Job Details

About the Department

The Environmental Services Department (ESD) is a national leader in pollution prevention, watershed protection, utility service provision, and climate action. Together, ESD employees positively impact every resident and business in San Jose.

Our department is an exceptional place to start or grow your career. We have a supportive leadership team, numerous professional growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace culture that is welcoming of your talents! We offer an array of meaningful career paths and value flexibility - offering possible hybrid work and alternative work schedules in select roles. Additionally, the City benefits, as well as 15 paid holidays!

To learn more about ESD, follow @sjenvironment on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and San Jose Environmental Services on LinkedIn.

About the Division
The San José - Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) is one of the largest advanced wastewater treatment facilities in the nation and treats water from homes and businesses in the cities of San José, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and unincorporated areas within Santa Clara County. The RWF serves a population of over 1.4 million people and has the capacity to treat 167 million gallons of wastewater per day. For more information visit our website at https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/environmental-services/water-utilities.

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) division is leading one of the largest public works programs in San José's history! The division is responsible for delivering a 10-year capital improvement program estimated at $1.4 billion and assuring the future of wastewater treatment services for 1.7million residents and 17,000 businesses.

The CIP division performs the overall planning and project delivery for all aspects of the RWF treatment process, including program administration and budget planning. The division is also supported by a co-located team of consultant staff and staff from the Department of Public Works, who provide program management and construction management services, respectively.

Position Duties

The Environmental Services Department is currently seeking to fill two (2) full-time Wastewater Operator Trainee vacancies at the San José - Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF).

The salary range for this classification is: $58,884.80 - $71,593.60.
The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates' qualifications and experience.

The Wastewater Operator Trainee position is in the Wastewater Operations and Management Division. The Operator in Training (OIT) performs routine operational duties at the Facility including but not limited to the following:

• Works closely with higher-level facility operation personnel to learn the various aspects of the wastewater treatment process and the control operations for the various sections of the Facility.


• Learns basic operation of the distributed control computer system to obtain the ability to locate trends, graphics, and single points and make process or control changes as needed.


• Takes samples of wastewater throughout the treatment process to perform simple tests for process control.


• Learns to read and interpret gauges and other control instrumentation.


• Recognize and diagnose alarms and other warning indications, and to follow corrective procedures to maintain a stable process control and meet government permit requirements.


• Participates in the operation and periodic maintenance of a variety of process equipment such as valves, sluice gates, pumps, blowers, samplers, dissolved oxygen sensors, suspended solids meters, chlorination/dichlorination and other wastewater analyzers and related equipment.

The Facility is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Operations staff may work 12-hour shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays. Shift assignments change every 12 weeks.

Interested candidates with mechanical aptitude, math skills, good interpersonal skills, knowledge, and use of hand tools, and are willing to work in different shifts, are encouraged to apply. Candidates selected for the OIT positions will be provided with on-the-job training through an Operator Trainee program. Some study time will be required outside of the regular work shift and trainees will be required to show satisfactory completion of required course work.

About the Wastewater Operator Series: The Wastewater Operator Trainee is the entry-level classification into the Wastewater Operator series. Trainees who successfully complete the OIT training program may have an opportunity to be promoted to Wastewater Operator through the qualifying promotional process. The career path for Operators is Wastewater Operator I/II/III.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Any combination of training and experience equivalent to completion of High School.

Experience: None.
Licenses:

• Possession of a valid driver's license authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle in the State of California.

• As a condition of continued employment as a Wastewater Operator Trainee, possession of a valid California Water Resources Control Board Operator in Training Certificate must be obtained within the probation period.

Physical Requirement: Ability to perform the essential physical functions of this position will be determined by a post-offer medical examination conducted by City of San Jose Employee Health Services.

Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations; ability to follow oral and written instructions; knowledge of and the ability to effectively use common hand tools; knowledge of basic mechanical concepts; successful completion of college-level math courses a plus; successful completion of college-level science courses a plus; successful completion of wastewater treatment coursework is highly desirable.

Veteran's Preference

The City of San José has a Veteran's Preference Policy that applies to this recruitment. To claim veteran's preference points, you must provide a copy of your honorable military discharge form, Form DD214. For more information on the City's Veteran's Preference Policy, please visit this link: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/86791/637901057146470000

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which will include a written exam.

The written exam for this recruitment is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 20, 2024, and Saturday, July 27, 2024.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Ginger Quijano at Ginger.Quijano@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third-party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

How to Apply

The requisition # for this job posting is 202300458. To view the full job announcement and apply for this position, please go to: www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST APPLY & SUBMIT YOUR JOB APPLICATION AT www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A CITY OF SAN JOSE JOB OPPORTUNITY.

Contact - Ginger Quijano at Ginger.Quijano@sanjoseca.gov.

Website - https://www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers