accomplish work requirements is a must. The candidate will need to be lab certified and be able to perform all lab duties without any supervision.

About the Team:
East Section Offsite is on the front lines of protecting our community and waterways. East Offsite allows you to develop your operating skills outside of a normal treatment plant setting. It allows you to work closely with the community and public as well as project management and conveyance inspection teams. Offsite is a 24/7 operation that requires you to respond to emergency/overflow situations, making it exciting and dynamic. East Offsite's mission is focused on developing more leaders for future county positions.

Join our team, dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 700 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.

We enforce regulations to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that services over 2.3 million King County residents. Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive.  We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Wastewater Treatment Operator/Senior Operator, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Operate, monitor, and control wastewater treatment equipment using manual operations or complex computerized systems; troubleshoot all wastewater equipment, systems, and processes with limited supervision.
• Maintain logs of operational activities, including daily readings, maintenance actions, and any unusual events or problems.
• Respond to emergencies such as pump failures, power outages, or flooding. Be on-call after hours for such situations.
• Coordinate with other team members, supervisors, and maintenance personnel to ensure efficient operation and response to emergencies. Communicate any operational issues or maintenance requirements to ensure continuous wastewater conveyance without disruption.
• Providing clear and effective communications with the public, fellow team members, other treatment plant staff, and other King County work groups to accomplish work requirements is a must.
• Identify and recommend improvements to the conveyance system to increase efficiency, reduce energy consumption, or improve system performance. Assist in implementing upgrades or modifications to the system, ensuring minimal disruption to service.
• Develop and review Process Safety Management (PSM), Preventative Maintenance (PM) and Hazardous Energy Control Procedures (HECP) and provide draft documentation.
• Respond to unusual occurrences, assist in emergency responses, and may serve as on-scene incident commander.
• Communicate with the public, construction personnel, consultants, and engineers to resolve complaints, provide construction assistance, give tours, and carry out related duties.

Senior Wastewater Treatment Operator – performs duties above plus:

• Serve in a lead capacity to operate, monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain wastewater treatment facilities, odor control equipment, biological, chemical, mechanical, and hydraulic processes. Provide advanced level troubleshooting, problem-solving, coordination and decision-making when performing duties, particularly in on-site, unusual and/or emergency situations. Be on call after hours for such situations. Recommend and/or determine changes to wastewater process to meet federal and Washington State permits and regulations and to optimize plant performance. Provide broad, in-depth on-the-job training to other wastewater operations staff. Assist the supervisor in performance feedback and evaluation of staff. 
• Plan, schedule, coordinate and perform maintenance for assigned wastewater facilities, systems, and processes. Coordinate and perform on-site response to unusual occurrences and emergencies.
• Serve as a technical resource to the other staff, the public and external agencies.
• Operate, monitor, and control wastewater equipment and systems with complex computer systems.
• Assume the full operational responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor in the absence of the Wastewater Treatment Supervisor.

What You Bring as a Wastewater Treatment Operator:

• Knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, including preliminary, primary, secondary, digestion, gas handling systems, sludge handling, plant-wide air, water, chemical, electrical and hydraulic support systems.
• Knowledge of collection systems; including pump stations, regulator stations, CSO facilities and miscellaneous structures. 
• Knowledge of mechanical and electrical theory, cross connections and pumps
• Knowledge of wastewater terminology and process control
• Knowledge of industrial safety procedures and practices
• Knowledge of and skill in applying sampling, testing and laboratory procedures
• Skill in verbal and written communication techniques and principles and ability to read, write and follow oral and written instructions
• Skill in reading, recording and interpreting information from field devices 
• Skill in operating basic hand and power tools and specialized equipment
• Skill in operating complex computer control systems and identifying normal and abnormal operating conditions
• Skill in the interpretation and application of technical information from plant drawings, operations and maintenance manuals, and lab tests
• Ability to work rotating shifts including nights, weekends and holidays and demonstrate predictable, reliable and timely attendance.
• Ability to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions.
• Ability to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in confined spaces, climb in and out of tanks using ladders, and work around noxious odors, heat and high noise levels.
• Ability to effectively engage in and sustain relationships with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Demonstrated proficiency with business applications, such as Microsoft Office suite.

• Washington State Group I Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification from the Washington State Department of Ecology or out-of-state equivalency which must be converted to a Washington certification within one year of employment.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License
• CPR and First Aid certification

• Washington State Group III Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification or above from the Washington State Department of Ecology or out-of-state equivalency which must be converted to a Washington certification within one year of employment.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License
• CPR and First Aid certification

It would be great if you also bring:

• Washington State Class A CDL

• Work Location: Various Treatment Plants (Pump run, Vashon, Carnation)

• Work Schedule: The treatment plants are operated 24/7. This position works a 4 / 10 schedule. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible. 

• Union Representation: This position is represented by S.E.I.U., Wastewater Local 925.

Application and Selection Process: 
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness, and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.  

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter 
• Complete Supplemental Questions

Note:  Additional documents will not be considered during minimum qualification screening.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Rodney O. Dungo
HR Analyst 
rdungo@kingcounty.gov   

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Salary : $41 - $57