Maintenance Operator - Essential Utilities

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities.  If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. 

Are you looking for a fantastic career at Aqua?  We have an exciting opportunity for a Maintenance Operator whose primary duties consist of those activities necessary (but are not limited) to the operation and maintenance of pumping, storage, and purification equipment, chemical feed equipment, belt filter press equipment, instruments and sensors, monitoring the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, routine work on buildings and grounds and daily sampling and laboratory work.  This position also involves installation, dismantling, repair, maintenance, and record keeping of all assigned facilities. 

The position is located at the Shenango Valley Division Water Treatment Plant; however, the person awarded the position may also be required to report to other Water Treatment Plants or Well Stations within the Division.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Water Treatment Plant employees of the collective bargaining unit shall be responsible for the proper operation and routine maintenance of the plant equipment entrusted to their care during their entire scheduled working period, and shall leave the treatment, water quality and equipment in good operating condition or advise the employee about to assume the operator’s duties of any unusual condition that may prevail, or of any equipment that requires attention and which could not be corrected of during the shift that was worked.
• Safely and effectively operates, maintains, monitors and/or controls all treatment plant equipment and processes and various distribution system equipment and processes.
• Operates, maintains, reads, interprets, and records as directed all instruments at the plant.  Makes decisions and adjustments to maintain water quality standards through computer control systems.
• Communicates, records, and maintains relevant information regarding treatment plant operations in Maintenance Connection and other electronic data bases as required.  Record measurements and data to verify and maintain drawings for proper record keeping and reporting of the Company’s facilities.  Must be proficient in computer database, word processing, and spreadsheet programs.
• Performs assigned sampling and lab testing as directed.  Compiles thorough and detailed laboratory records and maintains excellent organizational skills in both electronic and hard copy. 
• Prepare reports required by the Company, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and other jurisdictional entities.
• Demonstrates excellent communications skills and satisfactorily meets internal and external customer requirements; serves as afterhours dispatch for emergencies within the system diagnosing issues appropriately.  Communicates effectively with division staff during all assigned work hours. 
• Performs housekeeping duties as assigned, and assures the security of the filter plant structures and property is maintained.
• Performs inspections, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, and conducts corrective maintenance of water treatment plant apparatus and equipment as directed.  Assists other personnel with routine and emergency maintenance of facilities as required.
• A basic knowledge of electronic theory and application is required, and the capability of checking and repairing electronic circuits.  The ability to read and understand wiring diagrams and schematics and to use the same in troubleshooting.
• An understanding of variable frequency drives, motor starters, motors, DC Drives, programmable logic controllers and the ability to diagnose problems and repair equipment where and when feasible is required.  Experience with actuated valves is a plus.
• Follows Arc Flash, Lock-out Tag-out, and all other safety policies and procedures without exception.
• Conscientious in respect for the responsibility to safeguard the public water supply.
• All other duties as assigned and capable of increasing skills with experience and proper instruction.
• Be physically capable of lifting up to 75 lbs.  A lift assessment will be conducted as part of onboarding.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Water Treatment Plant employees must meet all licensing requirements within the specified time-frames outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

These include:

• Pennsylvania DEP Class A Water Operators Certification with subclasses 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12 and 13 within 3 years of hire date
• Pennsylvania DEP Operational Laboratory Certification within 2 months hire
• Ohio EPA Operational Laboratory Certification within 2 months of hire
• As a condition of employment candidates are required to have an Associate’s Degree or Trade School Diploma in a technical, mechanical, math or science based field of study and 2-years of workplace experience. In lieu of that, 4 years of documented experience in waterworks operations or similar field requiring use of mechanical, treatment, and/or mathematical skills with a condition that electronics, electrical, mechanical, chemistry or science based field of study as mentioned above are completed within 2 years.  If after 2 years they have not obtained Associates Degree or Trade School diploma the employee will be terminated.
• Have the technical, academic and physical ability to perform the duties of the position. Be able to read, understand and accurately follow operating instructions both written and verbal. Mathematical ability to perform calculations to determine various ratios, dosages, volumetric calculations that are required for the operation of the water treatment plant and water systems.
• Candidate must have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent at time of hire.
• Candidate must hold a valid U.S. driver’s license at time of hire. 
• Achieve satisfactory score on Personnel Tests which may include a written examination. Achieve medium range score (currently 65) on Customer Service Skills Assessment Program test.
• Satisfactory work record (currently no more than one disciplinary occurrence in last three years).

Candidate must adhere to all provisions of the prevailing Articles of Agreement between Aqua PA Shenango Valley Division and the Utility Workers Union of America AFL-CIO Local No. 285 (Union Agreement). 

Pay Rate: $29.78 per hour*

*Employees hired or entering the collective bargaining unit after May of 2013 will initially receive $3.00 per hour less than the applicable rate of pay for all positions held or worked.  The reduced starting wage shall be increased by $1.00 per hour each year until the employee is paid the full posted rate of pay.

HOURS OF WORK:

This position will work 12 hour shifts in accordance with the prevailing Union Collective Bargaining Agreement. The candidate must be able to work days, nights, weekends, holidays, and must be available for emergency work after regular working hours, and for scheduled overtime as needed according to the Water Treatment Plant Schedule.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).  
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.