Plant Operator Trainee Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Plant Operator Trainee I - Wastewater is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and repair of Harford County wastewater treatment plants and related facilities, including pumping stations, ensuring adherence to health, safety, and environmental regulations. This position works under the supervision of other Plant Operators, and work assignments vary depending on assignments, with a focus on developing knowledge of principles, practices, and methods used in wastewater treatment operations (removal of contaminants by mechanical, chemical, and biological methods) and skills in the operation and servicing of wastewater treatment equipment and machinery. The Plant Operator Trainee I is a beginning-level developmental position, and with satisfactory performance, is eligible for promotion to the higher level of Plant Operator Trainee II.

Salary Range: $38,699.00-102,157.00/Annually

BUDGETED SALARY: $50,000.00 - $65,000.00/Annually

Please note - a $5,000 hiring bonus will be paid within your first 6 months of employment, and you must remain employed for at least two years.

(The following examples illustrate the work performed in the positions in the class. Positions may require some or all of these examples, depending on the organization of work within the department. The list is not inclusive. A position may require duties not listed, if necessary, to accomplish the work of the department.)

• Maintains all buildings and grounds in a neat and orderly fashion, performing custodial-related tasks, grass cutting/trimming, and painting of buildings and equipment.
• Monitors gauges, meters, control panels, and SCADA screens for observing variations in operating conditions to determine processing requirements, under the direction and guidance of other operators.
• Collaborates with local, state, and federal inspectors while they are visiting the plant site.
• Conducts daily rounds of the facilities and inspects treatment processes and mechanical equipment for proper operation, under the guidance of another operator; corrects any malfunctions and reports to the supervisor as required.
• Monitors charts, gauges, and meters to identify any potential issues; records readings in proper shift logs.
• Operates valves, manual and automatic controls to control and adjust wastewater, sludge, and effluence flow and processing; cleans tanks, filters, screens, pumps, and any other related equipment in the wastewater plant.
• Anticipates possible trouble areas in buildings or equipment; prepares schedules for routine preventive maintenance.
• Executes preventive maintenance following defined procedures and requirements; tracks and records maintenance for reporting purposes.
• Conducts sampling, applying various techniques, to obtain wastewater samples at various stages of the process; conducts routine tests required by State and Federal agencies for proper operation of the treatment plant.
• Operates and maintains various sewage treatment equipment in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures, such as screens and grinders/shredders, grit removal devices, scum and sedimentation basins, aeration tanks, blowers, fermenter sludge and pumps, filters, anaerobic digesters, belt filter presses, chemical addition systems, centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, disinfection and dichlorination systems, waste sludge and septic receiving facilities.
• Other duties as assigned

1 year of related experience or pump and motor maintenance experience

None

Possession of a high school or vocational-technical school diploma, or a GED certificate

Possession of a valid Class “C” non-commercial driver’s license with no more than three (3) points. Please be advised that this position requires a valid driver’s license, and you must include the full driver’s license number on the electronic application. Your application will not be considered if you fail to include your driver’s license number on the application.

Must apply for the OIT licenses for W5, WA, and T2 within 30 days of hire.
Must maintain all licenses in good standing at all times.
Must complete all requirements to achieve Plant Operator Trainee II within 2 years from the date of hire
Must complete all requirements to achieve Plant Operator within 4 years from the date of hire.
All certification exams must be taken through PSI unless the employee has received prior approval from the immediate supervisor

Results must be reported to the immediate supervisor within 24 hours of taking the exam.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Equipment maintenance and repair skills.
• Knowledge of the operation of pumps, valves, gauges, and other equipment normally found in a treatment plant operation, with elementary mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic principles, and safe work practices. Basic math skills.
• Ability to perform inspections of pumps, valves, gauges, and other mechanical and electrical equipment; to maintain simple written records; to read charts, gauges, and meters accurately; to follow instructions; to work effectively with others.
• Ability to follow and execute tasks based on directions communicated in a variety of ways, including the ability to interpret Standard Operating Procedures.
• Organizational skills, including the capacity to anticipate issues and prioritize tasks; ability to manage multiple priorities or projects.
• Basic math, such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
• Ability to operate basic hand tools and maintain tools; ability to perform minor maintenance on buildings, equipment, and grounds.
• Knowledge of planning and troubleshooting of treatment techniques, and chemical and equipment needs.
• Knowledge of safe work practices
• Ability to climb, stoop, kneel, reach, lift, walk, and stand for prolonged periods of time
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to drive a County vehicle while carrying out some assignments
• Must be able to work safely and efficiently in existing environmental/atmospheric conditions, such as odors, noise, and inside and outside environmental conditions
• Must be able to wear a negative-pressure respirator and/or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

• Subject to hazards of working at construction sites, in confined spaces, around heavy equipment, and in or near heavily trafficked highways, and exposure to adverse weather conditions.
• Positions in this class support a 24/7 operation requiring rotating shift work (7a-3p, 3p-11p, 11p-7a, 10 days on, 4 days off)
• Positions in this class are designated as critical and require 24/7 on-call availability.
• This class of positions requires the occasional use of a negative-pressure respirator and/or SCBA. Employee’s are required to pass a physical examination.
• This class of positions requires incumbents to maintain a clean facial surface at all respirator points.
• The selected candidate is subject to random drug and/or alcohol screenings.

Must comply with all Federal (OSHA), State of Maryland (MOSH), safety regulations, and applicable Harford County safety policies, procedures, or manuals as required for this position.

Other compensation may include, but is not limited to:

• Overtime
• Compensatory time
• Shift Differentials

Harford County offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental & Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation
• Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• Generous Leave Package & Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement