Wastewater Treatment Plant Intern

CITY OF JANESVILLE DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

The residents of Janesville choose this community, not just as a place to live, but as a place to realize life’s opportunities. We strive to sustain a community culture where differences are recognized, understood, and appreciated. As such, the City of Janesville recognizes the importance of developing an environment where diversity is not merely accepted but embraced and celebrated. As public servants, we believe everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. To this end, we will diligently recruit and retain the most talented employees in an environment that fosters maximizing one’s potential. Therefore, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to consider employment with the City of Janesville and serve the residents of “Wisconsin’s Park Place”. 

OBJECTIVE:

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Operator, the Wastewater Treatment Plant Intern position is focused on the operation of the Treatment Plant, but can transition to support other areas if needed. 

RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to:  Chief Operator

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

1. Assist the Operators in day to day operation of the Treatment Plant including data recording and analyzing, and maintenance of process equipment, i.e. pumps, motors, etc.
2. Duties to include readings, skimmings, tank readings, general maintenance and upkeep of the plant, and some Laboratory work.
3. Assists in Laboratory duties including sample collection and analysis.  Laboratory analysis performed include: pH, BOD, TSS, ammonia, and phosphorous.
4. Assists in performing buildings and grounds maintenance as well as general facility upkeep.
5. Performs other special projects and duties as assigned or required during regular and non-business hours, including providing support as a part of any City response to essential or emergency operations.
6. All employees may be assigned by the City Manager or their designee to perform duties and assume responsibilities that are outside the scope of their work duties when the City Manager has declared a City disaster or the City Emergency Operations Center has been initiated.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND PRIOR EXPERIENCE

The requirements listed below are necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

1. Candidates should be enrolled in a 2 or 4 year degree program with a minimum of 2 semesters of college, in a related Environmental field or Engineering.
2. Candidates should have a basic understanding of the operation of a Treatment Plant.
3. Valid state-issued driver’s license is required at time of hire.

COMPETENCIES

For successful performance in this position, the incumbent must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors.

Skills:

1. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
2. Proficient in basic computer skills.
3. Good organizational, judgement, and problem-solving skills.

Abilities:

1. Ability to work in all types of weather conditions.
2. Ability to work effectively as part of a team or independently.
3. Ability to follow verbal or written direction/instructions to complete assigned tasks.
4. Ability to interact/respond to citizen inquiries or guide them to the appropriate service. 
5. Ability to maintain a positive attitude and professional demeaner at all times, address resident and customer concerns in a helpful manner.
6. Ability to comply with all safety policies, practices, and procedures, and report all unsafe activities or conditions to supervisor.
7. Ability to work without direct supervision and within the boundaries of areas of responsibility.
8.  Ability and skill to operate City trucks, vehicles, and equipment is a safe manner.
9.  Ability to maintain a valid, state-issued driver’s license.

Behaviors:

1. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City appointed and elected officials, Department, Division, and Office heads, City employees, consultants, developers, architects, engineers, realtors, surveyors, community interest groups, other governmental agencies, and the general public.
2. Exhibit exceptional professionalism, tact, and decorum in all areas of work duties.
3. Strong ethics base built upon integrity, honesty, initiative, and respect; maintain strict confidentiality. 
4. Interact positively with a diverse group of individuals and work effectively both as part of a team and independently.
5. Embrace and actively promote an inclusive and equitable work environment. 
6. Conduct all business and working relationships in an accurate, fair, equitable and highly ethical manner. 
7. Work with the public in a fair and consistent manner, maintaining objectivity and excluding personal bias while performing job duties
8. Reliable, timely, and proactive in the completion of duties, meeting deadlines and responding to inquiries.
9. Work with others in a positive and supportive manner to solve problems, generate ideas, and accomplish division and City goals.

EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND MACHINES:

Computer, Riding Lawnmower, Push Mower, Weed Eater, Edger, power tools, and various hand tools and other equipment as needed.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL FACTORS:

The physical demands described here 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 functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an outdoor environment and may, on occasion, be exposed to adverse weather conditions, including extreme heat and extreme cold, high winds, and wet/humid conditions. The employee may work near moving mechanical parts in precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, dust, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is generally quiet to moderately noisy. This position frequently walks, stands, stoops, kneels, crouches, crawls, and exerts up to 100 pounds of force by lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling objects. The employee is frequently required to see/observe, talk/speak, and listen/hear; use their hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects and equipment; repetitive arm, wrist, hand, and eye movements are included.  There is frequent twisting, reaching, wrist turning, and grasping.  The employee may be required to climb or balance. 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of equipment. Employee is required to use cognitive ability to reason, analyze, and verbalize thoughts and ideas.  Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes, and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials or tasks.

A regular, Monday – Friday, 40-hour work schedule is required for this position. 

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position, or is responsive to the needs of the City of Janesville. 

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The City of Janesville, Wisconsin, is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.