Water Plant Operator III

St. James Parish Government is hiring for the position of Water Plant Operator III in the Operations Department.

JOBFUNCTION: Controls treatment plant machines and equipment to filter andclarify water for human consumption and industrial use. This position is classified as essentialduring declared emergencies or natural disasters. This is a nonexempt position, working arotating shift. This position is SafetySensitive and subject to random drug testing as per the St. James Parish Government Employee Handbook. Individualsin this class are able to complete the majority of their work with a minimumamount of supervision. Normally works arotating shift.

ESSENTIALDUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES : Includes any combination of the following illustrative examples ofduties and responsibilities including but not limited to:

Operates and controls electric motors, pumps, and valve(s) toregulate the flow of raw water into treatment plant

Dumps specified amounts of chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia,and lime into water; or adjust automatic devices that admit specified amountsof chemicals into tanks to disinfect, deodorize, and clarify water

Starts agitators to mix chemicals and allows impurities to settleto bottom of tank(s)

Turns valve(s) to regulate water through filter beds to removeimpurities

Pumps filtered water into water mains

Monitor panel board and adjusts controls to regulate flow rates,loss of head pressure and water elevation, and distribution of water

Cleans tanks and filter beds using backwashing

Performs routine maintenance on machines and equipment

Tests water samples to determine acidity, color, and impurities

Adds chemicals such as alum into tanks to coagulate impurities andreduce acidity

Records data such as residual content of chemicals, waterturbidity, and water pressure

Maintains daily and monthly logs

Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONREQUIREMENTS : To perform this jobsuccessfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential dutysatisfactorily. The requirements listedbelow are representative of knowledge, skills and/or ability required. St. James Parish Government is an equalopportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enableindividuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATIONand/or EXPERIENCE : High School diploma orgeneral education diploma (GED) with 1 year of experience as a Water PlantOperator Trainee.

MATHEMATICALSKILLS : Ability to work withmathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference andfundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions,percentages, ratios, and, proportions to practical situations.

REASONINGABILITY : Ability to define commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral,diagram or schedule form. Ability tosolve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables insituations where only limited standardization exists.

CERTIFICATES,LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS : Must possess a validLouisiana Drivers License, (class E) with an acceptable driving record. Mustpossess a Water Treatment Operator Class I and Distribution Class ICertification or state temporary certificates.

OTHERSKILLS AND ABILITIES :

General knowledge of the hazards and applicable safety rules andregulations in equipment operation

Ability to perform physical labor required of the position

Ability to perform daily housekeeping duties

Have some knowledge of computer systems

PHYSICALDEMANDS : The physical demands described here are representatives of thosethat must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functionsof this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals withdisabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularlyrequired to reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to usehands to finger, handle, feel objects, tools, controls, and climb orbalance. The employee is occasionallyrequired to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100pounds. Specific vision abilitiesrequired by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision,peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORKENVIRONMENT : The work environment characteristics described here arerepresentatives of those that an employee encounters while performing theessential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularlyworks in conditions of, extreme heat and cold, near moving mechanical parts,and is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee frequently works in high,precarious places and is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions,fumes or airborne particles.

The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud.

• St. James Parish is committed to providing equal employment opportunities. The parish will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis including, but not limited to veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, agree or political affiliations.