Wastewater Treatment Operator/Senior Operator - West Point Day Ops (T) chez King County, WA

About the Department

Are you interested in a dynamic career, working with a team that is passionate about protecting the environment? If so, King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is the career place for you.  WTD protects water quality and public health in the central Puget Sound region by providing high quality treatment to wastewater collected from local sewer agencies. West Point is one of three regional wastewater treatment plants within WTD and offers the opportunity to support the local community and waterways, which gives you a great opportunity for growth and learning. The West Point operations team is highly collaborative, communicates well, and works well together. You will gain knowledge and exposure to construction and processes within the division. This is a dynamic career and is beneficial to the environment and community. There are plenty of opportunities for advancement within the division.

About The Role:
As a wastewater operator on West Point’s Day Operations team, you will help carry out and facilitate the day-to-day operational tasks at a level 4 regional wastewater treatment plant. Daily tasks included taking equipment in and out of service, hosing/cleaning process tanks, performing lockout/tagout, and backfilling shift operations as needed. When backfilling shift operations you will monitor, troubleshoot, and control wastewater equipment to help prevent the spread of many contagious diseases, and protect the environment, waterways, and the communities in Puget Sound. Successful candidates will be a part of a flexible and dynamic team that follows and maintains established safety policies, guidelines, regulations, and workplace standards.

About The Team:
West Point offers the opportunity to support the local community and waterways, which gives you a great opportunity for growth and learning. The West Point operations team is highly collaborative, communicates well, and works well together. You will gain knowledge and exposure to construction and processes within the division. This is a dynamic career and is beneficial to the environment and community. There are plenty of opportunities for advancement within the division.

Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 1,000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.

We enforce regulations to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that services over 2.3 million King County residents. Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive.  We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Wastewater Treatment Operator/Senior Operator, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

Position Duties

What You Will Be Doing (Wastewater Treatment Operator):

• Perform, facilitate, and communicate out the day-to-day task required to keep West Point WWTP in compliance with the permits issued by the various regulatory agencies.
• Operate, monitor, and maintain biological, chemical, mechanical, and hydraulic processes at wastewater treatment plants.
• Conduct sampling and test analysis of wastewater and recommend changes to process to meet federal regulations and to optimize wastewater plant performance.
• Perform maintenance on wastewater treatment plant and associated facilities, including buildings equipment, and grounds. Duties include cleaning, servicing operating equipment, mowing lawns, and performing housekeeping tasks.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you Bring as a Senior Wastewater Treatment Operator – performs duties above plus:

• Serve in a lead capacity to operate, monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain wastewater treatment facilities, odor control equipment, biological, chemical, mechanical, and hydraulic processes. Provide advanced level troubleshooting, problem-solving, coordination and decision-making when performing duties, particularly in on-site, unusual and/or emergency situations. Be on call after hours for such situations. Recommend and/or determine changes to wastewater process to meet federal and Washington State permits and regulations and to optimize plant performance. Provide broad, in-depth on-the-job training to other wastewater operations staff. Assist the supervisor in performance feedback and evaluation of staff. 
• Plan, schedule, coordinate and perform maintenance for assigned wastewater facilities, systems, and processes. Coordinate and perform on-site response to unusual occurrences and emergencies.
• Serve as technical resource to the other staff, the public and external agencies.
• Operate, monitor, and control wastewater equipment and systems with complex computer systems.
• Assume the full operational responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor in the absence of the Wastewater Treatment Supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualifications You Bring: 

• Experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting primary wastewater treatment equipment and processes.
• Experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting solids handling equipment and processes.
• Experience creating and utilizing standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Knowledge and experience using process and operational trends.
• Knowledge of wastewater terminology and process control.
• Knowledge of industrial safety procedures and practice.

Competencies You Bring:

• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Global Perspective: Taking a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.
• Being Resilient: Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.

Required Licenses for a Wastewater Treatment Operator: 

• Washington State Group I Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification from the Washington State Department of Ecology or out-of-state equivalency which must be converted to a Washington certification within one year of employment.

• Valid unrestricted Washington State Driver’s License.

• CPR and first aid certification – can be achieved within the first six months of employment

Required Licenses for a Wastewater Treatment Senior Operator:

• Successfully Pass Job Progression Trial Service Period.
• Valid unrestricted Washington State Driver’s License.
• Washington State Group 3 Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
• CPR and first aid certification – can be achieved within the first six months of employment.
• Must obtain a City of Seattle Boiler Operator Grade III license within 1 year of employment (or be in process).

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to regularly lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. 
• Ability to work in confined spaces, climb in and out of tanks using ladders, and work around noxious odors, heat and high noise levels.

Workplace Exposures:

• Regular exposure to chemicals, noise, confined space, respirator use, and viral contaminants.

Other Qualifications

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: West Point Treatment Plant - 1400 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 98199
• Work Schedule: This full-time position works a 40-hour work week. The work schedule will be determined based on business needs. The ability to work a day shift is required. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible. 
  • The position requires the ability to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions, work rotating shifts including nights, weekends and holidays if temporarily assigned to shift or during an emergency. 
• Union Representation: This position is represented by S.E.I.U. L925 (Wastewater Treatment Division).

Application and Selection Process: 
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, and life experience, and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness, and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.  

TIMELINE - TBD

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter 
• Complete Supplemental Questions

Note:  Additional documents will not be considered during minimum qualification screening.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Rodney O. Dungo
HR Analyst 
[email protected]   

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube and our WTD Blog.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News. 

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

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