WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR

The Tucson Water Department is seeking experienced operators to be part of the Water Quality & Operations Division. This section is responsible for the central control operations of the potable and reclaimed water distribution systems.

This position is classified as Safety Sensitive and is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Rotating 12-hour shifts, weekends, and holidays are mandatory.

Operates, monitors, and controls water treatment facilities, distribution systems, and related equipment. Makes necessary adjustments to ensure appropriate water supply, quality and pressure, and to maintain the integrity of the water system.

The essential duties include but are not limited to:

• Utilizing SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) the operations staff monitors and controls treatment plants, recharge facilities, and distribution systems by operating systems remotely from the Central Control Room, making repair and operation decisions, responding to alarms and emergencies, performing facility checks for any unusual operations, monitoring and conducting, and controlling equipment associated with production, distribution, potable and non-potable water systems by dispatching maintenance personnel.
• Monitors and operates various facilities by reading and adjusting levels, calculating flows and chemical dosage, opening and closing gates and valves, operating and controlling pumps, recording meter readings and analyzing and adjusting plant flow requirements.
• Schedules and tracks personnel, generates reports, extracts data from reports, stores and archives data, creates hard copies of data, handles customer complaints and maintains electronic logs.
• Collects and analyzes data by collecting samples for analysis, reading meters and monitors, writing forms, performing lab analyses on samples for various parameters, determining when or if process changes are necessary and calibrating lab instruments and chemical pumps. Performs maintenance functions at plants and well sites.
• Coordinates activities with appropriate agencies during emergencies affecting the water system such as fires or power outages.
• Receives customer telephone calls regarding water system problems, water quality concerns and responds with appropriate action. Prepares written reports and responds to claims.  

Minimum Education Level & Type: 6 months post High School

Minimum Experience Qualifications: At least 2 years operating water treatment facilities and/or distribution systems

Valid and Unrestricted D - Driver's License

Required at the time of application:

• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Water Treatment Grade 2 Certification or equivalent state certification
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Water Distribution Grade 2 Certification or equivalent state certification

Required within 12 months of hire:

• ADEQ Grade 3 certification in Water Treatment 
• ADEQ Grade 3 certification in Water Distribution

Both are required within 12-months of hire. Failure to obtain both certifications will result in failure of probation and employment will be terminated effective immediately.

Applicants with water certifications from other states will be accepted only if the certification is eligible for reciprocity. However, applicants are required to check with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) regarding reciprocity eligibility/requirements.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated on the education and work experience in their employment profile and the responses to their supplemental questions. The highest scoring applicants will then be invited to participate in a virtual Teams Oral Board interview.   

• Virtual Teams Oral Board Interviews will be held March 17, 2021

Upon completion of all examination processes, the highest scoring applicants will be placed on the Civil Service Employment List.  An applicant's ranking on the Civil Service list will be based on their final score which will be calculated as:      

• 10% of your rating for education and work experience
• 90% of your oral board interview   

This recruitment will establish a civil service list that may be utilized to fill vacancies occurring at Tucson Water within the next 6 months.

Veterans, Native American, or Disability preference points will be added to the final score for those that are placed on the Civil Service Employment List.  If you qualify for preference points as outlined in the Employment Profile, you must upload your documentation as part of the application process or email it to Roxie.Escarcega@tucsonaz.gov. The DD 214 must be a copy that indicates characterization of service.  

If you are in need of an Americans with Disabilities Act-related accommodation during the testing process, please contact Roxie Escarcega at  Roxie.Escarcega@tucsonaz.gov at least 48 hours prior to the evaluation.

You are encouraged to print this bulletin because it contains important dates and information that will not be available online once this position closes.

Additionally, communication during this process will be sent via email to the email address on file, so please ensure your browser accepts emails from jobs@tucsonaz.gov and check your email account regularly; this may include your junk box/spam filter.  Failure to respond or follow instructions may result in disqualification.

Basic Physical

Non-NIDA Drug Test

Respirator Physical

To ensure accurate payroll information for tax purposes, the successful candidate will need to provide their original Social Security Card or original letter from the Social Security Administration with their social security number prior to beginning work with the City of Tucson.

The City of Tucson hires lawful workers only - US citizens or nationals and non-citizens with valid work authorization - without discrimination. Federal immigration laws require all employers to verify both the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. In its efforts to meet the law's requirements, the City of Tucson participates in the E-Verify program established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to aid employers in verifying the eligibility of workers.

Retired City of Tucson employees receiving benefits from the Tucson Supplemental Retirement System who are considering reemployment with the City should be aware that pursuant to Section 22-37(g) of the Tucson City Code, retirement benefits shall be suspended during the period of reemployment with the City of Tucson unless you have been separated at least twelve consecutive months before returning to work AND you return to a non-permanent employment classification. Creditable service does not accrue during any reemployment period.