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Plant Operator III

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Plant Operator III

Salary

$62,482.37 - $104,137.49 Annually

Location

LORTON (JP04), VA

Job Type

FT Hourly W BN

Job Number

25-01438

Department

DPWES Wastewater Management

Opening Date

08/02/2025

Closing Date

8/15/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S22

Posting Type

Open to General Public

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Job Announcement

$2,500 Signing Bonus*

Are you looking to take your career to a new level? Do you care for the environment and want to make a difference? Join our Environmental Services Wastewater Management Division, and do just that, working at the Noman M Cole Water Recycling Facility. This position works under the general supervision of the Plant Operations Supervisor, and, in addition to day-to-day duties, you’ll participate in special projects as well as maintain effective relationships with plant personnel, citizens, and community groups.

Day-to-day duties include:

+ Planning, assigning, and overseeing the work of Plant Operator Is and IIs during operations of the plant including monitoring the standby generator and power distribution centers.

+ Providing daily instruction and training to Plant Operator Is and IIs at various duty stations around the plant.

+ Operating plant equipment to ensure proper operating parameters, troubleshooting problems and recommending solutions. Assisting in corrective repairs and performing an ongoing preventive maintenance program of exercising and rotating various processes of equipment and machinery.

+ Collects and composites samples for plant process testing and monitoring. Reads meters, gauges, and other instruments and records observations in operating log sheets and books.

+ Preparing and maintaining records such as chemical inventory, entering work orders in computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).

+ Creating online requisitions and submitting appropriate and timely reports utilizing Microsoft Excel and other software, such as FOCUS and SCADA.

+ Monitoring alarms and troubleshooting pieces of equipment.

+ Maintaining appropriate chemical levels by adjusting system controls and/or adding, adjusting, and replacing chemicals in the treatment plant system, such as packing on pumps, gates, and other equipment.

The ideal candidate must have:

+ Experience conducting formal and informal training of junior level operators

+ Proven ability to solve operational problems as they arise, using strong troubleshooting skills and ability to make decisions

+ The ability to communicate clearly with engineers, electricians and mechanics to solve problems and come up with effective solutions.

+ Proven ability to be flexible to change focus quickly while maintaining the overall treatment process while helping others solve problems.

Wastewater Management is part of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), please visit us here (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/wastewater) to learn more about us.

DPWES is a diverse, nationally accredited and award-winning public works agency with approximately 1,000 employees providing solid waste, capital facility development, wastewater, stormwater, urban forestry, and land acquisition management services for the most populous county in Virginia. Join our team to help us protect the environment and serve the people of Fairfax County by creating and preserving a sustainable community that is an ideal place to live, work, and play for everyone.

Benefits:

Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates, and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial wellness. Please review our awesome benefits:

+ Benefits (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hr/fairfax-county-benefits-summary)

+ Retirement

Note: Wastewater Management positions are responsible for providing uninterrupted sewer service to residents during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies. This position is designated as emergency service and is subject to 24-hour on-call and may be required to report to work during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies, including after-hours and weekend work during emergency incidents to fulfill emergency service duties.

*A $2,500 signing bonus is available to new county employees hired in the Plant Operator III position.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from high school or a GED issued by a state department of education, and four years of experience as an operator in a Class I wastewater facility or higher.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

+ A valid driver's license.

+ A Class II Wastewater Treatment Operator's certification issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Appointees within this classification are subject to a criminal background check, driving record check and pre-employment physical prior to employment to the satisfaction of the employer.

Positions within this classification are considered essential to the maintenance and continuity of core county operations during the activation of an emergency or critical incident.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

+ Three (3) or more years of experience operating primary treatment, biological nutrient removal (BNR), Enhanced nutrient removal (ENR), Disinfection and solids processing including sewage sludge incinerators.

+ Five (5) years of experience in a Class I Wastewater treatment facility.

+ One (1) year of experience in ordering and receiving chemicals.

+ Two (2) years of experience supervising or leading a team.

+ One (1) year of work experience using computers and Microsoft software, including Microsoft Excel and an electronic asset management system.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to use hand tools and lift/slide up to 50 lbs. with assistance. Ability to work in a variety of work environments hot and cold weather and noisy environments, etc. May be exposed to raw waste. Must be able to climb up and down 40-foot ladder. Must be capable of pushing, pulling, lifting, bending, stooping, walking, and climbing to enter permitted confined spaces such as in and out of catch basins and manholes. Per safety requirements, confined spaces may not be entered by persons who weigh 310lbs. or more. Requires the ability to stand, stoop, bend, reach, walk, climb, sit, kneel, reach, crawl, lift and manipulate materials with manual dexterity, and work in strenuous and uncomfortable positions for long periods of time. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

May be exposed to raw waste.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview and may include exercise.

BONUS ELIGIBILITY:

Positions within this classification that are general merit may be eligible for a one-time hiring incentive bonus for new county employees only. This bonus program requires a signed payback agreement between the department and employee.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/demographics/fairfax-county-general-overview) ) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. [email protected] EEO/AA/TTY.

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