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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMaintenance Operator - WastewaterUpdated: August 2025 (Admin Review) CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION Position Title: Maintenance Operator – Wastewater Department: Public Works Division: Wastewater Supervisor: Assistant Superintendent – Wastewater / Wastewater Superintendent FLSA: Non-Exempt Civil Service: Yes Pay Grade: 10 Job Number: 1005 Job Summary Under general direction, inspects, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs all hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and mechanical equipment at wastewater treatment facilities. Performs specialized construction, modifications and installation of equipment and structures. Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. • Inspects, maintains, troubleshoots, repairs, and replaces all hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and mechanical equipment at wastewater treatment plants and lift stations, cleans equipment. • Reads and interprets technical manuals and journals, monitors, and adjusts computerized controllers. • Operates heavy equipment including tractors, boom trucks, end loaders, backhoes, and dump trucks, operates belt filter presses, polymer mixing equipment, sludge pumps and related sludge handling equipment. • Calibrates equipment such as flow meters, gas detectors, samplers, and backflow preventers. • Performs on-call duties, responds to emergencies of equipment failure at the treatment plant, lift stations and collection system. • Leads work teams working on various aspects of maintenance and repairs, trains, delegates, and monitors other personnel in repair and maintenance projects, establishes technical procedures and standards. • Implements a preventive maintenance program. • Performs maintenance and repairs of heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems including boilers, heat exchangers, air handling units and piping systems. • Performs scheduled and emergency relief operations for Treatment Plant Operators on ten-hour per day and weekend shifts, monitors and inspects process control equipment via computer and visual inspection to ensure proper operation, reads gauges and dial instrumentation, makes adjustments if needed. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) • Compiles daily log of maintenance work performed at the plant, the personnel available, any unusual plant conditions and any process control changes, enters data into computer. • While performing relief operations for Treatment Plant Operators, collects wastewater samples and conducts laboratory analysis of wastewater influent and effluent to monitor and adjust the treatment process to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. • Helps ensure a safe environment through participation in safety committee activities. • Conducts self in a professional manner which demonstrates courtesy and respect for all community members and coworkers. • Performs other duties as assigned. Minimum Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other • Associate’s degree from an accredited educational institution; or two years of related experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in wastewater treatment plant. • State of Iowa DNR Grade I Wastewater Operator certificate. State of Iowa DNR Grade II Wastewater Operator certificate required within 2 years of appointment. Forklift certification required within two years of appointment. Satisfactory driving record. Valid State of Iowa commercial driver’s license instruction permit upon first day in position. Valid State of Iowa Class A commercial driver’s license with air brake and tank endorsements within 6 months of hire. Meet federal drug testing requirements. Requires a pre-employment drug screen. Must be 18 years of age. Must pass criminal background check. Must live within 25 miles of the corporate limits of Iowa City, Iowa within one year of appointment to the position. Preferred Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other • Associate’s degree from an accredited educational institution and one year of related experience; or three years of related experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. • Backflow prevention certification. Confined space entry training. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. • Ability to calculate hydraulic and organic loadings, volumes, surface areas, pump rates and lab data. • Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. • Ability to maintain daily logs of operation and maintenance. • Ability to make repairs to wastewater treatment fixtures and equipment. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) • Ability to read and interpret blueprints, flow schematics, manuals, electrical drawings, detailed instructions, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. • Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties. • Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization. • Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. • Knowledge of basic electrical and plumbing methods. • Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions and regulations. • Knowledge of wastewater treatment process, hydraulic and pneumatic process and principals. • Skill in mechanical, welding, carpentry, masonry work. • Skill in the operation of heavy equipment. • Skill in the operation of various hand and power tools. Supervision No supervision of direct reports. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee regularly lifts and/or moves 25 pounds and will occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with or without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, high or precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, vibration, confined space, and traffic hazards. The employee is frequently exposed to outside weather condition, dampness, direct sunlight, dust, pollen, insect stings, animals, and communicable diseases. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. Involves more than moderate exposure to dangerous situations. Involves more than moderate exposure to stress due to the work environment and/or crisis situations. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) Iowa City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Reviewed/Approved by: Ron Knoche, Public Works Director (4/2024) I have read and understand the duties and requirements of this job description, and I agree that I can perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. Employee Date ________________________________ __________________