Water/Wastewater Treatment Senior Operator - Carlow/Kilkenny

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports. Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive.

The Role: The Asset Operations function forms the cornerstone of service delivery to customers, protecting the environment and meeting regulatory standards as well as managing the majority of operational expenditure. The Asset Operations function has responsibility for operational and maintenance strategy, policies, planning and standard operating procedures for Water and Wastewater operations both nationally and regionally, ensuring that value for money and customer service is delivered.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for supporting the Water/ Wastewater Treatment Operations Team Lead and mentoring of Water/ Wastewater Treatment Operators, as required.
• Responsible for coordinating larger/more complex tasks, including the arrangement of resources, in conjunction with the Water/ Wastewater Treatment Operations Team Lead to complete water / wastewater treatment activity.
• Operation of the water/wastewater treatment processes, including the sludge treatment process and carrying out routine maintenance activities.
• Responsible for delivering consistent customer service and managing the potential environmental impacts of water/wastewater treatment.
• Support the provision of water/wastewater treatment services, escalate issues and ensure data capture on issues that are relevant to the development of operational, maintenance and repair plans.
• Support audits, incidents and event management, including reactive response, ensuring all health and safety standards are met and pollution classifications are consistent.
• Responsible for operating and maintaining the plant as required including controlling and adjusting the treatment assets, inspecting and monitoring plants, testing and calibrating equipment, lubricating plant, replenishing consumables etc.
• Adhere to the allocated task schedule and standard operating procedures, and close work orders for water/ wastewater treatment activities.
• Responsible for taking process samples on the water/ wastewater treatment asset base when required.
• Responsible for setting and responding to SCADA alarms in accordance with standards and procedures.
• Responsible for maintenance of critical spare stocks, tools and equipment.
• Responsible for coordinating chemical deliveries and safe storage at sites.
• Responsible for undertaking administrative tasks, including the completion of timesheets, work orders, raising of purchase requests, H&S records and inventory management using the technology systems provided.
• Conduct plant checks and inspections to ensure early identification and resolution of problems, raising work orders on Maximo where required.
• Support the implementation of process optimisation recommendations to improve water treatment performance or to deliver efficiencies.
• Responsible for issuing of permits to work/access/transfers to all relevant contractors within their area remit and ensure they follow all health and safety procedures.
• Ensure all information is accurately recorded and promptly reported for audit purposes including the capturing of data on existing or replacement assets using the technology systems provided.
• Perform reactive investigations, operational fixes and raise work requests for resolution using the technology systems provided.
• Support Key Account Managers with any queries relating to issues affecting Key Accounts in their regional area, including site visits where required.
• Support Contact Centre / Customer Contact Technical Specialist with any customer issues/queries, including site visits where required.
• Ensure that any damage caused to an asset, by a third party or otherwise, is captured and declared to the Team Lead when required.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders as required in conducting treatment operations activities.
• Engage with the EPA/HSE contractors or any other third party in relation to treatment activities if required.
• Adhere to allocated task schedule, standard operating procedures and close out work orders on completion of task.
• Support the development of standard operating procedures when required.
• Support the operation of newly commissioned/upgraded assets as required and undertake appropriate site training.
• Ensure all health and safety procedures are adhered to including performing risk assessments.
• Responsible for escalation of issues to the Water/ Wastewater Treatment Team Lead, as required.
• Liaise with Asset Planning regarding changes to the treatment plant loading or process.
• Support in the undertaking of capital works on operational sites, providing handover as required.
• Participate in out of hours and standby working.
• Responsible for daily housekeeping and minor ground maintenance activities.
• Responsible for ensuring effective and efficient use of budgetary resources in managing water treatment assets.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Secondary level education or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum two years relevant experience working in a similar role.
• Full, clean and valid Irish category B driving licence is minimum requirement. Additional Driving License categories an advantage.
• Previous experience of supervising or mentoring teams working in health and safety culture preferred and in a water or wastewater treatment environment an advantage.
• Experience/understanding of working within a strong health & safety culture is an advantage.
• Proven ability to create and develop good working relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals, coupled with the ability to gain commitment from others.
• Strong customer service skills with demonstrable experience of dealing with customers.
• Good knowledge of water and wastewater treatment systems and practices.
• Strong problem-solving skills and drive to resolve issues promptly using initiative.
• Experience working within Water Industry and/or other Utilities an advantage.
• Experience of working with automated control systems such as SCADA is desirable.
• Experience of working with control systems and the servicing and maintenance of instrumentation installed on plants to automatically monitor and control processes is desirable.

Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. We welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.