Wastewater Operator In Training Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $29.91 - $46.32 Hourly
Location : Kenai City Hall, Kenai, AK
Job Type: Full-time Regular
Job Number: 00350
Department: Public Works Department
Division: UTILITY
Opening Date: 07/11/2026
Closing Date: 8/21/2026 5:00 PM Alaska
Job Description
The Utility Operator I/II is an employee of the Public Works Department working under the direction of the Utility Foreman I/II. The Operator is licensed by the State of Alaska to work in Water Treatment, Water Distribution, Wastewater Treatment, and/or Wastewater Collections. This position performs work in support of the daily operation, maintenance, and repair of the Utility facilities and systems, and all structures, buildings, and grounds associated with each system to protect the public health by ensuring all state and federal laws and regulations are followed. This position will be required to perform manual labor, occasionally in inclement weather and confined spaces.
Applications will be reviewed every two weeks and recruitment may end early if the position is filled during a review.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Operate and maintain the Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities and all related systems.
2. Perform maintenance and occasionally new construction on pumps, lift stations, water and sewer lines, meters, telemetry equipment, conveyors, blowers, sludge press and other equipment.
3. Operate heavy and light equipment.
4. Perform field locates of existing water and sewer lines, and inspect new construction of water and sewer lines.
5. Operate Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software and telemetry equipment.
6. Collect samples and perform lab tests on water and wastewater; adjust chemical feed rates and plant functions as necessary.
7. Read meters, shut off and turn on water service, deliver shut off notices.
8. Communicate effectively with co-workers and the public.
9. Prepare documents and maintain records, including but not limited to daily logs, timesheets, accident reports, and job safety analyses.
10. Attend training programs; participate in and occasionally lead safety discussions; work safely.
11. Complete assigned work with a minimum of supervision.
12. Assist in other Public Works departments or divisions as required.
13. Have regular, reliable, and predictable attendance at work.
14. Perform other work as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
2. Operator I (Level 15): The applicant (or employee after hire) must possess a provisional license issued by the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in at least one (1) of the following: Water Treatment (WT), Water Distribution (WD), Waste Water Collection (WWC), or Wastewater Treatment (WWT) within six (6) months of hire and all four (4) provisional licenses must be obtained within 15 months of hire. Employees must obtain the required level of certification for City facilities within one (1) year of acquiring the required hours of operation. The Operator I shall be paid at a Range 15. Continuing education to maintain certification is also required. This requirement continues until the employee reaches the level of certification required by Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to operate City of Kenai facilities.
3. Operator II (Level 18):The applicant (or employee after hire) must meet all requirements of Operator I and possess a Level 1 certification issued by the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in at least two (2) of the following: Water Treatment (WT), Water Distribution (WD), Wastewater Treatment (WWT), or Waste Water Collection (WWC) -or- a Level 2 certification in any one category. Continuing education to maintain certification is also required. This requirement continues until the employee reaches the level of certification required by Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to operate City of Kenai facilities.
4. Possess and maintain a valid Alaska Class B commercial driver's license with endorsements and without restrictions required to operate equipment utilized by the Utility division within six (6) months of employment start date. All licenses must be valid and current prior to operating a City vehicle requiring a commercial driver's license. Applicants will be required to submit a Division of Motor Vehicles record upon request. This position is governed by the City of Kenai's Drug and Alcohol policy and Department of Transportation (DOT) CDL regulations. The successful applicant will be given a conditional job offer conditioned on the applicant receiving a negative result on a pre-employment drug test. Regulations also require the City to verify the applicant's CDL is a non-prohibited through the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (FMCSA). Past violations may make the applicant ineligible for hire unless evidence is provided to the City that the applicant has successfully completed DOT's Return to Duty Requirements.

1. The employee must be available to work varying schedules, including weekends, holidays and occasional shift extensions into the late evening hours in order to respond to after-hours emergencies and approved stand-by shifts. The employee will be required to respond to emergency call-outs when available and comply with any requirements of approved stand-by pay.

Supplemental Information
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATONS

1. Additional or higher levels of certification in Water Treatment (WT), Water Distribution (WD), Waste Water Collection (WWC), and Waste Water Treatment (WWT).
2. Experience in the use of heavy equipment (e.g. Vactor trucks and forklifts.)
3. Experience in using the following software: Wonderware, Arcview, and Microsoft Office including Excel.
4. Training or certification in backflow prevention, confined space and Lock-out/Tag-out.

WORKING ENVIRONMENTThe employee must be able to do strenuous work in all kinds of weather (e.g., high temp., low temp., winds, snow, ice, fog, and direct sunlight) and on surfaces at, above, or below floor level. Duties are performed both indoors and outdoors in a varied working environment, during day and at night or in the dark, and often in inclement weather and in extreme temperatures. Inside work is usually in buildings, adequately heated, lighted, and ventilated. Noise from heavy equipment, hammers, saws, and other tools is frequent. There is dust and sometimes dirt when repairing structures and operating tools. The employee may be exposed to dust and other irritants and toxic/poisonous substances. The employee is required to drive a vehicle and perform some work inside a vehicle, including operating radios, and a cell phone. Personal protective equipment is provided and must be used in accordance with best practices, federal and state laws, and City/Department policies and operating procedures.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers dexterously (e.g., operate hand and power tools, telephones, radios, and some general office equipment); to work both inside and outside in all types of weather; to sit, stand, walk, stoop, crouch, lift, bend, and reach with hands and arms; to climb ladders; and to work in confined spaces. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to exert in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently. The employee is frequently required to operate heavy equipment and sit for extended periods of time. The employee must be able to climb in and out of heavy equipment vehicles, work in small spaces, and must be able to perform strenuous work in inclement weather.
Specific vision abilities required include close, distance and peripheral vision, the ability to adjust focus, and the ability to judge distances and spatial relationships. The employee must be able to hear and to talk and to communicate verbally in-person as well as on a telephone and radio.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION The City of Kenai is an equal opportunity employer. Employment is based on qualifications free of personal and political considerations, with equal opportunity for all with no restrictions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by law.
**Upon initial appointment to a position, the employee will receive the minimum compensation for the position except in cases when unusual difficulty in filling the vacancy is experienced or when the appointee is exceptionally qualified. When an employee is exceptionally qualified, the City Manager may approve compensation at a level above the minimum but no more than the maximum range. An exceptionally qualified applicant will have at least two certifications above existing requirements and five (5) years experience in water or wastewater operations.
The following information describes benefits available to City of Kenai employees working 25 hours or more per week. Actual benefits received may differ by position type or be prorated for other than full time work. All benefits are subject to change by the City.
Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), a defined benefit or defined contribution plan based upon employee eligibility upon hire*
• Supplemental Retirement Program six months after date of hire. Employer contribution of 6.2% of the first $37,500.00 of base wages earned in a calendar year
• Option to enroll in a Deferred Compensation Program

Insurance Benefits

• PPO or QHDHP Plan options available
• Health Insurance Coverage 30 days after date of hire
• Employee and Dependent Coverage Available
• Employer Contribution of 87% Medical/Vision/Dental Plan Costs
• Employee Contribution of 13% Medical/Vision/Dental Plan Costs
• Employer HRA Contribution for medical deductible and prescription co-pay
• Employer HSA Contribution for employees on the QHDHP

Optional Insurance Benefits

• Employer Paid Basic Life Insurance with supplemental coverage available for employee and dependents
• Employee-funded Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses
• Employee Paid Group-Based Supplemental Insurance

Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Annual Leave Accrual Rate starting at 7.3846 hours each pay period (10.3385 for certain Fire Department employees) with an accrual rate increase based on longevity
• Eleven and a half paid holidays each year
• Paid Leave for a Death in the Immediate Family upon approval
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Wellness Program includes free use of the Kenai Recreation Center
• Bona Fide Employer-Sponsored Medical Leave Sharing Arrangement

*The City of Kenai does not withhold Social Security taxes from wages earned by employees who participate in the PERS retirement system.
01
Do you possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Alaska Class "B" commercial driver's license without restrictions prior to employment?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you available to work varying schedules, including weekends, holidays, occasional shift extensions and approved stand by shifts?

• Yes
• No

03
Please list the level certifications you possess issued by the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation in Water Treatment, Water Distribution, Wastewater Treatment or Wastewater Collection:
Required Question