Production-Treatment Operator I

This union position will be based out of Pacific Grove, CA. The Treatment Operator rate of pay is $41.82 per hour. This position may be eligible for annual incentive pay and contracted increases as determined by the collective bargaining agreement, with opportunities for continued salary growth.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including 401(k) and Defined Contribution Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage
• Disability, paid time off, and life insurance
• Voluntary benefits and health/wellness programs
• Learning opportunities and work experiences for professional growth

Schedule

• Forty (40) hours per week, five (5) consecutive days of eight (8) hours each (7:00 AM – 3:30 PM, exclusive of lunch periods)
• Position may require overtime and is subject to 24-hour call-out as needed

Responsibilities

• Ensure facility start-up and shut-down, and continuous monitoring of water quality and treatment systems, including wells, pumps, motors, analyzers/instrumentation, filters, chemical feed systems, and auxiliary equipment (e.g., generators, measuring/control systems)
• Check reservoir levels and release rates, making adjustments as needed
• Maintain the fish trap at Los Padres reservoir
• Inspect and maintain grounds around pumping plants, tanks, reservoirs, and water treatment plants
• Perform corrective maintenance and basic troubleshooting of pumping and treatment systems
• Maintain and repair regulating station valves and pilot controls
• Perform routine preventive maintenance (e.g., lubrication, operating adjustments, cleaning, painting) at various water facility locations
• Monitor plant operating guidelines, such as flows, pressures, chemical feeds, levels, and water quality indicators
• Load and unload chemicals using hand trucks, hoists, or chemical transfer pumps
• Maintain recordkeeping, including operating logs, daily diaries, chemical inventories, data logs, reports, and SCADA data/trends
• Perform arithmetic calculations for chemical feed rates, flow quantities, detention/contact times, and hydraulic loadings
• Conduct routine water sampling for water quality (e.g., bacteriological, organic/inorganic, point-of-entry, process sampling like turbidity, chlorine residuals, pH) and field lab testing
• Conduct safety inspections and participate in safety tailgate meetings
• Follow safety rules for equipment, facility operations, and calibration
• Train new employees and communicate effectively with other operators and supervisors
• Order chemicals, parts, and tools
• Drive a company vehicle and operate equipment according to established safety procedures

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Related production and water treatment experience
• Must obtain Water Treatment Grade I Certification and Water Distribution Grade 1 Certification within one year of employment, and Water Treatment Grade II Certification within thirty (30) months
• One to two years of basic mechanical experience
• Ability to carry out oral and written instructions
• Ability to read, interpret data, and analyze/solve problems
• Effective communication skills and ability to interact with the public
• Basic computer skills

Skills

• Operation of standard small hand tools and equipment (e.g., lifting winch, air compressor, grinder, power saw, chain saw, calibration/electronic recording equipment, chlorine testing equipment)
• Physical and mechanical abilities, including standing, climbing, lifting (up to 50 lbs, occasionally over 100 lbs), bending, pulling, pushing, grasping, reaching, stooping, crouching, and sitting
• Vision abilities: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception

Work Environment

• Frequent exposure to extreme outside weather conditions, including potential exposure to poison oak, insects, reptiles, and animals
• Work near moving mechanical parts, in high/precarious places, and in wet/humid conditions
• Exposure to vibrations, fumes, airborne particles, toxic/caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock
• Potential exposure to hazardous chemicals; requires use of safety equipment (e.g., self-contained breathing apparatus)
• May require working in trenches, tanks, or elevated areas