Salary : $50,688.01 - $83,635.21 Annually
Location : County of Culpeper, VA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 4210-2025-0808
Department: Environmental Services
Division: Water/Waterwater
Opening Date: 08/08/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt

Job Summary

Responsible for supervising the operations and staff of the County's water plants; performs operator duties. Serves as Chief Operator of all County water treatment facilities. Supervises and engages in the safe and compliant operation, and monitoring, of the County's water, wastewater treatment facilities, and distribution and collection systems.

Class 3 Water Operator responsible for operating three Class 4 water systems and one Class 3 facility rated at 0.9 MGD. This individual will complete all the required VDH sampling and reporting for all four facilities and serve as backup wastewater operator. Weekend work required every four weeks, but no night shifts. Full staff includes four operators.
Pay is based on the license level attained by the employee. Duties and responsibilities vary slightly depending upon licensure level.
Job Functions

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Oversees daily operations of water treatment facilities
• Prepares, implements, and ensures adherence to standard operating procedures; writes needed changes to operation and maintenance manuals; responsible for training, supervising, and evaluating Operator staff
• Responsible for providing and documenting safety training for Operators
• Ensures appropriate samples are collected and regulatory reporting is completed on time; maintains plant records and audit documentation; ensures monthly reports are provided to the Health Department
• Maintains appropriate inventories of chemicals, operator supplies and personal protective equipment for operating staff
• Performs a variety of preventive maintenance tasks such as oiling and adjusting power driven water pumps, changing chlorine tanks, cleaning equipment, etc.; makes minor electrical and/or plumbing repairs as needed; reports any problems or need for equipment repair

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Performs general and preventive maintenance
• Reads water meters, conducts utility inspections, and supervises contractors

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
Education equivalent to a high school diploma with 1 year of water/wastewater operator experience.

Special Qualifications:
Requires Water/Wastewater Operators licenses within specified time; Class 3 Water Operators License and Class 3 Wastewater Operators License Preferred. Must obtain satisfactory results of a criminal history background check. Must possess and maintain a valid Virginia driver's license. OSHA Industrial including lock out tag out procedures, confined space entry.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of the standard methods, materials and equipment employed in water and wastewater treatment, pretreatment, collection and distribution systems and operations
• Considerable knowledge of water/wastewater federal, state, and local standards, regulations, and policies
• Ability to monitor, operate, inspect, maintain and adjust/repair water and wastewater treatment, pretreatment, collection, and distribution systems
• Skilled in the use of water/wastewater equipment and tools
• Ability to supervise and evaluate subordinates
• Thorough knowledge of the provisions of pertinent inspection and safety requirements
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments
• Ability to use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision as situations warrant
• Ability to write accurate reports and maintain accurate records
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Working Conditions & Disclaimer

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This position classifies the physical exertion requirements as heavy. Must be physically able to operate water/wastewater equipment. Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 25 pounds of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. May occasionally involve heavier objects and materials (up to 125 pounds). May be required to work afterhours, on weekends, or on-call. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate depths. Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate odors.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Essential functions are regularly performed at the various water/wastewater facilities. Tasks may risk exposure to chemicals, odors, machinery, wetness, dust, fumes, dirt, vibrations, electricity, driving and confined spaces.

Disclaimer
The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications as required of employees assigned to this job.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Culpeper County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

General Sign-off: The employee is expected to adhere to all County policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.

The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications as required of employees assigned to this job.
Culpeper County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Culpeper County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
COUNTY OF CULPEPER BENEFITS
Full-time employees have access to a wide variety of benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, life insurance, optional life and disability insurance plans, flexible spending accounts, and a deferred compensation program.
RETIREMENT As a condition of full-time employment, each individual is enrolled in a retirement plan with the Virginia Retirement System that provides a monthly benefit to all retirees for life. VRS Plans 1 and 2 and the VRS Enhanced Hazardous Duty plans are defined benefit plans. The VRS Hybrid plan consists of both a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan.

All individuals are required to contribute 5% of their gross salary to their retirement account each month as a condition of employment.
LIFE INSURANCE The County of Culpeper provides a basic life insurance plan for all eligible employees. The coverage amount is an employee's annual salary, rounded up to the next highest thousand, then multiplied by 2. The County pays 100% of the cost of this benefit. Additional coverage may be purchased.
MEDICAL INSURANCE The County offers two (2) medical plans: an HMO & an HSA.
DENTAL INSURANCE The County offers three comprehensive dental plans for employees and their eligible dependents.
HOLIDAY/VACATION/SICK ACCRUALS The County follows the state calendar for paid holidays. Vacation and sick accrual depend on the agency, office, or department in which an individual is employed.
PAY FOR PERFORMANCE The County currently utilizes a merit pay system to determine employee salary increases. This does not apply to Culpeper Human Services.
SHORT TERM DISABILITY The County offers basic income protection in the event an employee is unable to perform the essential functions of his or her position. The County pays for this coverage for all VRS members.
LONG TERM DISABILITY The County also offers additional income protection that will continue beyond the short term disability period until an employee is able to return to work or reaches retirement age. This coverage is provided for a nominal cost to employees covered under VRS Plans 1 and 2 and the VRS Enhanced Hazardous Duty plan. This coverage is provided at no cost to all employees covered under the VRS Hybrid plan.

VOLUNTARY INSURANCE PROGRAM The County offers voluntary insurance programs through a variety of insurance carriers. These include:

Accident Plan
Cancer Plan
Whole Life Insurance
Critical Illness Plans
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT The County offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that allows employees to set aside up to $2,500 annually, on a pre-tax basis via payroll deductions, to pay for eligible medical, dental, or vision expenses. The IRS regulates this program and runs concurrently with the benefit plan year.
DEPENDENT CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The County offers a Dependent Care Assistance Program that allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 annually, on a pre-tax basis via payroll deductions, to pay eligible dependent care expenses. The IRS regulates this program and runs concurrently with the benefit plan year. Open enrollment is held annually.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION The County offers a 457 as another alternative to set aside money for retirement.
This employer uses E-Verify
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