JOB 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.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
- Operate and maintain the Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities and all related systems.
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Perform maintenance and occasionally new construction on pumps, lift stations, water and sewer lines, meters, telemetry equipment, conveyors, blowers, sludge press and other equipment.
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Operate heavy and light equipment.
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Perform field locates of existing water and sewer lines, and inspect new construction of water and sewer lines.
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Operate Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software and telemetry equipment.
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Collect samples and perform lab tests on water and wastewater; adjust chemical feed rates and plant functions as necessary.
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Read meters, shut off and turn on water service, deliver shut off notices.
- Communicate effectively with co-workers and the public.
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Prepare documents and maintain records, including but not limited to daily logs, timesheets, accident reports, and job safety analyses.
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Attend training programs; participate in and occasionally lead safety discussions; work safely.
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Complete assigned work with a minimum of supervision.
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Assist in other Public Works departments or divisions as required.
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Have regular, reliable, and predictable attendance at work.
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Perform other work as assigned.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
- Additional or higher levels of certification in Water Treatment (WT), Water Distribution (WD), Waste Water Collection (WWC), and Waste Water Treatment (WWT).
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Experience in the use of heavy equipment (e.g. Vactor trucks and forklifts.)
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Experience in using the following software: Wonderware, Arcview, and Microsoft Office including Excel.
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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.
