Position: Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Department: Public Utilities
Salary: $26.18 - $48.78/hr
Closing: 8/31/2026 or until filled
Are you looking for a great opportunity to grow within a supportive team? Whether you are an experienced operator or just starting your career, this role offers an exceptional path forward in a highly competitive field with significant room to advance!
About the Role
Manage the treatment, quality, conveyance, and discharge of the Town’s wastewater systems. This position is responsible for overseeing technical wastewater treatment plant operations and ensuring compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations. The Town of Gypsum values customer service, responsiveness, teamwork, high ethical standards, and technical expertise.
Supervision Received
Works under the direct supervision of the Utilities Director and Operator of Responsible Charge (ORC)
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with all applicable state, federal, and regional regulations related to wastewater treatment operations, including sampling, monitoring, and reporting requirements.
- Operate and monitor wastewater treatment plant to ensure effective and continuous treatment of influent and effluent.
- Control and optimize the treatment processes for influent, treated wastewater, and final effluent to meet permit requirements.
- Prepare, apply, and manage chemical additives used in wastewater treatment processes.
- Observe, analyze, and respond to variations in flow rates, loading conditions, and other operating parameters.
- Interpret instrumentation, SCADA data, and laboratory results, and adjust treatment processes accordingly.
- Operate valves, gates, pumps, blowers, and other mechanical equipment to maintain proper system flows.
- Collect wastewater samples, perform required testing, and make process adjustments to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Inspect, test, and place into service new, modified, or repaired wastewater facilities and equipment.
- Perform and coordinate preventive maintenance for all wastewater treatment facilities and equipment.
- Maintain accurate operational logs, maintenance records, and laboratory data.
- Prepare required daily, monthly, and regulatory compliance reports.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of safety requirements and best practices.
- Knowledge of pumps, valves, motors, filters, piping, and plumbing structures.
- Knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, mathematics, and hydrology.
- Knowledge of chemical analysis and testing techniques.
- Knowledge of the use of standard office equipment including personal computer, spreadsheet and word processor software applications.
- Ability to make routine laboratory and field tests for control of plant operations.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Ability to produce clearly written documents.
- Competency in automated wastewater treatment process control and HMI/SCADA software applications.
- Perform mathematical computations.
- Keep accurate work records.
- Monitor and maintain chemical additive inventory.
- Work cooperatively with other town employees, consultants, contractors, upper management, and the public.
- Work shifts, including nights and weekends, overtime and participation in on-call rotation.
- Seasonal snow plowing.
- Respond to an alarm or a call-out within 30 minutes.
- Troubleshoot, repair, maintain and calibrate mechanical, electrical and instrumentation systems as needed.
- Perform routine maintenance as described in the Operation and Maintenance Manuals.
- Use of logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Evaluate complex problems, review related information to develop and compare options and implement solutions.
- Incorporate new information in problem-solving and decision-making.
- Determine how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations or the environment will affect outcomes.
- Identify measurements or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to make improvements or corrections.
Additional Requirements:
- Some positions require the use of personal or Town vehicles on Town business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid Colorado Driver's license and have an acceptable driving record.
- Personal protective equipment must be worn as necessary where the hazard exists (hard hat, safety shoes, work gloves, safety glasses, etc.).
- Must be available to work evening/weekends/holidays in emergency situations and on duty call, as scheduled.
Education and Experience:
- High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
- Wastewater Operator Class A, B, C or D licensed operators will be considered. If unlicensed, a candidate must obtain Wastewater Operator Class D license within 6 months of hire.
Water/Wastewater System Operator Certification Levels
Colorado Class 3 Water Distribution Certification should be obtained within a period determined by management for Operators A, B, and C.
Water/Wastewater System Operator A: Requires possession of a current Colorado Class A Water Operators Certification. Also, a minimum of 4 years related experience or approved equivalent combination of education and experience.
Water/Wastewater System Operator B: Requires possession of a current Colorado Class B Water Operators Certification. Also, a minimum of 3 years related experience or approved equivalent combination of education and experience.
Water/Wastewater System Operator C: Requires possession of a current Colorado Class C Water Operators Certification. Also, a minimum of 2 years related experience or approved equivalent combination of education and experience.
Water/Wastewater System Operator D or Trainee: Requires possession of a current Colorado Class D Water Operators Certification (or ability to obtain by passing the Colorado state exam). Prefer a minimum of 6 months to 1 year related experience or approved equivalent combination of education and experience.
Work Environment and Physical Demands
Position requires prolonged standing, bending, stooping, and stretching, manual dexterity to operate and use various tools, devices, and equipment; physical agility to walk, climb into confined spaces; working with chemicals; working outdoors during all seasons and all-weather conditions; lifting construction materials, supplies, and equipment. Must be capable of lifting up to 60 lbs.
This description is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the principal job elements essential for making compensation decisions. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement with the employer and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.
