Wastewater Treatment Operator/Senior Operator - South Plant (B Crew)

Summary

This is a competitive posting and the position is open to ALL qualified candidates. First consideration will be given to S.E.I.U. Wastewater Local 925 employees. Current Senior Operators represented by WTD/ SEIU Local 925 will retain their senior operator status, salary, benefits, and seniority if selected for hire for this competitive position. If no qualified internal candidate is selected, external applicants will be considered.

Current internal Operator-in-Training (OIT's) SEIU L925 applicants who have a current Washington State Group I Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator-In-Training certification that will convert to a Group I Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification within 3 months are eligible to apply.

External candidates are eligible to be hired at the Operator level only. Senior operator level is obtained through internal job progression process. The salary range listed above includes the Operator level ($36.3765-$46.1094/per hour) and Senior Operator level ($41.9361 -$50.6977/per hour).

About the Role:

The King County Wastewater Treatment Division is seeking enthusiastic Wastewater Treatment Operators to cultivate and build effective working relationships with operations and maintenance, process, administration, construction management, consultants, and project teams, developing mutual understanding of goals, communication, and trust.

Major work items/projects the candidate could be involved with include: compliance of HECP/Safety Program, input on upcoming expansion projects related to secondary nitrification requirements, updated heating system and training program updates. This role can lead into various career growth opportunities such as a Senior Operator, which helps builds leadership skills through job progression and develop competitive skills to promote to SOIC or Supervisor.

WTD protects water quality and public health in the central Puget Sound region by providing high quality treatment to wastewater collected from local sewer agencies. WTD includes over 700 employees across multiple facilities and serves 2.0 million people. To our agency, success means clean water. It means honoring our legacy while keeping a promise to another generation that our beautiful environment will be there for them to enjoy. It also means being accountable to our ratepayers and operating a well-managed agency.

About the Team:

Working at South Treatment plant on B-Crew is the opportunity to support the local community and waterways. This gives you great opportunity for growth and learning. The South Plant operations team has great collaboration, communication and teamwork. You will gain knowledge and exposure to construction and process within the division. South Treatment plant is a 24/7 operation and can build great leaders moving forward.

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 an Operator, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Operate, monitor, and control wastewater equipment and systems using complex computer systems.

• Start up and shut down equipment and processes for maintenance and contractors.

• Perform maintenance on wastewater facilities, including buildings, equipment, and grounds. Duties include cleaning, servicing operating equipment, mowing lawns, and performing housekeeping tasks.

• Communicate with the public, construction personnel, consultants, and engineers to resolve complaints, provide construction assistance, give tours, and carry out related duties.

• Exchange information on wastewater operations, maintenance and processes with County staff and others as required involved in process control, maintenance, facilities services, off-site facilities services, and other areas.

• Respond to unusual occurrences, assist in emergency responses, and may serve as on-scene incident commander.

• Record technical data and daily activities on logs.

• Perform all essential duties in compliance with safety guidelines, policies, and regulations.

• Develop and review Process Safety Management (PSM), Preventative Maintenance (PM) and Hazardous Energy Control Procedures (HECP) and provide draft documentation.

• Train others on site-specific areas through on-the-job-training.

• Help facilitate training OIT's during regularly scheduled shifts.

What you Bring as a 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.

• Recommend and/or determine changes to wastewater process to meet federal and Washington State permits and regulations and to optimize plant performance.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• 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 operating complex computer control systems and identifying normal and abnormal operating 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 work rotating shifts including nights, weekends and holidays and demonstrate predictable, reliable and timely attendance.

Competencies You Bring:

• Communicates Effectively

• Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

• Decision Quality

• Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.

• Nimble Learning- Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

• Values Difference

• Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.

• Situational Adaptability

• Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

Required Licenses for a Wastewater Treatment Operator:

• 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

• Current internal Operator-in-Training (OIT's) SEIU L925 applicants who have a current Washington State Group I Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator-In-Training certification must obtain a Group I Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification within 3 months.

• Valid Washington State Driver's License.

• CPR and First Aid certification

Required Licenses for a Wastewater Treatment Senior Operator:

• 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 certifications

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: South Treatment Plant

• 1200 Monster Road SW, Renton, WA and other King County facilities as needed.

• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible. The position requires the ability to work all shift schedules and required to report to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions.

• Union Representation: This position is represented by S.E.I.U. 925 (Wastewater Treatment Division)

• Physical Requirement: Incumbents perform field work at a wastewater treatment plant and associated facilities and are required to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, use ladders, and there is exposure to hazardous chemicals and noxious odors. A pre-employment physical, review of driving record and reference checks will be conducted prior to any final job offer.

Application and Selection Process:

First consideration will be given to qualified S.E.I.U. 925 WTD applicants. 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 a technical assessment and one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application

• Responses to the supplemental questions

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Angelia Remolana, HR Analyst at anremolana@kingcounty.gov.

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and our WTD Blog.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

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.