Ready to work in a job where you get to work with amazing people and do meaningful work? We are currently hiring for a Water Systems Operator to join our team and contribute to our mission of providing efficient, effective, and reliable water and wastewater utility services to the community in a manner that respects the natural environment.

This is a great role for someone who wants to gain big picture experience in water operations, working with everything from regulatory compliance to operations and maintenance of surface and ground water treatment facilities, to process optimization for both membrane and conventional filtration. So as you can imagine, an ideal candidate for this role has a wide skill set and loves daily variety. We are also open to translatable skills and are willing to train- if you have some sort of mechanical maintenance or troubleshooting experience, a scientific background, and excitement about a career in water and public service, we can teach you the rest!

Why water operations?

“I get to engage in such diverse and purposeful activities that interface between the most high-tech infrastructure and the absolute nature that Colorado offers, between community service and personal growth, and between creative and technical thinking. Working in this field in our organization brings constant learning and engagement opportunities with great resources and a culture that supports those goals.”

-Andrew Kirsch, Water Systems Supervisor

Why work for us?

A job where you get to learn from experts, gain experience in a stable career, and contribute to the community- what could be better than that? Not to mention our excellent benefits, housing program (rental program, stipend, down payment assistance, and more!), and opportunities for training, certification, and development.

The Day-to-Day:

• REGULATORY COMPLIANCE: Demonstrates basic knowledge of state (CDPHE) and federal (EPA) drinking water standards. Collects regulatory water quality samples in the field as assigned, including bacteriological samples, disinfection byproduct samples, lead and copper samples, and additional water quality data collection as needed. Performs field analysis on water samples and arranges for compliance samples to be performed at contracted laboratories.
• TREATMENT PROCESS: Performs basic water plant operations. Assists with and performs general maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment. Engages in advanced water treatment plant and distribution system operations via SCADA, including starting and stopping pumps, opening and closing valves, ensuring adequate water quality and quantity in the distribution system, and adjusting storage tanks set points as needed. Monitors turbidity, chlorine residual, and fluoride levels to meet state and federal standards and adjusts plant operations accordingly. Monitors equipment and treatment processes. Performs QA/QC sampling and documentation.
• MAINTENANCE: Performs general maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment.
• WATER QUALITY: Demonstrates understanding of laboratory water quality analyses and online instrumentation related to water treatment. Conducts special studies of raw and/or treated drinking water. Completes laboratory analysis for water samples using approved methodologies. Tests water quality using benchtop and portable equipment. Calibrates, maintains, and performs QA/QC on all water testing equipment. Ability to compile, organize, interpret, and graphically display data. Enters water quality data into LIMS software. Organizes analytical reports for long-term records retention and regulatory management. Assists with monthly regulatory data reporting.
• TEAMWORK, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNICATION: Assists in coordinating activities of water operations staff. Works collaboratively with all departments and district staff. Demonstrates a willingness to work independently in a team environment. Respectfully communicates with peers and the public. Embraces district mission, vision, and values. Demonstrates a strong work ethic, integrity, positive attitude and is a team player. Demonstrate tact and professionalism in communication. Responds to customer water quality questions and concerns as needed. Completes administrative functions correctly and on time including purchasing card reconciliation, time entry, scheduling, and reading emails.
• SAFETY: Follows district safety standards. Follows all District safety and security policies and wear personal protective equipment as required by the job duties.

• EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION: Minimum qualifications are High School Diploma or GED equivalent and completion of formal training program in water treatment, distribution, or management OR six (6) months’ experience in maintenance and service of mechanical equipment, preferably types that are associated with wastewater or water system facilities.
• MAINTENANCE: Mechanical aptitude and some experience working with hand tools required.
• WATER QUALITY: Water quality testing or laboratory experience beneficial but not required.
• COMMUNICATION AND TEAMWORK: Must be able to demonstrate tact and professionalism in communication. Must have strong written communication skills, including the ability to provide documentation for daily logs and reports to ensure accurate record keeping and continuity in day-to-day operations. Must be able to work independently and in a team environment.
• TECHNOLOGY: Computer proficiency required, including basic Microsoft Office skills including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel. Must have aptitude and ability to work with CMMS to create work orders and use GIS to read maps. Ability to use office equipment such as phone systems, copier, and fax machine, and radio system required.
• PROBLEM SOLVING: Basic math skills including the ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent, and to create and interpret data graphs. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written and oral instructions. Proven customer service skills.
• LICENSURE: Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s license within 30 days of full-time employment and be insurable under District’s standards. Must be able to obtain Water Treatment Operator Class D and Water Distribution Operator Class 1 licensure within 12 months of date of employment in accordance with the Colorado Certified Water Professional (CWWP) program requirements. Colorado Water Operator and/or Water Distribution certifications preferred.
• SAFETY: Must be willing and able to follow district safety protocols and maintain safety training. Must obtain CPR/First Aid Certification within the first six (6) months of employment.

SCHEDULE

This role will work in a shift work capacity and has a variety of schedule options, including weekly 4 – 10s (6:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m or 2:00 – 12:00 a.m. alternating) or 5 – 8s (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m with some flexibility in start times). Must be willing to work overtime, holidays, and weekends. Must be willing to work on-call shifts in a 24×7 rotation (compensation provided for on-call).

COMPENSATION

We encourage the growth and development of our employees! There are four levels of Water Operator with different titles and pay ranges depending on certifications, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The District will support you in earning your licenses. Pay range and title depend on certifications and experience. Starting range depends on qualifications but generally falls within the minimum and midpoint of the pay range. Pay ranges for each level are as follows:

• Water Operator I: $25.39 – $35.55
• Water Operator II (requires CCWP Water Treatment Operator C License): $28.00 – $39.20
• Water Operator III (requires CCWP Water Treatment Operator B License): $30.87 – $43.21
• Senior Water Operator (requires CCWP Water Treatment Operator A License): $34.03 – $47.64

Benefits

At ERWSD, we value life-work balance and are leaders in the industry with our holistic benefits package, which includes but is not limited to:

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage
• Employee housing or $442 monthly housing stipend
• Wellness program
• Retirement savings plans (414h and 457)
  • We are a social security exempt organization
• 13.5 Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation, Sick and Comp Time
• Relocation Assistance (if applicable)
  $500 Annual Recreation Benefit
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Loan programs for: Ski Passes, Electrical Vehicles, and Computers

Click HERE to learn more from our full 2023 Benefits Guide.

All District employees must submit to a pre-employment drug screen and extensive background check. For a full position description including work environment, email 

er*******@er***.org

This role will remain posted until filled.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.