Job Title
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

Agency
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

Department
Emergency Services Training Institute

Proposed Minimum Salary
$18.00 hourly

Job Location
College Station, Texas

Job Type
Staff

Job Description

The Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator is responsible for operating the wastewater treatment plant at the Brayton Fire Field. WWTP Operator is responsible for treatment plant operations to include treatment of wastewater, sampling of wastewater and management of wastewater system. This position is responsible for performing normal maintenance and repairs of process equipment and preventative maintenance of wastewater equipment. This position also provides information for analysis and maintains accurate reports.

The position reports to the Environmental Specialist.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Must have a valid motor vehicle operator's license or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment.
• Must be able to obtain a TCEQ Class D (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) Wastewater license within 90 days of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two or more years of experience in wastewater operation, maintenance, lab operations at a wastewater treatment facility, or water/wastewater experience in regulatory compliance.
• One or more years of experience with a degree in associated field such as environmental science, biology or chemistry.
• TCEQ Class A, B, or C Wastewater License.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work outdoors exposed to various weather conditions, potential allergens, elevated noise levels, and heat.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
• Ability to coordinate two or more limbs while sitting, standing, or lying down.
• Ability to perform physical activities requiring considerable use of arms, and legs to climb, lift, balance, walk, stoop, and handle materials.
• Physical conditioning consistent with wearing required personal protective equipment including a supplied air respirator, movement/lifting wastewater martials and equipment up to 50 lbs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and basic data applications associated with wastewater treatment plants.
• Knowledge of wastewater systems and of relevant TCEQ equipment requirements.
• Mechanical knowledge of machines, tools, and their use.
• Ability to understand written documents and procedures, control operations of equipment or systems.
• Ability to think logically and critically, troubleshoot, actively listen, monitor, and analyze equipment to control operations and wastewater treatment system.
• Ability to follow specified procedures and instructions.
• Ability to see details, sense problems-visual and audible, react quickly and repeatedly, keep hands and arms steady.
• Ability to collect and order or pattern steps and tasks according to specified set of rules.
• Ability to comprehend oral and written instructions and communicate information so others can understand.
• Ability to read and interpret state and federal regulations.

Equipment:

• Standard office equipment: computer, keyboard, multifunctional printer, telephone.
• Hand and power tools.
• Training equipment.
• Maintenance equipment.
• Laboratory equipment.

Notifications:

• position is security sensitive.
• This position may require work beyond normal office hours and/or work on weekends.
• This position requires compliance with state and federal laws/codes and Texas A&M University System/TEEX regulations and procedures.
• All tasks and job responsibilities must be performed safely without injury to self or others in compliance with System and Agency safety requirements.
• This position may require work beyond normal office hours and/or work on weekends.
• As part of TEEX's mission of providing training, developing practical solutions, and saving lives; this position could be required, if called upon, to deploy within the State of Texas as directed by this position's Division Director/HQ Department Head.
• Ability to travel independently to other and/or remote locations by driving a personal or TEEX vehicle and/or flying on commercial airlines.
• This position may require up to 5% or more travel.
• This position will require an alternate work schedule outside of standard office hours. Alternate hours may be between 6am-10pm.
• This position requires compliance with OSHA/NFPA standards, ESTI Respirator Protection Program related to the proper wearing of respirator. Beards, sideburns or mustaches must not exceed 2" in length for PPE equipment. Shaving of the entire sealing surface area of your face will be required to allow for annual respirator fit testing as well as immediately upon being given assignment of a task requiring use of a respirator. The requirement to shave cannot be discharged and to request the task be assigned to a coworker or subordinate. Refusal to shave immediately upon the assignment of a task, requiring the use of a respirator will result in disciplinary actions.
• This position requires compliance with TCEQ and EPA regulations.

Essential Duties, Tasks, and Percentages:

Provide treatment plant operations support- 30%

• Adds chemicals, such as polymers, metal salts, nutrient supplement to enhance the treatment of process water generated during live fire training operations.
• Operates and adjusts controls on equipment to treat the process water generated during live fire training operations.
• Performs site safety assessment of the Wastewater Plant and other areas related to the treatment of the process water generated during fire training operations and generating repair requests, as needed.

Provide normal and preventative maintenance and repairs of equipment- 30%

• Inspects equipment and monitors operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
• Calibrates and checks field test equipment and laboratory apparatus for proper use.
• Maintains repairs and lubricates equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
• Cleans and maintains tanks, treatment basins, dissolved air flotation units and rotary drum screen, using hand and power tools.
• Assists maintenance in the monitoring of the cleaning of sumps on the fire training field.
• Performs monthly scheduled preventive maintenance on selected equipment used for the treatment of the process water generated during fire training operations using necessary hand tools and equipment.

Obtain samples for lab analysis - 20%

• Collects and tests (influent, effluent and various process control samples using field test equipment and laboratory apparatus programs.
• Collects and prepares weekly samples for shipment to Contact Laboratory using programmable samplers.

Gather and record data - 20%

• Records operational data or meter and gauge readings using computer databases including review of data for accuracy.
• Records data received from outside contract laboratories using computer databases.
• Prepares all monthly operational, laboratory and maintenance information for supervisory review.
• Inventories all plant chemicals and laboratory supplies.

Other Duties

• Maintains a clean and neat appearance.
• Performs additional work duties as assigned.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.