Process Plant Operator

Community Builder

Make a difference in the community you live in! As a Community Builderan employee with the City of Gainesvilleyou will have a direct hand in building and improving your community and making a visible impact on the lives of your neighbors. Working for local government is more than a job, it's a chance to contribute to community success and to help enhance the Gainesville way of life.

Join our team at Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) as a Process Plant Operator and play a key role in powering our community through innovation and reliability. This position offers the opportunity to work at a state-of-the-art Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Plant, where your expertise will help ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality water essential for power generation. In this role, you will operate and maintain advanced treatment systems, including lime / soda water treatment, cold lime softening, pond management, and brine concentrator / spray dryer equipment. A keen eye for detail is criticalthe ideal candidate will be highly skilled in monitoring, troubleshooting, and identifying potential issues with pumps, pressures, and control valves before they impact operations. This is skilled technical work performed under limited supervision, requiring sound judgment, a strong process orientation, and the ability to keep critical plant operations running smoothly. If you have prior experience in Zero Liquid Discharge plants or cold lime softening, that's a plusbut what matters most is your commitment to excellence, safety, and reliable service. Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under limited supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its advanced technical skills and requirement to train and instruct personnel.

This is skilled work operating lime / soda water treatment, pond management, and brine concentrator / spray dryer plant equipment and facilities at a Zero-Liquid Discharge power plant site for the purpose of providing high quality water for the Power Plant to be used for cooling water and feed to the boiler makeup water treatment system. Positions allocated to this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under limited supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its advanced technical skills and requirement to train and instruct personnel.

Safety must be held as a core value. Employee must be able to recognize hazards and address through proper mitigation. Employee must be able to recognize when he / she needs additional training or is unfamiliar with a task. He / she must be willing and able to challenge others to working safely and to stop any observed unsafe work practice or condition to resolve the issue promptly.

Regulates proper flow of lime, CO2, soda ash, sulfuric acid, coagulant, and flocculant for the Front End Water Treatment System. Operates and washes water filters. Maintains proper water level in filters, tanks, and reservoirs by operating pumps and opening and closing valves.

Operates front end treatment system, plant water treatment system, ash pond pump back cells, brine concentrator, spray dryer, brine removal equipment, and related equipment.

Obtains water samples for chemical analysis. Makes routine, complex, and special chemical tests of water samples.

Complies with information provided on Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all products. Handles and stores items properly.

Observes, adheres to and administers proper tag out and lockout of plant equipment and systems in accordance with clearance procedures, policies, and practices.

Maintains work records and prepares detailed reports in a timely manner.

Attends training courses and studies independently to learn operation and maintenance requirements of process plant facilities, equipment, and operation.

Completes established training objectives for craft area assigned to journey level.

Monitor pond levels to ensure Zero Liquid Discharge compliance.

Receives bulk chemical deliveries.

Offloads Brine Salt from silo for disposal to landfill.

Works with other process plant personnel to start up, troubleshoot, or shut down equipment for corrective or preventive maintenance.

Performs routine periodic equipment checks and tests in accordance with standard operating practices, policies, and procedures.

Provides training and instruction to subordinate personnel and advises the Process Plant Supervisor of level of job knowledge, skills, and abilities of personnel in training.

Responds to emergency situations.

Attends work on a continuous and regular basis.

Assists with cleaning of plant facilities, equipment and general housekeeping.

May be required to transport, mix, handle or use hazardous materials (other than cans of gasoline, batteries, pumping fuel or access to normal janitorial cleaning materials) or may be responsible for facilities or equipment carrying current, fluids or gas that could endanger the public or other employees.

Required to collect stormwater samples following FDEP procedures.

Assists with training of Power Plant Trainees, Process Operator I's and other personnel as directed by the Process Plant Supervisor.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions.

Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma; and completion of all requirements as established in the Progression-Through-Training Program for a Process Plant Operator II, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Must meet minimum Craft and Safety Training established for designated apprenticeship program within the guidelines established in the Progression-Through-Training Program.

Thorough knowledge of processes involved in purification of water.

Thorough knowledge of occupational hazards, safety rules and regulations, and safety precautions.

Considerable knowledge of principles, practices, equipment, materials, and operating procedures in operation of a power plant process treatment plant, including brine concentrators and flash evaporators.

Considerable knowledge of functions and servicing requirements of mechanical equipment and machinery in the process treatment plant.

Knowledge of chemistry and ability to perform varied analyses of water samples and make mathematical calculations.

Working knowledge of potential hazards and procedures for fire and explosion prevention.

Ability to read and comprehend technical bulletins, manufacturers' operating instructions, and information dealing with process plant principles and practices.

Ability to read, interpret, and work from blueprints and technical drawings.

Ability to do intermediate level mathematical calculations.

Ability to respond quickly to emergency conditions by applying job skills and knowledge to take or initiate appropriate action.

Ability to keep work records and prepare and make oral and written reports.

Ability to read, understand, and comply with Safety Data Sheets.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to guide and train subordinate personnel in performance of their duties.

Ability to work effectively with coworkers and the general public.

Work requires normal color vision to distinguish the color and severity of many control and safety devices.

Work requires the use of personal protection equipment including hearing protection, eye protection, foot protection, hand protection, head protection and use of respiratory protection including self-contained breathing units.

This position requires the ability to use respiratory protection equipment in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.

Work at heights of over 100 feet on open grating or from aerial devices required, including the ability to climb and descend stairs and ladders.

Work requires physical strength and agility sufficient to safely perform all essential job functions including the ability to lift, carry, push, or pull 50 pounds without assistance and to stand, kneel and stoop.

Must communicate verbally, see physical surroundings, listen, hear others, respond to verbal commands, and demonstrate good communication skills.

Rotating shift work required.

Work may require performance of tasks outdoors under varying climatic conditions.

Ability to wear personal protective equipment to abate exposure to hazardous conditions and noxious chemicals.

Ability to wearing hearing protection to abate exposure to prolonged high noise levels.

Work may require performance of tasks in extreme heat; and by entering and maneuvering within confined spaces.

Come join our team! The City of Gainesville offers a competitive benefits package and opportunities to grow both professionally and personally.

All 'regular' employees are eligible for traditional benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, paid leave, 11 paid holidays a year, a pension plan and a deferred compensation plan, but we also offer great things like on-site fitness centers, tuition reimbursement, on-site medical staff, and a wellness program to keep you healthy and happy. Please note; benefits are not available for temporary employees.

The City of Gainesville is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in hiring. Minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Individuals with a disability, who require special accommodations during the selection process, should