Power Plant Utility Operator

Provides for operation, maintenance/repair and management of boilers, electrical chillers, cooling towers, auxiliary equipment. Operates generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, and other power plant equipment; monitors systems for normal running conditions. Regulates equipment operations and conditions; responds to system or unit abnormalities, diagnoses the cause, and recommends or take corrective action.

To achieve our mission as a liberal arts college, we continually strive to foster a welcoming campus community, which recognizes the value of all persons. Our department is committed to contributing to an educational environment that is rich with a wide-range of intellectual perspectives and backgrounds.

• Monitors and operates high pressure boilers, mechanical refrigeration equipment, centrifugal chilled water equipment, air compressors, fans, pumps, generators, water softeners, reverse osmosis units, water treatment and related equipment using a control system.
• Regulates equipment operations and conditions; responds to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.
• Ensures operational and safety procedures are followed and comply with regulatory agencies/standards. Maintains all appropriate records.
• Responds to safety concerns and/or hazardous situations providing guidance for processes and procedures; ensures post-emergency procedures are implemented.
• Responds promptly to work order requests and completes necessary service and repair records utilizing computer maintenance management system (CMMS).
• Identifies and may resolve or make recommendations for non-standard/more complex problems with equipment, and systems through inspection and maintenance.
• Supports campus wide activities in the areas of setups, snow and ice removal and any other duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or GED with a minimum of three years’ experience in the power plant trade preferably working in a commercial environment or a combination of education and experience from which a similar skillset would be obtained.
• An ASOPE Facility Operating Engineer FOE3 license or equivalent level of certification.
• Must be able to follow verbal and written directions and provide responses in writing.
• Ability to use computers to read and respond to emails and to use basic applications is also required.
• This position requires the possession and maintenance of a valid Virginia vehicle operator’s license.
• Required to respond to emergencies within 30 minutes.

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles.

• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.
• The worker is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.

Non-Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible $28.57 - Pay Commensurate with Experience