This is responsible work involving the operation, maintenance, and repair of the County wastewater treatment plant(s) and related facilities including pumping stations. Daily and weekly job duties depend upon the assignment area and require strict adherence to prescribed safety standards. Duties include working on teams and on one's own and requires a proven satisfactory record of working independently with minimum supervision. Duties include training and overseeing the work of lower-level plant staff. Work is on a rotating shift, including weekends, to control plant operations and maintain grounds and equipment. The employee receives supervision of a general nature from the Treatment Plant Supervisor.
Be advised this position is posted as M-F; 7A-3P; but the nature of the work requires shift work; (7-3, 3-11, 11-7 and 10 days on /4 days off) and on-call.
The Department of Public Works - Division of W&S Operations is actively recruiting to fill positions as one of the following:
Plant Operator Trainee I
Plant Operator Trainee II
Plant Operator
Through the recruitment process, a determination will be made on which position will be offered to a candidate, based upon the candidate's skills and abilities as it relates to the minimum qualification requirements for each position listed above. The minimum qualification requirements for each role are detailed below.
Please note - a $5,000 hiring bonus will be paid within your first 6 months of employment and you must remain employed for at least two years.
Examples of Duties
(The following examples illustrate the work performed in the positions in the class. Positions may require some or all of these examples depending on the organization of work within the department. The list is not inclusive. A position may require duties not listed, if necessary, to accomplish the work of the department.)
WASTEWATER POSITION
Operates wastewater treatment equipment such as screens and shredders, grit removal devices, scum, and sedimentation basins, aeration tanks, blowers, sludge thickeners, anaerobic digesters, thickening, and dewatering equipment, process reactors, fermenters, denitrification filters, chemical addition systems, centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, disinfection and dechlorination systems, ultraviolet disinfection and septic receiving facilities.
Operates valves, starts and stops pumps and motors to control and adjust the process and end product flows.
Monitors gauges, meters, and control panel, and observe variations in operating conditions to determine processing requirements.
Inspects bearings, valves, seals, filters, pumps and motors, and other mechanical and electrical equipment; lubricates, makes repairs, arranges for the repair, or replaces as necessary.
Obtains required samples at various stages and performs routine tests in the field and in the laboratory as required by State and Federal agencies and for proper operation of the treatment plant.
Reads various charts, gauges, and meters and records reading in shift logs. Changes charts on a routine basis.
If required, make daily rounds of the County wastewater treatment plant(s) and related facilities such as pumping stations, correct any malfunctions, and report to the supervisor.
Follows preventive maintenance procedures and PM record-keeping directions.
Cleans tanks, filters, screens, pumps, and other related equipment.
Maintains all buildings, equipment, and grounds in a neat and orderly fashion. This includes performing custodial duties, cutting grass, and painting buildings and equipment.
Assists in training lower-level operators.
Uses computers, and operator interface terminals (OITs and PLCs) to maintain records, monitor equipment, make process adjustments, and submit reports.
May participate in occasional specialized maintenance.
Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualification Requirements
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Familiarity with, or background knowledge of, the safe operation of pumps, valves, gauges, and other equipment typically found in a treatment plant operation
Knowledge of elementary mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic principles
Knowledge of safe work practices
Knowledge of basic math skills
Ability to safely perform inspections of pumps, valves, gauges, and other mechanical and electrical equipment
Ability to maintain a simple written record
Ability to read charts, gauges, and meters accurately
Ability to follow instructions
Ability to work effectively with others
Ability to operate basic hand tools
Ability to perform minor maintenance on buildings, equipment, and grounds
Ability to climb, stoop, kneel, reach, lift, walk, and stand for prolonged periods of time
Ability to have the ability to lift up to 50 lbs
Ability to drive a County vehicle while carrying out some assignments
Must be able to work safely and efficiently in existing environmental/atmospheric conditions, such as odors; noise; to inside and outside environmental conditions
Must be able to wear a negative-pressure respirator and/or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Subject to hazards of working at construction sites, in confined spaces, around heavy equipment, and in or near heavily trafficked highways; and exposure to adverse weather conditions.
On 24-hour call for emergencies, flextime, or scheduled rotation of duties to cover a 6-7 day work week, including weekends. Positions in this class may be required to cover a second shift operation.
This class of positions requires the occasional use of a negative-pressure respirator and/or SCBA. The employee's use level will be determined during the employee's physical examination with the County's medical provider.
This class of positions requires incumbents to maintain a clean facial surface at all respirator points.
The employee will be required to maintain his/her Operator's license in good standing.
The selected candidate is subject to random drug and/or alcohol screenings.
SAFETY:
Must comply with all Federal (OSHA), State of Maryland (MOSH), safety regulations, and applicable Harford County safety policies, procedures, or manual as required for this position.
PLANT OPERATOR TRAINEE I - MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION:
Possession of a high school or vocational-technical school diploma or GED Certificate.
EXPERIENCE:
One (1) year experience in mechanical maintenance work with pumps, motors, engines, compressors, and other equipment.
LICENSE:
Possession of a valid Class "C" non-commercial driver's license with no more than three (3) points. Please be advised this position requires a valid driver's license. Your application will not be considered if you fail to include the full driver's license number on the electronic application.
Wastewater Operations: A valid permanent Maryland Board of Waterworks Wastewater License Class 5A within four (4) years from the date of hire as Trainee I
PLANT OPERATOR - MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION:
Possession of a high school or vocational-technical school diploma or GED Certificate.
Satisfactory completion of courses equivalent to water or wastewater -
"Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants I" Sacramento course; & "Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants II" Sacramento course
EXPERIENCE:
Three (3) years' experience in water and/or wastewater treatment setting.
LICENSE:
Possession of a valid Class "C" non-commercial driver's license with no more than three (3) points. Please be advised this position requires a valid driver's license. Your application will not be considered if you fail to include the full driver's license number on the electronic application.
Wastewater Operations: Possession of a valid permanent Maryland Board of Waterworks Wastewater License Class 5A or reciprocating state. If a reciprocating state license is used to be found qualified for this position a Maryland Board of Waterworks Wastewater License Class 5A must be obtained within 1 year
Notes
Selected candidate is subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.
Selected candidate must be available for work as a critical employee - 24/7 on-call.
FRINGE BENEFITS
(Effective July 1, 2023)
ANNUAL LEAVE - Begin accruing first day of employment and cannot be taken until successful completion of probationary period, EXCESS of 40 DAYS [320 hours] will be deposited into an 106 Premium Reimbursement Account.
0 months - 3 years 1 day per month (12 days per year)
4 years - 9 years 1 ¼ days per month (15 days per year)
10 years - 15 years 1 ¾ days per month (21 days per year)
Over 15 years 2 days per month (24 days per year)
* Please note that leave is prorated according to your status determined by actual hours worked*
SICK LEAVE - Begin accruing first day of employment (UMLIMITED ACCUMULATION)
1 day is allowed after first month of employment
1 ¼ days per month accumulation
PERSONAL LEAVE - For new employees, personal leave is prorated according to schedule below, for the first year only. Any employee on board as of December 31st of each year automatically receives 8 days as of January 1st the following year. (NOTE: Personal Leave may not be taken until successful completion of probationary period; personal leave will be lost if not taken before December 31st of each year.)
1/1 to 1/31 6 days 4/1 to 4/30 3 days
2/1 to 2/28 5 days 5/1 to 5/31 2 days
3/1 to 3/31 4 days 6/1 to 6/30 1 day
7/1 to 12/31 0 days
FAMILY LEAVE - Up to 12 weeks per year
FUNERAL LEAVE - 3 days + 1 day for extended travel
MILITARY LEAVE - 3 weeks per year with no loss in pay for Reserve or National Guard Training, Active Duty and serving during emergencies.
CIVIL LEAVE - No loss in pay while serving Jury Duty.
RETIREMENT - State Pension System (7% employee contribution)
COUNTYFLEX - Provides the employee with a range of health care and other employee benefit options which gives employee the opportunity to design a benefit plan that best meets the employee's needs. Employee may use available credits to purchase the following:
HEALTH INSURANCE - CareFirst Triple Option and BlueChoice Opt-Out Plus Open Access and Kaiser Permanente (all plans include prescription drug coverage)
DENTAL INSURANCE - CareFirst Dental PPO Plus Plan and CareFirst Dental PPO Plan
VISION INSURANCE - Provided through BlueVision Plus
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - Provided through American Fidelity. Employees may fund health and child care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
PRE-TAX - All deductions for health, dental, vision and flexible spending accounts are subject to deductions from paycheck before federal and state taxes are applied.
LIFE INSURANCE -
Provided through MetLife - $50,000 policy - NO COST TO EMPLOYEE
SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE (TERM/WHOLE/UNIVERSAL AND AD&D)
Provided through MetLife.
LONG TERM DISABILITY - Provided through MetLife.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION -
Lincoln Financial Group - Retirement Consultant David Weiland
Phone 410-236-2494 Email- Dave.Weiland@LFG.com
[Customer Service Representative 1-800-234-3500]
RETIREE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE BENEFITS-
Employees hired on or after 7/1/2010 will have an automatic Retirement Health Savings account made available as the primary retiree healthcare benefit. This 105(h) Universal Reimbursement Account will only be able to be accessed upon separation of service and/or retirement whichever applicable. These accounts are employer funded, tax free, & portable with 20 different Nationwide investment options.
These funds are solely for the use of offsetting your premium health care cost, prescriptions, co-pays and deductibles. Upon death funds are made available immediately to the surviving spouse or qualified dependents (as defined by the IRC 152 (a).
DEATH BENEFITS - PAID BY COUNTY
50% of accumulated sick leave
All accumulated annual leave
Personal leave (maximum of 2 days)
$50,000 life insurance
One (1) month's salary
PAID BY RETIREMENT
One year's pay (after 1 year's service) plus employee's contributions refunded with interest.
