SENIOR PLANT SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under direction, leads, oversees, and participates in the more complex and difficult work of staff responsible for performing a variety of skilled and semi-skilled duties involved in the maintenance and repair of the City’s water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities; performs highly skilled tasks involved in the repair or fabrication of precision machine parts at a water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities; and participates in the repair and installation of electrical and mechanical equipment.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey level class in the Plant Systems Technician series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series and serve as lead worker for an assigned group of employees. Employees at this level may be assigned specialized functions and are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Leads, plans, trains, and reviews the work of staff responsible for performing a full range of duties involved in the maintenance and repair of the City’s water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities.
• Estimates time, materials, and equipment required for jobs assigned; requisitions necessary tools,
  equipment, materials, and supplies as required; maintains parts inventory; orders necessary parts.
• Trains assigned employees in their areas of work including maintenance and repair methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Verifies the work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable standards and specifications; ensures adherence to safe work practices and procedures; supervises the use, care, and operation of equipment; ensures adherence to best management practices; ensures cleanliness of work area and tools.
• Oversees and participates in performing preventative and corrective maintenance on equipment at the water and wastewater treatment plants, pump/lift stations, and other allied facilities; troubleshoots, maintains, repairs, rebuilds, and replaces valves, pumps, compressors, blowers, centrifuges, generators, piping, mechanical and electrical motors, and related equipment; fits pipes; installs, aligns, test operates, and maintains mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Oversees and participates in performing a full range of machinist and welder duties; repairs, rebuilds, and/or fabricates precision machine parts such as shafts, bearing housings, or other OEM parts to exact specifications using machine shop equipment such as lathes, milling machines, and drill presses; designs and mills new and old parts; designs and welds new equipment; repairs parts using welding techniques including utilizing gas and/or arc welding equipment to heat, cut, braze, or weld.
• Oversees and assists in regular inspections for and performance of preventive maintenance adjustments; services and lubricates equipment.
• Oversees and participates in performing a full range of general maintenance duties including to clean, paint, and maintain pump stations, pump housing, vaults, and related equipment and properties.
• Operates a variety of vehicles, equipment, and tools including service trucks, compressors, forklifts, cranes, lathes, milling machines, drill presses, welding equipment, and hand and power tools; cleans, maintains, and calibrates assigned equipment.
• Maintains inventory and assists with ordering replacement parts and equipment for machinery in the plants and at the pump stations; researches and obtains prices on replacement equipment and repair parts; coordinates with suppliers/contracts in order to ensure correct sections of equipment ordered.
• Maintains records and prepares basic reports regarding operations, maintenance and work performed.
• Serves in emergency standby capacity; provides all aspects of plant and pump station maintenance and repair during after hours periods including holidays and weekends.
• Meet with subcontractors or contractors to set up jobs.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a water and/or wastewater treatment plant and allied facilities maintenance and repair program.
• Principles of lead supervision and training.
• Operational characteristics of water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations including associated mechanical and electrical equipment and devices.
• Theories and fundamentals of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical principles associated with the repair and operation of plant equipment and pumping stations.
• Materials, methods, techniques, and terminology used in maintenance and repair activities related to the maintenance and repair of water and wastewater plants and associated equipment.
• Methods, techniques, tools and equipment used to repair, rebuild and fabricate precision machine parts.
• Welding principles, practices, tools, and equipment.
• Operational characteristics of maintenance and construction equipment and tools used in work activities.
• Proper procedures used in the maintenance and repair of hand and power tools.
• Mathematical principles.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations.
• Principles and practices of record keeping and basic report preparation.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
• Principles and practices of customer service.

Ability to:

• Lead, organize, and review the work of staff.
• Independently perform the most difficult tasks involved in the maintenance and repair of the City’s water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities.
• Interpret, explain, and enforce department policies and procedures.
• Perform highly skilled tasks involved in the repair or fabrication of precision machine parts at water and/or wastewater treatment plants and allied facilities.
• Read, explain, and follow blueprints, mechanical drawings, and oral and written instructions, particularly from maintenance and service manuals.
• Install, align, test operate, and maintain electrical and mechanical equipment and machinery including pumps, valves, valve operators, piping, chemical feed equipment, and mechanical conveyance equipment.
• Ensure adherence to safe work practices and procedures.
• Prepare and maintain records including time and material use records.
• Perform mathematical calculations required to adjust and calibrate equipment.
• Respond to plant and pump station maintenance/repair emergencies.
• Use alignment instruments including dial indicators, micrometers, calipers, and other related installation and repair tools and meters.
• Use electrical testers.
• Safely drive and skillfully operate equipment and machinery including trucks, compressors, forklifts, cranes, lathes, milling machines, drill presses, welding equipment, and hand and power tools. Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Maintain good housekeeping practices.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by specialized training/coursework in mechanical and electrical repair.

Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible experience performing duties comparable to a Plant Systems Technician II in the City of Escondido or comparable experience in the maintenance of water and wastewater plant equipment and machinery including experience as a machinist performing repair, rebuilding, and fabrication of precision parts for pumps, motors, and other mechanical equipment. Experience must also include repair, installation, alignment and test operation of pumps, motors and other mechanical equipment.

License or Certificate - Possession of a valid driver’s license. Possession of a valid Grade 3 Plant Maintenance Mechanical Technologist certificate. Journey level certification as a welder or millwright is desirable.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Water and wastewater treatment plant and field setting with travel from site to site. Exposure to extreme noise of plant machinery and other equipment; mechanical and electrical hazards of operating equipment; fumes and odors of chemicals and gases; dust from sanders and grinders; toxic substances such as chemicals, cleaners, solvents, and gases; all types of weather and temperature conditions. Work and/or walk for long periods of time on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain. Work schedule is 9/80; subject to 24-hour emergency callbacks and standby and requires working varying hours, overtime, weekends and holidays. Work environment is informal, team-oriented, having both routine and variable tasks with variable pace and pressure. Work is performed in both indoors in plant and shop area and outdoors in field and collateral facilities.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in a plant and field setting and operate assigned equipment. CONTINUOUS walking, standing, lifting of objects weighing up to 10 lbs. from below waist level to above shoulder level and transporting for distances up to 100 yards, fine finger dexterity to operate tools and controls, firm grasp to lift and carry objects; FREQUENT bending and stooping, twisting at waist, upward and downward flexion of neck, side-to-side turning of neck, lifting of objects weighing 11-25 lbs. from below waist level to above shoulder level and transporting up to 100 yards; OCCASIONAL sitting, squatting, climbing, reaching above and at shoulder height, kneeling, pushing/pulling, lifting of objects weighing from 26-50 lbs. from below waist level to above shoulder level and transporting for distances up to 10 yards, moderate foot pressure to operate foot pedals; INFREQUENT balancing above ground, crawling, lifting of objects weighing from 51-100 lbs. below and at waist level, with assistance, and transporting for distances up to 10 feet with assistance.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens, printed documents, meter-reading equipment, dials, and gauges and to operate vehicles and equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Other: Safety regulations prohibit incumbents from wearing contact lenses when working with certain chemicals, or from wearing beards or other facial hair that prevents a proper respirator fit.

Date: October 2004
Johnson & Associates