Water Treatment Lab Technician/Operator

Town of Wytheville

Job Opening

Job Title: Water Treatment Lab Technician/Operator

ANTICIPATED STARTING SALARY: $38,043 to $54,867 Actual compensation will be DOE/DOQ.

DEPARTMENT: Water Treatment Plant FLSA DESIGNATION: Non-Exempt POSTED: 03/05/2025

POSITION SUMMARY: Water Treatment Lab Technician / Operator for the Town of Wytheville performs, analyzes, records, and reports a variety of skilled and unskilled laboratory tests and procedures in accordance with various state and federal regulations. Works under the general supervision of the Chief Operator or the Superintendent for the Water Plant, or as directed by the Director of Engineering.

Job Description is attached. Please review the full list of Duties and Responsibilities.

ENTRY LEVEL REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A two (2) year Associates of Science degree in one of the following fields: Biology, Chemistry, or Environmental Science, or a closely related field; and, Two (2) years of experience in a water utility; or Class II Water Treatment Licensure in the State of Virginia. Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Must have the below basic knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Working knowledge of equipment, facilities, materials, methods and procedures used in water treatment plant maintenance and operation activities; working knowledge of laboratory procedures and practices as listed in Town of Wytheville Water Treatment Plant Lab Manual and current Standard Methods.
• Skilled in operation of laboratory equipment necessary to complete required tests, recording, and reporting.
• Ability to perform process control calculations; ability to work safely; ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other departments and the public; ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions.

Please refer to the attached Job Description for additional Required Minimum Qualifications

HOW TO APPLY: Applicants must complete a Town of Wytheville Employment Application to be considered for this position. Applications can be found online at https://www.wytheville.org/employment. Applications are to be submitted to the Department of Human Resources by email at human.resources@wytheville.org or in person at the Town Municipal Building. Please submit a completed application including a resume and any or special licensures that relate to the advertised position. Please contact the Department of Human Resources with any questions at 276-223-3321.

CLOSING DATE: Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

The Town of Wytheville is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Class Title: WATER TREATMENT LAB TECHNICIAN/OPERATOR

Department: Water Treatment

Worker’s Comp. Group Number: 7520

FLSA: Non-Exempt

GENERAL PURPOSE

Performs, analyzes, records, and reports a variety of skilled and unskilled laboratory tests

and procedures in accordance with various state and federal regulations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Chief Operator or the Superintendent for the

Water Plant, or as directed by the Director of Engineering.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervises operators through instruction and required assessments of capability the

acceptable laboratory methods and procedures to assure accuracy of test results.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Monitors the performance of all equipment, gauges and charts in the treatment plant and

pump stations; records statistical data concerning plant operations; maintains; operates,

repairs and replaces equipment as necessary; charts lab test results for trend analysis and

maintains accurate records of analyses and test results; evaluates data and writes reports

as required.

Collects samples in house and in the distribution system and identifies concentrations of

chemical, physical and/or biological characteristics of water required in accordance with

local, state and federal requirements; gathers and tests water samples for plant efficiency

and quality assurance.

Performs quality control tests on lab equipment and lab analyses; evaluates procedures

and results for accuracy and determines appropriate methods.

Assures that plant operates within required standards.

Trains and maintains operators in acceptable lab methods and procedures to assure

accuracy of test results as assigned by Water Plant Superintendent.

Contains and disposes of hazardous waste generated by the lab in accordance with local,

state, and federal laws.

Calibrates or repairs lab, instrumentation and control equipment, recorders, flow meter,

and other water quality monitoring equipment not serviced by contract instrumentation

personnel.

Operates the Water Treatment Plant, in their capacity as a licensed Water Treatment

Operator, as needed or assigned by the Chief Operator or Plant Superintendent.

Other duties as may be assigned.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

A. A two (2) year Associates of Science degree in one of the following fields: Biology,

Chemistry, or Environmental Science, or a closely related field; and,

B. Two (2) years of experience in a water utility; or

C. Class II Water Treatment Licensure in the State of Virginia

D. Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

E. Education and experience requirements for each classification are set forth in the

18VAC160-30-110. Qualifications for examination approval.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

A. Working knowledge of equipment, facilities, materials, methods and procedures used in

water treatment plant maintenance and operation activities; working knowledge of

laboratory procedures and practices as listed in Town of Wytheville Water Treatment

Plant Lab Manual and current Standard Methods.

B. Skilled in operation of laboratory equipment necessary to complete required tests,

recording, and reporting.

C. Ability to perform process control calculations; ability to work safely; ability to

communicate effectively verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain

effective working relationships with employees, other departments and the public;

ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Treatment Operators are assigned to tasks that require the use of a respirator and must be

physically able to perform the work while using the respirator. The Town of Wytheville has

the responsibility of ensuring that employees are medically fit to tolerate the physical and

psychological stress imposed by respirator use. Employees must be medically evaluated

and found eligible to wear the respirator selected for their use prior to first-time use of the

respirator or to fit testing the respirator in the workplace. To meet these requirements,

after the conditional job offer is made on all Treatment Operator applicants, a Respiratory

Physical will be completed, and the applicant is required by the Town of Wytheville under

the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard 29 CFR 1910.134 to

pass the medical evaluation. This evaluation will be conducted by a licensed health care

professional at the expense of the Town of Wytheville and will consist of the OSHA

Medical Questionnaire, Pulmonary Function Test, Chest X-Ray, EKG, TB Test, and

general medical examination. The health care professional will make a written

recommendation regarding whether the employee is medically able to wear a respirator to

the Town. Applicants who fail the Respiratory Physical will have the option to submit

additional medical information for review at their own expense. Employees who fail to

successfully complete the Respirator Physical will not be retained in employment with the

Town of Wytheville. By conducting the Respiratory Physical, the Town of Wytheville and

the applicant can evaluate if the medical standards can be met for the employee to safely

perform the essential functions of their respective position. Valid State driver’s license; telephone/cellphone required at their residence.

Upon employment at facility, a probationary period will be in effect for one (6) months.

The employer will pay for schools attended as they are offered, or other training deemed

necessary by the supervisor, along with certification fees, transportation, meals and

lodging, as provided for in the Town’s Personnel Ordinance.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) -Existing licensees (waterworks operators,

wastewater works operators, and onsite sewage system professionals) are required to

complete continuing education courses as a condition of license renewal. The number of

hours required depends on the type of license.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), motor vehicle, generators, pumps, gauges,

common hand and power tools, shovels, wrenches, detection devices, mobile radio,

phone, calculator, computer, data entry portal, and a variety of lab equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to

finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.

The employee frequently is required to stand. The employee is occasionally required to

walk; talk or hear; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and smell. Ability to

enter hatches as small as twenty (20) inches by twenty (20) inches for repairs or

equipment checks. Physically and medically capable of safely using a Self-Contained

Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

The employee must frequently lift or move up to fifty (50) pounds and occasionally lift

and/or move up to one hundred (100) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job

include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust

focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an

employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable

accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the

essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather

conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is

exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works in high,

precarious places and is exposed to fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock,

and vibration. The employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately loud outside the building

and loud inside on the first floor. The noise level in the laboratory is typically low to

moderate.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application; rating of education and experience; oral interview, reference check,

and criminal background check; driving records; job related tests may be required.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that

may be performed. 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.

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.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $38,043.00 - $54,867.00 per year

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• Water Utility: 2 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Class II Water Treatment License (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Wytheville, VA 24382 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $38,043 - $54,867