Principal Plant Operator - Night Shift

Chesterfield County Department of Utilities is a public water and wastewater utility that uses state-of-the-art technology to deliver the highest quality service to our approximately 121,000 water customers and 103,000 wastewater customers. We have a culture that is invested in making a difference in the community by meeting or exceeding water quality standards while also protecting the James River and the Chesapeake Bay.

We pride ourselves in being fiscally fit as one of only a handful of water and wastewater utilities nationwide to have achieved AAA ratings on its revenue bonds from each of the three top rating services.

You will be operating a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility to ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws. This will require observations and/or adjustments of physical, chemical, and biological treatment process, teamwork and communication.

This Principal Plant Operator will serve as a shift operator within the Wastewater Treatment section of the Department of Utilities along with a Chief Plant Operator, Assistant Chief, Plant Operator, a Maintenance team, and other Plant Operators. The position is responsible for being a dependable and supportive member of our team by ensuring proper operation of the wastewater treatment plant, communicating and troubleshooting operational concerns with team members, supporting maintenance activities, and meeting overall Utilities Department goals.

This includes wearing appropriate PPE (provided by the county) and following county and OSHA safety rules and regulations for General Industry and Construction.

Your assigned work hours are 3-days on/3-days off, 6am-6pm. You are considered an essential personnel position meaning that the work schedule is not impacted by inclement weather, county holidays, or county closure as we operate 24/7. Our facility is operational through rain, snow, and shine. There may be times when you will be required or volunteer to work longer hours due to unforeseen circumstances.

You will be compensated for overtime under FLSA guidelines. Due to the schedule of 3-days on/3-days off, some pay periods will be less than 80 hours, while other pay periods will have more than 80 hours.

• Operate process equipment and systems associated with wastewater treatment
• Monitor the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA)
• Observe and record process trends related to equipment operation and plant performance on daily log sheets
• Monitor and adjust process control instrumentation
• Inventory chemicals and inspect chemical dosing pumps and storage tanks
• Ensure proper operation of samplers, collect process monitoring samples and perform field analytical tests
• Transfer sludge by manually turning valves in correct sequence with operation of pumping equipment
• Perform preventive maintenance and Housekeeping
• Work outdoors in the elements.

• Troubleshooting operational issues around the plant
• Assisting in maintenance projects
• Ensuring safety is upheld
• Performing other work, as required

High school diploma or GED is required; or equivalent combination of training and experience. A wastewater license is not required for hiring! Although not required for hiring, you will be required to pass the class 3 wastewater exam within one year of employment and continue working toward obtaining your class 1 license.

You’ll need to be able to lift 50 pounds.

This position is considered Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. Current valid driver’s license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, records must not…