Salary : $52,903.00 - $82,086.00 Annually
Location : 1900 E Club Blvd., Durham, NC
Job Type: Full time with benefits
Job Number: 26-05887
Department: Water Management
Opening Date: 03/18/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Position DescriptionWork, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.
Hiring Range: $52,903-$55,562
Hours: 7am -3pm/7:30am-3:30pm/8am-4pm, Weekend rotations and holidays (on occasion cover off shift rotations)
The City of Durham's wants
YOU to join our team of
more than 380 talented and dedicated employees that provide critical water and sewer services for Durham's 309,000 plus residents. Not only do we deliver the Best Tasting Water in the state to our customers each and every day, but we also make sure that the wastewater leaving our facilities is carefully treated to protect the environment. We have a wide-ranging variety of positions open to match your skill set - mechanics, engineers, maintenance specialists, technicians, customer billing techs, and much more. If you have a passion for managing vital water resources, protecting the environment, providing excellent customer service, and keeping the water and wastewater in the pipes, bring your skills and talent to Durham!
We have a Senior Plant Operations Specialist (Wastewater Plant Operator (POII) vacancy. This position is responsible for monitoring plant operations by physical observation of plant processes; sampling units to ensure proper operation; maintaining accurate records; cleaning and calibration process meters; monitoring chemical feeds and making process adjustments as needed. Checks equipment and adjust as necessary.
This job is subject to recall for weather-related emergencies. You must be readily available by phone with ability to work rotational stand-by/recall duty. Duties/Responsibilities- Performs as a journey-level plant operator; monitors operational processes and conditions; operates, adjusts, and performs routine predicted maintenance on plant equipment; collects samples and conducts lab analysis as assigned; obtains and interprets data from instruments and lab results; reviews data and makes process adjustments; and ensures compliance with applicable safety and operational policies and procedures.
- Inspects plant equipment and systems; calibrates equipment; performs predicted preventative maintenance, including performing minor repairs and maintaining lubricant levels in equipment; ensures proper working condition and functioning of equipment and reports additional maintenance needs.
- Participates in reviewing operating policies and making recommendations; cleans equipment and assigned areas, including washing filters and removing sludge; and receives and unloads chemicals.
- Prepares, maintains, and reviews reports, records, logs, work orders, and other documentation; maintains databases and online systems; enters, updates, compiles and submits information; and proofs and reviews work to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Minimum Qualifications & Experience- North Carolina Grade II Wastewater Treatment Operator's License (or higher)
- Two years of wastewater treatment experience and/or operations experience based on assignment.
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Must have a valid, unrestricted, NC Class "C" Driver's License "or" if you currently have another state driver's license, must be willing and able to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire.
Additional Preferred Skills- Knowledge of Microsoft Office.
- Familiarity working with a wastewater plant/system via a SCADA interface.
- Make mixed arithmetic calculations involving multiplication, addition, subtraction, & division of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions.
- Education in Biology or Environmental Science is a plus.
- Strong mechanical skills are a plus
- CDL a plus, but not required.
Benefits - General Full-Time Employees - 12-13 paid holidays per year
- 13 standard work days of vacation per year
- 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
- 2 weeks paid military leave per year
- Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
- State and City retirement plans
- Short and long term disability plans
- Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
- City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
- Paid funeral leave
- Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
- Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
- 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
- 4 hours parental leave each year
- Workman's Compensation Insurance
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plans
Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year) - 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan
Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period) - 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
- Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service
01
Where did you first hear about this opportunity?
- City of Durham Website
- Walk in
- Job fair
- Employee referral
- Professional organization ***Please list the organization in "other" box below***
- Internet posting ***Please list the specific web site in the "other" box below***
- Craig's List
- Facebook
- LinkedIn
- GlassDoor
- governmentjobs.com
- Monster.com
- Indeed.com
- Employment Security Commission
- Magazine/Newspaper
- Other
02
If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.
03
Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.
- Less than a High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
- High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
- Associates Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- PhD or Juris Doctorate
04
How many years of related water or wastewater treatment and/or operations experience do you have?
- No related experience
- Less than 1 year of related experience
- 1 year but less than 2 years related experience
- 2 years but less than 5 years related experience
- 5 or more years related experience
05
Do you have an NC Grade 2 (or greater) Biological Wastewater Certification?
06
Do you have a valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license "or" if you currently have another state driver's license, are you willing to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire?
07
Are you able to make mixed arithmetic calculations involving multiplication, addition, subtraction, & division of whole numbers, decimals, & fractions?
08
Are you able to perform basic math & chemistry calculations to accurately read meters & charts, maintain required records, & interpret readings to make necessary adjustments to treatment processes?
09
Do you have working experience with a water or wastewater plant/system via a SCADA interface?
10
How would you rate your experience level with MS Office applications (such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)?
- No experience
- Beginner level
- Intermediate level
- Advanced level
- Expert level
11
Do you have a current and valid North Carolina Commercial Driver's License (CDL)?
- Yes, I have a current and valid CDL
- No, I do not have a current and valid CDL
12
Are you willing and able to work a 7am -3pm/7:30am-3:30pm/8am-4pm, shift with weekend rotations and holidays (on occasion cover off shift rotations)?
13
Are you willing and able to work recall for weather-related emergencies?
14
Are you readily available by phone with ability to work rotational stand-by/recall duty?
Required Question