Plant Operations Assistant Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $44,990.40 - $51,230.40 Annually
Location : Sewer Treatment Plant 620 West Industry Drive, Kingsport, TN
Job Type: Full Time Regular
Job Number: 2026-07-24
Department: Utilities
Division: W / WW Plant Operations
Opening Date: 07/24/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Purpose
Skilled work involved in the operation of a water or wastewater treatment plant to produce quality potable water or wastewater effluent in compliance with federal and state environmental regulations.
Essential Functions

• Operate and adjust treatment plant pumps, motors, feeders and other equipment to maintain appropriate plant operations to ensure treated water quality meets state/federal standards;
• Performs routine treatment plant rounds; inspect, monitor, troubleshoot, performance test and document plant processes by reading plant equipment gauges, graphs, online analyzers, meters, SCADA systems and other instrumentation;
• Keeps daily log of shift operations and relays pertinent information on to incoming shift; reads logs of previous shifts and records operational data required by state and federal regulations;
• Keeps plant superintendent and maintenance aware of operational and maintenance issues;
  • Handles bulk chemicals including ton cylinders of chlorine, coagulant fluoride, polymer, zinc orthophosphate, and sulfur dioxide;
  • Makes certain that backup equipment is in working order to prevent/minimize mechanical breakdown from interrupting the treatment process;
  • Perform general plant facility maintenance such as cleaning, painting and repairing plant facilities;
  • Perform semi-skilled maintenance such as replacing chemical feed tubing, installing/adjusting basin flight chain, and UV disinfection maintenance
  • Perform various grounds maintenance duties as required;
  • Collect and analyze process control samples and make proper plant adjustments;
  • Runs lab tests on weekends and when lab technician is not available;
  • Attend training as needed to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory requirements, as well as obtain required certifications;
  • Assist in emergency operations as needed; and
  • Performs additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Ability to make most operational decisions independently under normal operations, but will likely require direction from senior operator or W/WW Plant Manager during abnormal operating conditions;
• Ability to recognize alarm conditions and take appropriate corrective action Knowledge of state standards for water and wastewater treatment;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with plant personnel, other City staff, and the public;
• Ability to read and interpret standard operating procedures, rules/regulations and carry out operational directives;
• Knowledge of principles, practices, and methods of the safe operation of water and/or wastewater plant;
• Knowledge of the occupational hazards and application of appropriate safety precautions;
• Knowledge of the safe and proper use of all equipment, tools and machinery;
• Skill in reading meters and charts accurately and to maintain required records;
• Skill in performing basic standardized lab tests under direction involving chemical analysis and following appropriate laboratory procedures;

• Skill in performing mathematic and algebraic calculations accurately;
• Skill in communicating effectively orally and in writing;

Education and Experience
High school graduate or high school equivalent; Class B CDL with tanker endorsement preferred. Must have valid driver's license.
The City of Kingsport does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations.
RETIREMENT- TCRS Hybrid Plan: Participation is mandatory. No waiting period. Plan is a combination of a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan. The defined benefit plan consists of a 5% mandatory contribution from the employee and a 4% employer contribution. Employee is also auto-enrolled at 2 % in the defined contribution plan with the City contributing 5%. Employee has the option to increase or decrease his/her defined contribution percentage.
VACATION: Vacation accrual is based upon your length of service with the Ctiy Of Kingsport. New employees will receive upon hire date one (1) week vacation, and will accrue 6.67 hours per month with the exception of Firefighters who accrue 12 hours per month. Vacation is available for use as it is earned.
HOLIDAYS: The City of Kingsport offers 12 paid Holidays per year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Floating Holiday (1 day). There is no eligibility period to qualify for Holiday pay.
SICK HOURS: Employees accrue eight (8) sick hours at the end of each month worked. Sick hours may be used for personal or immediate family illness up to a maximum of 1040 hours per calendar year. In addition, sick hours may also be applied toward early retirement (see TCRS rules for retirement for further information).
LIFE INSURANCE: The City of Kingsport provides all full time employees Term Life Insurance at no cost. The coverage amount is equal to one (1) times your annual base salary.
SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE INSURANCE (optional):- Full time employees also have the option to elect Supplemental Life Insurance coverage at an additional one (1) times their annual base salary. Rates are based upon your age and annual salary.
DEPENDENT LIFE INSURANCE (optional): Full time employees can elect Term Life insurance for their dependents at either $5,000 or $10,000 amounts. The cost elect coverage for their dependents at $.64 per pay period for $5000; $1.28 per pay period for $10,000.
LONG TERM DISABILITY (optional): Carrier is MetLife. Monthly premium cost is shared 50/50 by employee/City. Eligible after 90 days of employment. Covers 60% of your monthly earnings up to a maximum of $7,500.00. Pays until you are approved for social security disability or until you return to work. Benefits begin after 120 days of consecutive disability
HEALTH INSURANCE (optional): Carrier is BCBST, network S.Full time employees have the option to select from two (2) plans (Standard Plan and Basic Plan). Premium cost is shared by employee/City.
EMPLOYEE HEALTH CLINIC: Provider is Premise Health. Confidential. Available to employees/dependents who are covered under the City's health care plans (BCBST). Clinic treats both acute and chronic conditions and can prescribe medications, provide annual physicals, health coaching, lab work, and much more. No co-pays, no deductibles, and no cost for select generic medications dispensed on-site.
DENTAL INSURANCE (optional): Carrier is Delta Dental. Premium cost is paid by employee. Annual maximum coverage of $1,000 per member which increases by $100 per year up to a maximum of $1,500 provided member has at least one preventative procedure performed each plan year.
VISION INSURANCE (optional): Carrier is Davis Vision. Premium cost is paid by employee. Annual eye exams, lenses and lens upgrades, frames, contacts.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (optional): Carrier is Flores. Contribution amounts are pre-tax. Healthcare and Dependent Care options. Employees can contribute up to the allowed IRS maximum amounts. Healthcare rollover of up to $610 for plan year 2024.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: 2 programs: Ballad Health and Ulliance, Inc. Available to Full time employees. Provides confidential mental health and substance abuse services and much more.
EMPLOYEE PHYSICAL WELLNESS PROGRAM: Provider is Cora. Available to all regular full time and part time employees at no cost. Provides a regiment of treatment when employees experience minor musculoskeletal disorders due to life's everyday stresses and strains.
KINGSPORT AQUATIC CENTER: Free membership for full time employees elected in the City's medical plan. Discounted rates for employees and their family.
GYM MEMBERSHIPS (optional): City will reimburse 50% of individual membership rate each quarter. Reimbursement is based on an attendance requirement.
AIR MED (optional): Provider is AirMed. Memberships can be elected in 1, 3, 5, or 10 year increments. Provides air ambulance services for a life or limb threatening emergency to an emergency medical treatment facility.
ACCIDENT INSURANCE (optional): Provider is Trustmark. Supplemental accident insurance that pays you cash directly to help pay for treatment for covered accidents.
CRITICAL ILLNESS INSURANCE (optional): Provider is The Standard. Insurance that helps cover out of pocket expenses associated with a serious illness. Helps fill the gaps caused by these out of pocket costs. Pays you for completing certain health screenings.
UNIVERSAL LIFE/LONG TERM CARE: (optional): Provider is Trustmark. Whole Life Insurance policy that includes a long-term care benefit that can help you pay for services at any age. Benefit never reduces due to age.
TUITION REIMBURSEMENT: Full-time, non-probationary employees are eligible to request tuition reimbursement for courses that are work-related and improve the skills required by employees in their employment. Reimbursement will be provided after eligible expenses remaining are unpaid from other financial aid/assistance (scholarships/grants).

• Undergraduate Courses: up to $1,000 per employee per semester/$3,600 in a fiscal year
• Graduate Courses: up to $1,200 per employee per semester/$3,600 in a fiscal year