Plant Foreman

Plant Foreman

Supervises and coordinates the operation, maintenance, and repair of the instrumentation, motors, and pumps in wastewater treatment plant and associated pumping stations; inspects plant equipment and processes regularly; and works closely with laboratory staff to assure the required environmental protections standards are met.

Essential Job Functions:

• Regular and punctual attendance; monitors instrumentation to assure proper operation of pumps and equipment.
• Receives regular reports from laboratory analyst concerning quality of effluent. Takes remedial actions to improve quality as necessary.
• Oversees monitoring of waste water entering plant to detect discharge of unlawful and dangerous substances into system. Directs remedial action to protect treatment process and equipment.
• Regularly inspects equipment for efficiency in operation and to avoid breakdowns. Supervises installation of new or replacement equipment. Oversees the replacement or installation of pipes and equipment.
• Responds to emergencies on a call-in basis. Supervises training and development programs for employees. Evaluates performance of assigned personnel. Oversees maintenance of plant vehicles. Works closely with plant electrician to ensure that all electrical equipment is operating efficiently, including alarm systems and emergency power generators.
• As Safety Officer enforces safety and work rules. Meets periodically with Union representatives to review safety procedures. Recommends to supervisor safety improvement measures.
• Enters plant processing information into computer, to produce status reports for supervisor and for required reports to state agencies.

Other Job Functions:

• Performs plant duties of Plant Superintendent as necessary. Assist with budget recommendations, expenditures, plant improvements, specifications, for major equipment purchases, and materials purchases.
• Initiates requisitions for materials, supplies, or equipment. Coordinates work assignments to assure minimum interruption of treatment process.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms, talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee may frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

• While performing the duties of this job the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
• The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, raw and treated sewage. The employee occasionally works in confined spaces. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately loud.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Knowledge of high pressure systems, occupational hazards and attendant safety factors and precautions; a working knowledge of federal and state laws pertaining to wastewater collection and treatment; knowledge of operation of standard office machines and use of computer; ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with associates, contractors and the public; thoroughness and dependability in performing assignments; ability to acquire a working knowledge of the use of powdered activated carbon and "wet air regeneration" in the treatment process; ability to supervise operating and technical personnel in operation, maintenance, and laboratory tasks related to waste water treatment, ability to train personnel; ability to apply principals of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; ability to understand and carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, blueprint or diagrammatic form; mathematical ability to determine units of measure; ability to work under unpleasant working conditions; ability to respond to emergencies on an assigned basis, including holidays and weekends.
• Graduation from high school, high school equivalency diploma (GED) or trade school graduate, or equivalent combination of education and training that involves completion of vocational training program in wastewater treatment technology and four years of experience, at least two of which must be of lead operational or plant maintenance supervisory experience. College level courses highly desirable.
• State of Connecticut certification as Wastewater Operator Class III. Valid motor vehicle driver's license.