Plant Operator Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Join our dynamic team as a Heating/Cooling Plant Operator and play a crucial role in maintaining our campus's essential services. In this position, you'll monitor, operate, adjust, and maintain a variety of technical equipment to ensure efficient Heating and Cooling Plant operations. This role is integral to our 24/7 plant coverage, with responsibilities including rotational shifts as well as some weekend and holiday shifts on a six-day rotation.

We pride ourselves on fostering a dedicated, supportive, safe, and healthy work environment where collaboration and professional growth are encouraged.

This position offers a rotating schedule that ensures a healthy work-life balance while also providing opportunities for growth and development.

In accordance with UW System Administrative Policy 1277, candidates working nights and weekends are eligible for shift differential pay. This is an adjustment of .80 cents per hour for working between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or working any weekend hours between 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and 12:00 midnight on Sunday.

Shift Rotation:

• Six-day rotation

• Will include covering one weekend shift every six weeks

Shift Breakdown:

• Night Shifts (11 PM - 7 AM): 3

• Afternoon Shifts (3 PM - 11 PM): 2

• Day Shifts (7 AM - 3 PM): 1

Your typical shift pattern will look like this:

• (3-3-2-2-2-2) 2-days off

• (3-3-2-2-2-2) 2-days off

• (3-3-3-2-2-2) 2-days off

• (3-3-3-2-2-2) 3-day weekend

• (3-3-2-2-2) 3 day weekend

• (3-3-2-2-1-1) 2-days off

This position requires successful completion of a pre-work physical to confirm the ability to perform the essential physical functions of the position.

Our extremely competitive benefits package currently includes:

• Low cost Health Plans

• Vacation starting at 104 hours per year (prorated for start date).

• 36 hours of personal holiday

• 5 hours of sick leave earned per biweekly pay period (130 hours per calendar year)

• Paid parental leave after six months of continuous employment

• Wisconsin Retirement System (pension) with 7.2% employer contribution for 2024

All employment benefits are subject to change. A full list of current benefits and eligibility requirements can be foundhere.

• Adheres to safety protocols and procedures

• May work without direct supervision on shift operations

• Ensures safe and efficient operation of the plant and its associated equipment

• Assists with preventative and corrective maintenance as needed

• Makes regular inspections of plant equipment and prepares equipment malfunction reports

• Cleans and maintains work areas and equipment

• Starts, stops, and adjusts equipment settings to maintain operational requirements

• Maintains forms, logs, or reports

• Analyzes data and communicates recommendations on equipment and systems operations, both verbally and in written reports

Power Plant

$25.00 - $28.00/hour

Recruitment Bonus of $1,000will be awarded after successful completion of 6-month probation period!
Retention Bonus of $1,000will be awarded after successful completion of 1-year employment anniversary!

Required for Heating Plant Operator I:

• High School Diploma or equivalent

• Experience adapting to different working conditions such as extreme noise, heat, cold, dusty, dirty or wet areas,and confined spaces

• Physical ability to walk, stand, sit, lift and climb ladders

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, with or without accommodations

• 2 years experience in a mechanical background. Experience in the operation of various power tools, hand tools, and testing equipment in the mechanical maintenance field

• 1 year of experience working in a team environment

Required for Heating Plant Operator II:

• All Operator I requirements plus:

• 1 year experience in the maintenance and safe operations of natural gas and fuel oil boilers.

• 2 years of experience in the maintenance, repair and operation of Central Heating and Power Plant equipment, including a high degree of mechanical aptitude, such as skill in making repairs and adjustments on all Power Plant equipment.

• 2 years of experience in the operation of computer and single loop controller systems, and their related equipment, steam flow meters, feedwater and condensate pumps, water meters, pressure and temperature gages, forced draft fans, RO systems, and the testing of boiler water and water softeners. The operation and use of safety devices, as well as the ability to learn and apply methods and techniques for the correct and safe performance of fairly complex equipment and operating systems

• 1 year experience with the procedures of Lockout-Tagout

• Hold a license from one of the following: ASOPE(AMERICAN SOCIETY of POWER ENGINEERS) Power Plant Operating Engineer 3rd. Class or NIUPE (National Institute for the Uniform Licensing of Power Engineers) PPOE 3rd. Class or FOE (Facilities Operating Engineer)

Submit a Resume

*Please use your application materials to speak to each of the qualifications for this position as listed above. Be sure to describe your relevant experience and areas of expertise, using specific examples from your work and education history. Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application.
All final candidates will be asked to provide names, email contact information, and/or phone numbers for three (3) references, with at least one being from a manager or supervisor, during the interview process.
Note: Once you have attached your materials and submitted your application, you will not be able to go into the system and change them.
To Ensure Consideration: Applications received by the end of the day on 05/19/2026 are ensured full consideration. Applications received after that date may be given consideration. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration.

For questions regarding your application and additional options to apply, contact Human Resources at recruitment@uwosh.edu or 920-424-1166
Work Authorization
Unless otherwise indicated in the job posting, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. UW Oshkosh is not an e-verify employer; therefore, STEM extensions are not options for work authorization.

Reasonable Accommodations

UWO provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact hroffice@uwosh.eduor 920-424-1166. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.
Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWO is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin's Open Records Law. UWO will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin's Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of "final candidates" and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.
CBC & Reference Check Policy
All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the UWO Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see https://uwosh.edu/police/, or call UWO Police Department, at (920) 424-1212 for a paper copy.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.