Town of Otis
Chief Waste Water Operator
The Town of Otis is seeking qualified applicants for Chief Operator of its Waste Water Treatment Plant. This is a full time, benefitted, non-union, exempt position. Applicants must have at least two years’ experience working in a wastewater treatment facility as a licensed operator and must hold a Grade 4 Waste Water Treatment License. Current salary range $68,000-$74,000.
Interested applicants should submit a Cover Letter, Resume & Town of Otis Employment Application to: Brandi Page, Town Administrator, at townadmin@townofotisma.com. Otis is an equal opportunity employer. Position open until filled.
| Position Title: | Wastewater – Chief Operator | Grade Level: | IV |
| Department | Wastewater | Date: | |
| Reports to: | Town Administrator | FLSA Status | Exempt |
Statement of Duties: The purposes of this position are to plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and document the 24/7 operation and incidental maintenance of the Town of Otis wastewater on the municipal system to provide a healthy environment and meet or exceed regulatory requirements and adopted operating standards. This position monitors the pumping, treatment, and testing processes, the results experienced, and modifies flows and treatment processes to maintain compliance with effluent regulatory requirements. Chief Operator is responsible for the completion and processing of the monthly Discharge Monitoring Report DMR with Massachusetts DEP via the eDEP portal system and is responsible for effective project management and effective record keeping. The Chief Operator is also required to train other operators in the field to become proficient in all aspects of wastewater treatment operations and processes.
Supervision Required: Under the administrative direction of the Town Administrator and the Board of Selectmen, the employee plans and carries out the regular work in accordance with standard practices and previous training, with responsibility for determining the sequence and timing of actions and independence in planning and organizing the department’s work activities including determining the work methods. The employee is expected to solve through experienced judgment most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions to resolve the particular problem. Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities. Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are made in compliance or coordination with MA DEP, but ordinarily the employee plans the work, lays it out and carries it through to completion independently. Work is generally reviewed only for technical adequacy, appropriateness of actions or decisions, and conformance with MA DEP regulations; the methods used in arriving at the end result are not usually reviewed in detail.
Supervisory Responsibility: Employee is accountable for the quality and quantity of work done by part-time employees. Supervisory responsibility consists of most of the following: plans, implements schedule, recommends and justifies any changes in the organization of work, work methods or assignment of functions to positions that may affect staffing patterns, costs, work standards, etc.; assigns work based on varying capabilities of employees; assures that completed work meets the required standard of quality, timeliness and cost, taking corrective actions as necessary, including rejecting the work. Work operations are subject to substantial changes in work procedures and activities. While the timing of these fluctuations cannot be anticipated, the procedures to be used can be planned in advance, e.g. the handling storm emergencies, equipment failures, etc.
Accountability: The nature of work includes the operation of complex potentially dangerous equipment and chemicals that increases the probability that errors could be serious. Missed deadlines or poor judgment may include adverse public relations, legal repercussions, significant monetary losses due to waste of material, damage to buildings and equipment, danger to public safety, or personal injury.
Judgment: The work requires examining, analyzing and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations or transactions to determine the appropriate actions that are required to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted water treatment practices. The employee is expected to weigh the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and relative priorities in conjunction with procedural concerns in decision making.
Complexity: The work consists of complex and routine or repetitive tasks and/or operations with few variations in well-known or established procedures relating to a professional or technical field. Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; inspecting, testing or evaluating compliance with established standards or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data using specialized fact finding techniques; or determining the methods to accomplish the work.
Confidentiality: In accordance with the State Public Records Law, the employee has regular access to confidential information such as department records.
Work Environment: The nature of duties may involve continuous presence of unpleasant or irritating elements, such as considerable noise, odors, bio hazards, chemical fumes, dust, smoke, heat, cold, loud noises, oil, dirt or grease. Work is continually performed regardless of working conditions. Employee is required to work beyond normal work hours in response to natural or man-made emergency situations 24/7, 365 days per year.
Nature and Purpose of Contacts: Relationships are constantly with co-workers, the public, groups and/or individuals such vendors or contractors doing business for the Town. The employee serves as a representative of the department in matters of substance or considerable importance. The employee deals with the public and other individuals on behalf of the department in order to communicate departmental practices, procedures, regulations and/or guidelines.
Occupational Risks: Essential functions regularly present potential risk of personal injury to the employee from improper exposure to working conditions that could result in loss of time from work. Examples of injury include severe muscular strains from working with heavy materials and department equipment, and working in trenches. Special safety precautions, training, or protective clothing such as gowns, coats, gloves, glasses, hard hats, or safety boots is required at all times.
Essential Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
- Manages all aspects of the wastewater treatment facility and service areas to meet or exceed limits within Discharge Permit issued by MA DEP. The certification required for this position shall be a minimum of MA Grade 4M or higher.
- Manages the work of part time employees in a variety of skilled and un-skilled manual wor as assigned to repair and maintain the municipal treatment facility and related infrastructure.
- Operates a variety of equipment, pumps, electrical controls, generators, laboratory equipment and other specialty equipment fount within the wastewater treatment facility and collection system.
- Operates and maintains a variety of power and hand tools including but not limited to manhole saws, gas or electric cutoff saws, mechanical sewer cleaning equipment, chainsaws, and snow removal equipment.
- Performs supervision of construction, repairs, and maintenance projects including repairing and patching of streets, repairing and cleaning of sanitary sewer collection systems, removal of blockages, roots, debris, and other materials that may impede flows in system.
- Attends training programs necessary for the maintenance of, and recertification of MA Grade 4M WWTP license or higher.
Recommended Minimum Qualifications:
Education and Experience: Must have a High School Diploma or GED with a minimum of 2 years experience working in a wastewater treatment facility as a licensed operator; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Special Requirements: Class D Motor Vehicle Driver’s License. Grade 4M MA wastewater license.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: Must acquire and maintain a strong knowledge of the Town’s pumping, wastewater treatment system and technologies used, related standards and state regulations, training requirements, and implementation practices.
Abilities: Ability to apply strong technical knowledge of pumps, hydraulic and mechanical capacities, wastewater and water treatment standards and operation; accurately and clearly explain wastewater treatment issues; anticipate operations and maintenance requirements.
Skill: Effective organizational skills. Excellent analytical, administrative and supervisory skills; skill in the use and application of the above referenced regulations, technologies, policies, procedures, tools and equipment; mechanical and physical skills to perform the required tasks. Skill in using snow plows, mowing equipment and various heavy equipment, power tools and hand tools.
Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
While performing the functions of this job, the employee is required to sit, stand, walk, and listen for extended periods; may come in contact with toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electrical shock; is frequently required to talk; uses hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reaches with hands and arms; kneels and bends to work on equipment; specific vision abilities required include close and distance vision, peripheral and depth perception and the ability to adjust focus; ability to operate a vehicle and heavy equipment accurately and efficiently; ability to frequently lift up to 60lbs and occasionally lift up to 100lbs; must be able to hear normal sounds, distinguish sound a voice patterns or vehicle sounds and communicate through human speech.