Water Plant Operator Trainee Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Salary: $49,900.00 - $74,900.00 Annually
Location : Neuse River Waste Water Treatment Plant 8500 Battle Bridge Road, Raleigh, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-00563
Department: PU Waste Treatment Plant
Opening Date: 08/05/2026
Closing Date: 8/19/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Work Hours: 12-hour Shifts; 7:00 pm - 7:00 am
Hiring Range: $49,900.00 - $62,400.00
Job Description
Raleigh Water is seeking a dedicated Plant Operator to perform routine inspections, collect samples, conduct laboratory testing, and make process adjustments to maintain compliance with environmental and safety standards.
This role is responsible for troubleshooting equipment and process issues, collaborating with maintenance and laboratory staff, and helping ensure continuous, efficient plant operations.
About You:
Do you enjoy solving complex problems, working with advanced technology, and protecting the environment? If so, consider joining our team as a Plant Operator at the Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility.
As a Plant Operator on the night shift (7:00 pm - 7:00 am), you'll play a critical role in protecting public health and the environment by ensuring wastewater is treated safely, efficiently, and in compliance with environmental regulations. You'll operate, monitor, and maintain complex treatment systems while responding to operational issues to keep the facility running at peak performance.
In this role, you'll operate pumps, motors, valves, and wastewater treatment equipment while monitoring gauges, meters, SCADA systems, and process controls to ensure reliable plant operations.
If you enjoy science, mechanics, technology, and hands-on problem-solving, this is an opportunity to build a rewarding career while making a meaningful impact every day. Join a dedicated team committed to protecting public health, preserving our community's water resources, and supporting a cleaner, more sustainable future.
About Us:
Raleigh Water's mission is to provide safe, sustainable water services for our customers while protecting public health and contributing to the economic, environmental and social vitality of our communities. To carry out our mission and continue to provide the safest and best drinking water for our community, we are seeking a skilled Plant Operator, devoted to providing operational, technical and maintenance support for the City's water and wastewater treatment plants.
Duties and Responsibilities
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• Operate, monitor, and maintain wastewater treatment systems, including pumps, motors, valves, electrical equipment, and process control systems, to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant plant operations
• Monitor plant performance through visual inspections, equipment sounds, odors, gauges, meters, instrumentation, and the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system; evaluate process conditions and make operational adjustments as needed
• Inspect plant equipment, monitor tank and chemical levels, respond to alarms, troubleshoot equipment and process issues, and implement corrective actions to maintain continuous operations
• Perform routine preventive maintenance and minor repairs; identify, document, and report equipment malfunctions or critical issues requiring maintenance support
• Collect process samples, perform laboratory analyses, interpret results, and adjust treatment processes to support operational efficiency and regulatory compliance
• Receive, inspect, and manage chemical deliveries; monitor chemical inventories and ensure the safe storage, handling, and use of treatment chemicals
• Maintain accurate operational records by entering data into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), completing daily logs, documenting inspections, and preparing required operational reports
• Receive shift briefings, review current plant operating conditions, and complete assigned operational, maintenance, and housekeeping activities, including grounds maintenance and residuals handling
• Collaborate with operators, maintenance technicians, laboratory personnel, and land management staff to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient facility operations
• Participate in team meetings, safety training, and professional development activities while following all applicable safety policies, environmental regulations, and standard operating procedures
• Protect public health and the environment by ensuring wastewater and biosolids are treated, processed, and managed in accordance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements

Typical Qualifications
Education and Experience:
High School diploma or G.E.D. equivalency; No previous experience required
OR
Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted
Licenses or Certifications:

• Grade II Biological certification or the ability to obtain within 2 years
• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire

Additional Information
Knowledge of:

• Mechanical systems and components
• Electrical systems and controls
• Plumbing and piping systems
• Wastewater treatment processes and equipment
• Maintenance and repair techniques and troubleshooting methods

Skill in:

• Using tools and equipment
• Diagnosing equipment malfunctions
• Problem-solving to address issues efficiently
• Coordinating with team members and supervisors

Ability to:

• Log maintenance activities and access digital resources
• Interpret technical drawings and blueprints
• Assess situations and make informed decisions
• Work under pressure and in challenging conditions

ADA and Other Requirements:
Work Environment and Physical Effort:
Medium: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Work Environment:
Employees may occasionally work in an office or similar indoor environment, outdoor environment, at a construction site, or in a vehicle.
Work Exposures:
There is frequent exposure to loud noises (85+ decibels average over 8-hour working day such as heavy trucks, jack hammers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, construction). Employees may occasionally be exposed to extreme cold (below 32 degrees), extreme heat (above 100 degrees), moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and toxic or caustic substances.
City of Raleigh is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
When you join the City of Raleigh's work family as a full-time employee, your benefits are an important part of your "total rewards". Your benefits impact many aspects of your life including your health, your finances, and the protection of your family. The City provides a comprehensive benefits package as part of our total rewards program to support you through important events in your life, to enhance your life outside work, and to help you plan and prepare for the future.
To find out about the City's benefits package, and other programs, please visit our Employee Benefits page: https://raleighnc.gov/services/jobs-and-volunteering/pay-and-benefits
The City employs temporary and seasonal employees who generally are scheduled to work on a short-term basis. However, if you are hired as a temporary or seasonal employee, or as an intern, you are not eligible for the City of Raleigh's benefits.
01
Please select your highest level of education completed.

• Some high school
• High school diploma (or GED)
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• PhD or other professional degree

02
How much relevant or comparable work experience do you have in this field?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 to less than 2 years
• 2 to less than 3 years
• 3 to less than 4 years
• 4 to less than 5 years
• 5 to less than 6 years
• 6 to less than 7 years
• 7 to less than 8 years
• 8 to less than 9 years
• 9 to less than 10 years
• 10 years or more

03
Do you have a valid North Carolina Driver's License Class C or the ability to obtain one within 60 days of hire?

• Yes, I currently have a valid NC Driver's License.
• I do not currently have a valid NC Driver's License, but I can obtain one within 60 days of hire.
• No, I do not currently have a valid NC Driver's License and NO, I cannot obtain one within 60 days of hire.

04
Have you ever been terminated or forced to resign from a position?

• Yes
• No

05
If you answered "yes" to being terminated or forced to resign, please provide an explanation and the date.
Required Question