Job details

Wastewater Operator Trainee - Regional Wastewater Facility, Environmental Services Department

Wastewater Operator Trainee - Regional Wastewater Facility, Environmental Services Department - (2301138)

About the Department

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.

Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents! Additionally, the City offers excellent health and pension benefits, as well as 15 paid holidays!

To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn.

Positions & Duties

Per the City’s COVID19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all employees starting on or after February 11, 2022 to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent a documented medical and/or religious exemption. Proof of vaccination means that employees are required to be “up-to-date” with regards to the COVID-19 vaccine. Consistent with the Santa Clara County Public Health Order issued on December 28, 2021, "up-to-date" means that employees are required to be vaccinated with the entire recommended initial series of a COVID-19 vaccine (two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine).

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.

The Wastewater Operator Trainee position is in the Wastewater Operations and Management Division. The Operator in Training (OIT) performs routine operational duties at the Facility including but not limited to the following:

Works closely with higher-level facility operation personnel to learn the various aspects of the wastewater treatment process and the control operations for the various sections of the Facility.
Learns basic operation of the distributed control computer system to obtain the ability to locate trends, graphics, and single points and make process or control changes as needed.
Takes samples of wastewater throughout the treatment process to perform simple tests for process control.
Learns to read and interpret gauges and other control instrumentation.
Recognize and diagnose alarms and other warning indications, and to follow corrective procedures to maintain a stable process control and meet government permit requirements.
Participates in the operation and periodic maintenance of a variety of process equipment such as valves, sluice gates, pumps, blowers, samplers, dissolved oxygen sensors, suspended solids meters, chlorination/dichlorination and other wastewater analyzers and related equipment.

The Facility is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Operations staff may work 12-hour shifts, nights, weekends and holidays. Shift assignments change every 12 weeks. Interested candidates with mechanical aptitude, math skills, good interpersonal skills, knowledge and use of hand tools, and are willing to work in different shifts, are encouraged to apply. Candidates selected for the OIT positions will be provided with on-the-job training through an Operator Trainee program. Some study time will be required outside of the regular work shift and trainees will be required to show satisfactory completion of required course work.

**About the Wastewater Operator Series:

The Wastewater Operator Trainee is the entry-level classification into the Wastewater Operator series. Trainees who successfully complete the OIT training program may have an opportunity to be promoted to Wastewater Operator through the qualifying promotional process. The career path for Operators is Wastewater Operator I/II/III, Wastewater Operations Foreperson I/II, Wastewater Operations Superintendent I/II, and Division Manager of Wastewater Facility Operations.

Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise: demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations; ability to follow oral and written instructions; knowledge of and the ability to effectively use common hand tools; knowledge of basic mechanical concepts; successful completion of college-level math courses a plus; successful completion of college-level science courses a plus; successful completion of wastewater treatment coursework is highly desirable.

Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Initiative: Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.

Continuous Improvement: Actively identifies new areas for learning and regularly creates and takes advantage of learning opportunities.

Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills: Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Computer Skills: Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel

Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Salary Information: The annual salary range for Wastewater Operator Trainee is $58,884.8– $71,593.60.

Physical Requirement:

Ability to perform the essential physical functions of this position will be determined by a post-offer medical examination conducted by City of San Jose Employee Health Services.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Successful completion of high school, G.E.D. or California Proficiency Certificate

Experience: None.

Licenses or Certificates: Possession of a valid driver's license authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle in the State of California.

Certificate: As a condition of continued employment as a Wastewater Operator Trainee, possession of a valid California Water Resources Control Board Operator in Training Certificate must be obtained within the probation period.

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.

NOTE: You will betaking an Online Test on-site. It is tentatively scheduled for either Saturday, September 9th, and/or September 16th 2023.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response.

1. Please select the option that best describes how you meet the education minimum qualifications:

I have a high school diplomaI have a California Proficiency Certificate

I have a General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.)

I have a 2-year college degree or higher

None of the above

2. Please select the best option that describes your possession of or ability to possess a valid driver’s license:

I have a valid California driver's license

I have a valid driver's license issued by another state

I have the ability to obtain a California driver's license by the time of hire

I do not possess any of the above

3. The San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility is staffed 24/7. Operations staff may work 12-hour shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays. Are you willing and able to work nights, weekends, holidays, and other shifts as needed?

4. Please list the courses you have completed in wastewater treatment or college-level science and/or math. If none, state "None." (Please note that you may be asked for copies of college transcripts, grade cards, or certificate of completion for these courses.)

5. Please select the best option(s) that apply to your experience in the wastewater, water, or an environmental-related industry. Please select all that apply.

I have experience with wastewater treatment processing

I have experience working with diffuser equipment in aeration tanks and channels

I have experience operating electric and hydraulic hoists and operate forklifts

I have experience reading and interpreting gauges and other control instrumentation

I have experience operating pumps, valves, motors, blowers, internal combustion engines, vehicles, and other related wastewater treatment process equipment

I have experience inspecting, operating, adjusting, and maintaining equipment in one of the wastewater treatment plant sections (i.e., primary, secondary, sludge control, nitrification, filtration, chlorination)

I have no experience in wastewater, water, or environmental-related industry

6. Please select the best option(s) that describe your possession of wastewater or water certifications.

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Wastewater Operator Grade I

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Wastewater Operator Grade II

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Wastewater Operator Grade III or higher

Other water related certification

None of the above

7. If you indicated "Other" in the above question, please list your water-related certification.

You must answer ALL job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Irina Orozco at irina.orozco@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information

The International Union of Operating Engineers (OE#3) represents this position. click here to view. For Benefits information, click here

The revised application deadline is 11:59 PM on Monday, August 14, 2023. . Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application. Please contact Human Resources at (408) 535-1285, or Human.Resources@sanjoseca.gov if you have any questions.

Job: Environmental

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

Job Type: Standard

Job Posting: Jul 26, 2023, 10:51:22 AM

Minimum Salary: 58,884.80

Maximum Salary: 71,593.60

Bargaining Unit 1: International Union of Operating Engineers

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