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Salary Range $30.58 - $52.05 Hourly

Level Entry

Position Type Full Time

Summary

Want to work with great people and make a real impact? Eagle River Water and Sanitation District (ERWSD) is hiring a Water Operator to join our team and support our mission of providing safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible water and wastewater services to the Vail Valley. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, problem-solving, and hands-on work while gaining big-picture exposure to water operations. We’re open to translatable skills and willing to train. If you bring mechanical aptitude, troubleshooting experience, a scientific mindset, or a strong interest in public service, we can help you build the technical expertise needed for a long-term career in water operations.

At Eagle River Water & Sanitation District, the work you do matters. We operate a complex water and wastewater system in the heart of Colorado’s Vail Valley, serving mountain communities across challenging terrain and significant elevation changes. Our teams manage diverse treatment technologies, critical infrastructure, and essential public services that protect public health and the environment.

The Day-to-Day:

+ Treatment Operations: Perform day-to-day water treatment plant operations, including equipment checks, basic troubleshooting, and operation of pumps, valves, chemical feed systems, and storage tanks using SCADA systems, while monitoring and adjusting treatment parameters to meet regulatory requirements.

+ System Support: Serve as a flex operator supporting operators and supervisors across all treatment facilities to maintain operational coverage, support project and maintenance work, and participate in the rotating 24/7 on-call operator schedule.

+ Maintenance & Asset Management Support: Perform general mechanical maintenance and assist with troubleshooting treatment equipment, support membrane treatment plant operations and maintenance activities, and assist with the development and update of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

+ Water Quality: Collect regulatory and process control water quality samples, perform field and basic laboratory testing, support water quality sampling and optimization programs, as well as maintain and calibrate testing equipment and online instrumentation.

+ Regulatory Compliance: Demonstrate working knowledge of state and federal drinking water regulations, complete QA/QC documentation, and coordinate required testing with certified laboratories.

+ Teamwork, Communication & Administration: Work independently and collaboratively across departments to support operational needs, respond professionally to customer water quality inquiries, and complete required logs, reports, time entry, purchasing reconciliation, and other administrative tasks.

+ Safety: Follow all ERWSD safety and security procedures and PPE requirements, maintain required safety certifications, and participate in ongoing safety training.

Qualifications & Competencies

Qualifications & Competencies

+ High School Diploma or GED and completion of formal training in water treatment, distribution, or management OR 6 months of mechanical maintenance experience, preferably in water or wastewater systems.

+ Valid Colorado Driver’s License required.

+ Must obtain Water Treatment Operator Class D and Water Distribution Operator Class 1 licenses within 12 months. Higher levels of licensure are desired.

+ Must follow safety protocols, obtain CPR/First Aid certification within 12 months, and maintain safety training.

+ Mechanical aptitude and some experience with hand tools are preferred.

+ Water quality testing or lab experience is preferred.

+ Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, GIS for maps, and office equipment like phones and copiers.

Schedule

This role will work Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (with some flexibility in start times). Must be willing to work overtime, holidays, and weekends. Must be willing to work on-call shifts in a 24-hour x 7-day rotation (compensation provided for on-call).

Compensation

There are four levels of Water Operator with different titles and hourly pay ranges depending on certifications, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The District will support you in earning your licenses. Pay range and title depend on certifications and experience. Starting range depends on qualifications but generally falls within the minimum and midpoint of the pay range. Pay ranges for each level are as follows:

+ Operator I: $27.74 - $38.83

+ Operator II (requires Water Treatment Operator C License): $30.58 - $42.82

+ Operator III (requires Water Treatment Operator B License): $ 32.11 - $44.96

+ Senior Operator (requires Water Treatment Operator A License): $ 37.18 - $52.05

Benefits

ERWSD invests in employee well-being with a comprehensive benefits package:

+ Generous Paid Time Off

+ Paid Holidays: 13.5 paid holidays

+ Paid Parental Leave: 4 weeks of paid leave for new parents

+ Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage

+ Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

+ Recreation benefit of up to $800 annually for participating in wellness activities

+ Employee Assistance Program

+ Gym Discounts & Pro-Deals

+ 414(h) and457(b) Retirement Plan: Optional pre-tax or Roth contributions

+ SmartDollar Financial Wellness Program

+ Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $3,000 annually for job-related college coursework

+ Housing Assistance: Monthly housing stipend of $522, employee housing (pending availability), and down payment assistance programs

+ Loan Programs for Ski Passes, Electric Vehicles, and Computers

+ Life & AD&D Insurance: Employer-paid coverage up to 3x annual salary

+ Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance

Click here to view our full 2026 Benefits Guide. (https://dokumfe7mps0i.cloudfront.net/oms/4208/document/2025/12/doclib\_454824\_LX082\_1767044944470342977\_1767044944610/1767044944610.pdf)

All District employees must submit to a pre-employment drug screen and extensive background check including an educational verification and reference check. For a full position description including work environment and physical demands, email  [email protected] . All applicants must apply online at  www.erwsd.org  by February 15, 2026.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.