Utility Systems Operator

Full Job Description

This position is located at the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center (MWEOC), Facilities Management, Operations Branch & Water Plant.

MWEOC is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, approximately 60 miles west of Washington, D.C.

The ideal candidate for this position will have experience with water and wastewater treatment and possess a Virginia Class III Water Treatment License or Virginia Class IV Wastewater Treatment License.

The qualification requirements listed below must be met within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standard.

Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must meet any screen-out element listed, and show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying.

Qualification requirements emphasis is on the quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time.

Working Conditions: Water and Wastewater treatment plant operators usually work indoors and occasionally work outside for short periods where they are subject to prevailing weather conditions.

They are exposed to constant noise, rotating machinery, dirt, grease, chemicals, oil, and fumes in the work area.

Water plant operators are subject to cuts and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment and bums from chemicals. In addition, they work on catwalks and ladders.

Operators at this level follow prescribed safety practices and use safety equipment such as face shields, gloves, hard-toe shoes, respirators, and protective clothing.

Some of these safety items may be uncomfortable to wear and may be worn or used for long periods.

Physical Effort: Water and Wastewater treatment plant operators do considerable walking, standing on concrete floors, and climbing stairways and ladders.

Light to moderate physical effort is necessary to turn valves and controls.

They frequently lift and carry items weighing up to 18 kilograms (40 pounds) unassisted and occasionally lift and carry heavier items with assistance of other workers or with lifting devices.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. NOTE: Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience.

In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time.

As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification.

Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. For a brief video on How to Create a Federal Resume, click here.

Current or former FEMA Reservists/Disaster Assistance Employee (DAE): To accurately credit your experience for these intermittent positions, make sure to list the dates (from MM/YY to MM/YY) of each deployment, along with the job title and specific duties you were responsible for during each deployment.

Failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Major Duties:

All MWEOC staff have emergency assignments and are considered deployed in place. Exercises and activations are planned and unplanned, and may require long hours, nights, weekends and holidays. All MWEOC employees are:

required to use a government-issued electronic device (to include cellular phones);

subject to recall during emergency situations; and

required to perform work in locations both above and below ground. What will I do in this position if hired?

In this position, you will serve as a Utility Systems Operator responsible for monitoring, operating, and maintaining site water and wastewater systems.

Typical assignments include: Serving as a plant operator for efficient and continuous operation of all utility systems. Determining maintenance problems and initiating immediate corrective action.

Maintaining accurate records of all phases of plant operations (ie., water treatment, wastewater treatment).

Operating water treatment and sewage treatment facilities & performing water treatment tests and measurements which require knowledge of various microbiological organisms.

Recognizing the cause of faulty equipment and making repairs on large systems that provide for a variety of air conditioning.

Certifications: Candidates must currently possess or obtain a Virginia Class III Water Treatment License or a Virginia Class IV Wastewater Treatment License.

If licensed in another State, you are required to obtain a Virginia license within one year of your appointment in the position. What else do I need to know?

At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, and every employee at FEMA has a role in emergency management.

Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites.

All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description.

Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

Promotion Potential: Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.