Senior Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

Announcement of Employment Opportunity

Senior Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator 

Public Works 

Hiring Range: $28.44 to $31.44 per hour

FLSA Status: Non- Exempt

Pay Grade: 111

Full Pay Range: $28.44 to 42.67 per hour

Deadline to Apply: 8/14/2025

Benefits Summary: 

Major Benefits for Full-Time Regular Employees:

• A diverse range of complimentary mental health and wellness services is available, including an Employee Assistance Program, a free subscription to Calm, and health coaching
• Paid time off up to 20 days in first year of employment
• 10 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday per year
• Free employee only coverage for medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance
• Free family coverage for select medical and dental plans
• Pension and long-term disability through Arizona State Retirement System, click here for more details
• Supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation plans and additional life insurance

Position Summary: 

Under direct supervision of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor, coordinates a variety of programs and activities, including work assignments, safety training, data entry, leading projects and coworkers, ordering materials, reporting issues to supervisors, and taking charge in the absence of supervision while working closely with others within the Public Works Utilities Division.

Essential Duties: 

• Lead other operators into safely operating and maintaining the wastewater treatment process.
• Ensure compliance with permits, regulate process control, and maintain plant efficiency.
• Assuming the lead for the Supervisor during absences; performing plant operations and administrative duties of both positions when required.
• Collecting samples; Performing analysis on wastewater samples for process monitoring and reportable analysis. 
• Monitoring the operation of the plant.
• Adjusting plant valves, flows, and return rates.
• Adjusting chemical dosages as needed. 
• Running various analytical tests.
• Calibrating and maintaining lab equipment.
• Operating dewatering equipment and conventional areas of the plant.
• Entering data from lab analysis; and conducting laboratory testing.
• Assisting with training and mentoring less experienced operators.
• Working within budget guidelines.
• Performing general and preventative plant maintenance.
• Ensuring discharged water meets compliance.
• Ordering supplies and chemicals.
• Properly maintaining buildings and grounds.
• Assisting with maintenance and repair of electrical and mechanical equipment.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

Education and/ or Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent; three (3) years of experience in wastewater treatment with one (1) year of experience in supervision or leading a crew; or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.

Licensing, Certification, and Other Requirements: 

Possess and maintain an Arizona Class D driver's license; possess a Grade III ADEQ Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification or obtain one within one year of hire.

The senior plant operator must have the desire and initiative to provide valuable input and improve operating results; have excellent troubleshooting skills, be able to think "outside the box" to resolve problems, build interpersonal relationships, and promote a positive work environment.

Employee Core Beliefs: 

City of Prescott employees should seek to uphold the City's core beliefs throughout their day-to-day business and with every customer they come in contact with, both internal and external. Our core beliefs are: Act with Integrity, Work as a Team, Have Personal Commitment and Loyalty, Solve Problems, Take Pride In Excellent Results, High Level of Productivity and Being Nice.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of related federal, state, and local laws, regulations, rules and/or ordinances.
• Knowledge of Department organization, functions, objectives, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of laboratory methods, sampling techniques, and procedures.
• Knowledge of basic biology, chemistry, and wastewater treatment principles and chemicals used.
• Knowledge of safe work practices and occupational hazards with wastewater.
• Knowledge of general building and grounds maintenance.
• Skill in leading, training, and motivating employees.
• Skill in operating and maintaining wastewater treatment plant equipment.
• Skill in performing simple laboratory analysis.
• Skill in communicating, both verbally and in writing.
• Skill in referring responses to inquiries and complaints to management.
• Skill in troubleshooting problems.
• Ability to think "outside the box" to resolve problems.
• Ability to operate wastewater and reclaimed water treatment processes and equipment.
• Ability to collect and analyze samples and interpret results.
• Ability to collect and report data.
• Ability to interpret plant performance data and make process and equipment adjustments as required.
• Ability to use SCADA/PLC systems, computerized maintenance management system, and other similar computer programs.
• Ability to read, understand and apply technical manuals and work instructions to maintenance and operation activities.
• Ability to read and understand various drawings and schematics.
• Ability to detect, identify, and report operational malfunctions and problems and offer recommendations for resolution.
• Ability to use a variety of hand and power tools.
• Ability to troubleshoot treatment processes and equipment and recommend appropriate actions.
• Ability to operate motor vehicles and equipment such as forklifts.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: 

• Work is performed in a plant or field location.
• Requires working under adverse weather conditions; in confined spaces; near high traffic areas; and with exposure to raw sewage, chemicals, rotating equipment, hydrogen sulfide, noise, high-medium-low voltage, oxygen deficient, and other hazardous environments.
• Safely operates required equipment and City vehicles as needed.

• Safely performs manual labor for extended periods of time and lifts 60 pounds frequently with a maximum of 100 pounds.

• Clearly, concisely, and effectively communicates in person, over the radio, and by telephone.
• Work is performed part of the time working in an environment where errors on this job can lead to significant physical or mental consequences for self and others.

The following physical abilities are required to perform the work asked of this position: 

• Balancing – maintain equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching.
• Climbing – ascending, descending ladders, stairs, ramps, requires body agility.
• Crawling – moving about on hands, knees, or hands, feet.
• Crouching – bending body forward by bending leg, spine.
• Feeling – perceiving attributes of objects by touch with skin, fingertips.
• Grasping – applying pressure to object with fingers, palm.
• Handling – picking, holding, or working with whole hand.
• Hearing 2 – receive detailed information, make discrimination in sound.
• Kneeling – bending legs at knee to come to rest at knees.
• Lifting – raising objects from lower to higher position, moving objects side to side, using upper extremities, back.
• Manual Dexterity – picking, pinching, typing, working with fingers rather than hand.
• Mental Acuity – ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning.
• Pulling - use upper extremities to exert force, haul or tug.
• Pushing – use upper extremities to press against objects with force, or thrust forward, downward, outward.
• Reaching – extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion – substantial movements of wrists, hands, fingers.
• Speaking – expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely.
• Standing – for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping – bending body downward, forward at waist, with full motion of lower extremities and back.
• Talking 1- expressing ideas by spoken word.
• Talking 2 – shouting to be heard above ambient noise.
• Visual Acuity 1 - prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading. 
• Visual Acuity 2 - color, depth perception, field of vision.
• Visual Acuity 3 - determine accuracy, neatness, observe facilities/structures. 
• Visual Acuity 4 - operate motor vehicles/heavy equipment.
• Visual Acuity 5 -close acuity for inspection of small defects, machines, use measurement devices, or fabricate parts.
• Walking - on foot to accomplish tasks, long distances, or site to site.

City of Prescott Contact Information

201 N. Montezuma Street, Suite 207

Prescott, AZ 86301

Email: hr@prescott-az.gov

Website: www.prescott-az.gov

Phone: 928-777-1410 / Fax: 928-777-1213

When advised, reasonable accommodations will be made in order for an "otherwise qualified applicant" with a disability to participate in any phase of the selection process. In accordance with A.R.S. 23 - 493, this position has been identified as "Safety Sensitive". The City of Prescott is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Salary : $28 - $31