Entry Level Plant Operator Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary Collier County strives to be an employer of choice, and many of our employees build long-term careers with us. The salary listed in the job description reflects the full pay range for this position, from entry level through advanced career stages. NEW EMPLOYEES ARE HIRED AT, OR NEAR THE ENTRY POINT SHOWN, DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

Start your career in a dynamic and rapidly growing field that supports essential services like wastewater treatment and the production of irrigation-quality water. As a Plant Operator I, you'll play an important role in protecting public health, supporting water conservation, and delivering high-quality service to the communities of Collier County. In this hands-on position, you'll develop valuable technical skills by collecting and analyzing water samples, maintaining pumps and treatment systems, and assisting in daily plant operations.

You'll gain practical experience with advanced treatment processes while learning how to ensure water meets strict environmental and regulatory standards. This role offers a clear pathway for growth through comprehensive education, personalized on-the-job training, and support in achieving Florida state certification. As you progress, you'll build the expertise needed to become a certified treatment plant operator, opening the door to strong earning potential and long-term career advancement.

If you're looking for a meaningful career with stability, growth opportunities, and a direct impact on your community and environment, Collier County is the perfect place to start. Performs entry-level work involving operation and maintenance of plant systems and related equipment for an assigned division/function, which may involve wastewater treatment plant systems, cooling plant systems, or other facilities as assigned. This classification works under the close supervision of licensed operators and is intended to serve as a training position.

Essential Functions Assists in operating wastewater treatment plant equipment to ensure proper treatment of wastewater and production of effluent water, with work performed under supervision of certified operators; monitors effluent storage facilities, conducts laboratory testing, and logs meter readings of effluent sites and plant flow; monitors and maintains sidestream flows during low-flow situations; monitors holding ponds, park ponds, and golf course ponds; monitors chemical levels and administers chemicals into processes; adds enzymes to process; raises and lowers baffles in aeration basins; monitors and administers alum; checks bioxide stations; checks sludge blankets; monitors and controls return sludge rates and waste sludge rates; runs sludge belt presses in emergency situations; transfers sludge to gravity thickener; presses sludge; changes chlorine cylinders and bar screens; maintains grit system; drains clarifier scum troughs; skims and backwashers filters; disinfects filters; troubleshoots lift stations; monitors odor control systems; opens/closes valves; applies lime to ground; cleans, contains, and decontaminates spills; bleeds condensation from air tanks; exercises pumps; bleaches auto sampler; hoses down aeration basins, clarifiers, and rotor walls. Maintains chiller equipment for campus buildings; maintains chiller supply and return to/from buildings; operates icemaking chiller and associated pumps/controls; checks cooling towers and chiller/condenser pumps; maintains logs of chiller operations. Collects water/wastewater samples for chemical analysis; conducts regular chemical tests to determine the chemical composition of water, to control quality, and to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, with work performed under supervision of certified operators; prepares samples for laboratory testing; performs testing to identify levels of alkalinity, calcium hardness, chlorine, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, pH, silt density index, settleable solids, suspended solids, total dissolved solids, total hardness, volatile solids, or other materials; conducts periodic quality control tests; logs test results on daily charts and log sheets.

Monitors gauges, meters, and charts to ensure proper plant operations; maintains logs/records of plant operations, meter/gauge readings, test results, chemical applications, and other data; assists in preparing mandatory reports for submission to regulatory agencies. Performs plant maintenance, building maintenance, grounds maintenance, or general/manual tasks in support of division operations; calibrates equipment/instruments; cleans/replaces filters; cleans and replaces vessel membranes; mixes chemical solutions; inspects fire extinguishers; resets electrical circuits; paints surfaces; rakes grounds around dumpster; loads/unloads materials; lifts/moves heavy materials; maintains plant security. Performs general cleaning/maintenance tasks necessary to keep plant facilities, equipment, and tools in operable condition, which may include inspecting equipment, performing minor repairs, replacing parts, washing/cleaning equipment, or cleaning work areas; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; reports faulty equipment.

Operates various machinery, equipment and tools associated with plant operations, which may include a motor vehicle, dump truck, backhoe, loader, chemical feeder, pump, well, motor, valve, generator, reverse osmosis skid, membrane softening skid, chlorinator, hoist, pH meter, turbidimeter, spectrophotometer, dissolved oxygen meter, hazardous gas meter, gauges, chlorine analyzer, belt press, titration equipment, degasifier, odor control unit, telemetry system, vacuum cleaner, safety equipment, laboratory instruments, testing materials, rake, shovel, hand tools, or mechanic tools. Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals; reports unsafe conditions or activities to supervisor. Monitors inventory levels of division equipment, chemicals, and supplies; ensures availability of adequate materials to conduct work activities; initiates requests for new or replacement materials; receives incoming orders of chemicals and supplies; conducts periodic inventory counts.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS Performs other related duties as required. Essential Employees may be required to work during an undeclared emergency and/or declared emergency. On an incident-by-incident basis, the County's Administrative Office will make the determination as to who will be required to work.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary that are a logical assignment to the position. Minimum Qualifications High school diploma or GED* required.

Five (5) months of related experience preferred. Fingerprinting Required. *General Educational Development (GEDs) must be issued by the American Council on Education through an approved GED Administrator.

For Florida the approved GED Administrator would be the Florida Department of Education (public schools or adult education centers). Must obtain a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Class "C" Water Treatment or Wastewater Treatment Certificate within 2 years of hire. Supplemental information Salary offers above the minimum pay grade may be considered based on qualifications.

Essential Employees may be required to work during an undeclared or declared emergency. The County's Administrative Office will determine who will be required to work on an incident-by-incident basis. This job posting is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.