Plant Operator III - Wastewater

Collier County strives to be an employer of choice, and many of our employees build long‑term careers with us. The salary listed in the job description reflects the full pay range for this position, from entry level through advanced career stages.

NEW EMPLOYEES ARE HIRED AT, OR NEAR THE ENTRY POINT SHOWN, DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

Performs advanced licensed work involving the operation, monitoring, process control, optimization, complex troubleshooting, laboratory evaluation, maintenance coordination, emergency response, and regulatory compliance of water or wastewater treatment facilities and related equipment.

The Plant Operator Ill is the highest‑level non‑supervisory classification in the Plant Operator career series and serves as a senior technical operator. Work requires a high degree of independent judgment in evaluating plant performance, identifying process trends, making advanced treatment adjustments, troubleshooting complex operational problems, responding to significant plant upsets, and supporting regulatory compliance.

The Plant Operator Ill serves as a lead to Plant Operator Trainees, Plant Operator I, and Plant Operator II personnel and serves as a senior technical resource for lower‑grade operators without formal supervisory responsibility.

• Performs advanced licensed operation, monitoring, process control, optimization, and troubleshooting of assigned water or wastewater treatment plant systems. Evaluates plant operating conditions through SCADA systems, computerized controls, instrumentation, gauges, meters, alarms, laboratory and process‑control results, equipment performance, chemical feed rates, flow conditions, and operational trends and makes advanced operational adjustments within established procedures, assigned authority, and the scope of the applicable FDEP Class A license.
• Controls and performs advanced skilled operation of assigned water or wastewater treatment plant systems in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requirements, permit conditions, established operating procedures, and safety requirements.
• Exercises sound professional judgment consistent with FDEP requirements, applicable federal, state, and local standards, permit conditions, County policies, established operating procedures, and safety requirements. Protects public health and the environment, maintains accurate and truthful operational and regulatory records, and promptly communicates actual or potential regulatory violations, treatment failures, permit exceedances, unsafe conditions, or environmental concerns to appropriate personnel.
• Provides advanced technical direction, training, guidance, mentoring, and operational assistance to Plant Operator Trainees, Plant Operator I, and Plant Operator II employees. Serves as a senior technical resource by demonstrating proper operating practices, sharing advanced process‑control knowledge, assisting with troubleshooting, reinforcing safety and regulatory requirements, and supporting the professional development of Lower‑grade operators. Resource and mentoring functions include technical coaching, knowledge transfer, demonstration of proper operating practices, assistance with troubleshooting, and support for professional development.
  
  These Lead and mentoring responsibilities are technical and operational in nature and do not constitute formal supervisory authority.
• Operates, evaluates, and optimizes treatment processes and equipment applicable to the assigned facility, including pumps, motors, valves, blowers, wells, chemical feed and disinfection systems, filtration systems, membrane and reverse osmosis systems, biological treatment systems,…