Water Operator- Housing Assistance Provided!

Eagle River Water and Sanitation District provides high quality, affordable drinking water to its customers to protect public health and the natural surroundings. A big part of delivering clean water to our customers is maintaining regulatory compliance and optimizing our water treatment operations.  We are looking for a professional and dedicated Water Operator to help with water treatment plant operations and maintenance as well as water quality management and regulatory sampling at our Avon Drinking Water Facility, our most complex facility and workhorse of our drinking water system.

This is a great role for someone who wants to gain big picture experience in water operations, working with everything from regulatory compliance, to troubleshooting modern water treatment mechanical processes, to treatment optimization in a facility slated for multiple large capital improvement projects over the next ten years. So as you can imagine, an ideal candidate for this role has a wide skill set and loves daily variety. We are also open to translatable skills and are willing to train- if you have some sort of mechanical maintenance or troubleshooting experience, a scientific background, and excitement about a career in water and public service, we can teach you the rest!

Why work for us? A job where you get to learn from experts, gain experience in a stable career, and contribute to the community- what could be better than that? Not to mention our excellent benefits, housing program (rental program, stipend, down payment assistance, and more!), and opportunities for training, certification, and development.

 

The Day-to-Day: 

·        WATER QUALITY: Demonstrates understanding of laboratory water quality analyses and online instrumentation related to water treatment. Conducts special studies of raw and/or treated drinking water.

·        REGULATORY COMPLIANCE: Demonstrates basic knowledge of state (CDPHE) and federal (EPA) drinking water standards. Collects regulatory water quality samples in the field as assigned, including bacteriological samples, disinfection byproduct samples, lead and copper samples, and additional water quality data collection as needed. Performs field analysis on water samples and arranges for compliance samples to be performed at contracted laboratories.

·        CHEMISTRY: Completes laboratory analysis for water samples using approved methodologies. Tests water quality using benchtop and portable equipment. Calibrates, maintains, and performs QA/QC on all water testing equipment.

·        DATA ANALYSIS: Ability to compile, organize, interpret, and graphically display data. Enters water quality data into LIMS software. Organizes analytical reports for long-term records retention and regulatory management. Assists with monthly regulatory data reporting.

·        TREATMENT PROCESS: Performs basic water plant operations. Assists with and performs general maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment. Engages in advanced water treatment plant and distribution system operations via SCADA, including starting and stopping pumps, opening and closing valves, ensuring adequate water quality and quantity in the distribution system, and adjusting storage tanks set points as needed. Monitors turbidity, chlorine residual, and fluoride levels to meet state and federal standards and adjusts plant operations accordingly. Monitors equipment and treatment processes.

·        CUSTOMER SERVICE: Responds to customer water quality questions and concerns as needed. Coordinates in-home lead and copper sample scheduling with customers.

·        MAINTENANCE: Performs general maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment.

·        TEAMWORK: Assists in coordinating activities of water operations staff. Works collaboratively with all departments and district staff. Demonstrates a willingness to work independently in a team environment. Respectfully communicates with peers and the public. Embraces district mission, vision, and values. Demonstrates a strong work ethic, integrity, positive attitude and is a team player. Demonstrate tact and professionalism in communication. Completes administrative functions correctly and on time including purchasing card reconciliation, time entry, scheduling, and reading emails. Maintains the ability to work shift work, holidays, and on-call duties as needed; on call and shift work is split evenly by all team members.

·        SAFETY: Follows district safety standards. Follows all District safety and security policies and wear personal protective equipment as required by the job duties.

 

Qualifications and Competencies 

·        SCHEDULE: Must be willing to work overtime, holidays, and weekends. Must be willing to work on-call shifts in a 24×7 rotation. This position is 4 10 hours shifts alternating between day (6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) and evening (2:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.) shifts.

·        EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION: High school diploma or general education degree (GED); one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience in water related field or water and or environmental sciences. A four-year science degree in biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, or related field is highly desired.

·        MAINTENANCE: Mechanical aptitude and some experience working with hand tools required.

·        WATER QUALITY: Water quality testing or laboratory experience desired.

·        COMMUNICATION AND TEAMWORK: Must be able to demonstrate tact and professionalism in communication. Must have strong written communication skills, including the ability to provide documentation for daily logs and reports to ensure accurate record keeping and continuity in day-to-day operations. Must be able to work independently and in a team environment.

·        TECHNOLOGY: Computer proficiency required, including basic Microsoft Office skills including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel. Must have aptitude and ability to work with CMMS to create work orders and use GIS to read maps. Ability to use office equipment such as phone systems, copier, and fax machine, and radio system required.

·        PROBLEM SOLVING: Basic math skills including the ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent, and to create and interpret data graphs. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written and oral instructions. Proven customer service skills.

·        OUTDOOR WORK: Must be able to walk, hike, snowshoe or Nordic ski in variable & sometimes extreme conditions to reach tanks and reservoirs as needed.

·        LICENSURE: Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s license within 30 days of full-time employment and be insurable under District’s standards. Must be able to obtain Water Treatment Operator Class D and Water Distribution Operator Class 1 licensure within 18 months of date of employment in accordance with the Colorado Certified Water Professional (CWWP) program requirements. Colorado Water Operator and/or Water Distribution certifications preferred.

·        SAFETY: Must be willing and able to follow district safety protocols and maintain safety training. Must obtain CPR/First Aid Certification within the first six (6) months of employment.

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 reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit.  The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 75 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. Must be able to snowshoe or Nordic ski over long distances in variable & sometimes extreme conditions

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 is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions.  The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; and vibration.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  However, the noise level in the plant environment is usually loud.

The employee is occasionally required to enter confined spaces to include vaults, pits, underground & above ground storage tanks. The employee occasionally will work on mine property and will be required to obtain MSHA (Mine Safety & Health Administration) certification.

 

HIRING RANGE  

There are four levels of Water Operator (I, II, III, Senior) with different titles and pay ranges depending on certifications, knowledge, skills and abilities. Pay range and title depend on certifications and experience. Starting range depends on qualifications but generally falls within the minimum and midpoint of the pay range. Pay ranges for each level are as follows:

·        Water Operator I: $23.94 – $33.52

·        Water Operator II: $26.40 – $36.96

·        Water Operator III: $29.10 – $40.75

·        Senior Water Operator: $32.09 – $44.92

 

BENEFITS 

At ERWSD, we value life-work balance and are leaders in the industry with our holistic benefits package, which includes but is not limited to:

·        Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage

·        Employee housing and $361 monthly housing stipend programs

·        Wellness program

·        Retirement savings plans (414h and 457)

·        13.5 Paid Holidays

·        Paid Vacation, Sick and Comp Time

·        Relocation Assistance (if applicable)

·        $400 Annual Recreation Benefit

·        Tuition Reimbursement

·        Ski Pass, Electrical Vehicle, and Computer loan programs

 

Click HERE to learn more from our full 2022 Benefits Guide.

All applicants must apply online at www.erwsd.org to be considered. The last day to apply is October 10, 2022.

All employees must be insurable under District standards, submit to a pre-employment drug screen and extensive background check.

Please contact erwsdjobs@erwsd.org for a full job description or for any additional questions.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer 

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.