Traffic, Roads, and Wastewater Utility Temporary Employment
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Posted: April 14, 2026 (0 days ago)
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Wastewater Treatment Operator -Senior Operator in Charge SOIC Technical Trainer – WP (SDA)
King County
DNRP-Natural Resources & Parks
Location
Seattle, Washington, 98104
Salary
$63.15 - $63.15
per hour
Type
Full-Time
More Utilities & Public Works jobs →Closes
April 29, 2026
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This job is a three-year temporary role training wastewater operators to improve their skills in running advanced treatment facilities, focusing on leadership and team development.
It suits experienced operators who enjoy mentoring others, leading teams, and advancing in wastewater management.
Ideal candidates are current King County employees passionate about environmental protection and equity.
Key Requirements
- Current Wastewater Treatment Division Operator or Local SEIU 925 Member (internal only)
- Strong leadership and team-building skills
- In-depth knowledge of wastewater treatment processes and facilities
- Experience in operator training and development
- Commitment to equity, racial, and social justice principles
- Ability to handle emergency response and continuous improvement initiatives
- Understanding of regulatory standards for wastewater treatment
Full Job Description
This 3-year Special Duty opportunity is open to current Wastewater Treatment Division Operators, Local SEIU 925 Members.
No external applications are being considered for this recruitment.This recruitment aims to fill a Special Duty Assignment position for up to three (3) years in duration.
This is a great opportunity to be an integral part of operator development by providing ongoing training and resources to increase the technical competence and professionalism of WTD Operators.This Special Duty Assignment will be paid in accordance with the S.E.I.U.
Wastewater Local 925 contract as a Technical Trainer and will be paid the equivalent of a Senior Operator in Charge. Wastewater Treatment Operator - Senior Operator in Charge Trainer
A challenging opportunity to lead a dynamic and diverse team in the operations of state-of-the-art wastewater facilities. The ideal candidate will be a people leader and a team building.
In addition, understanding of wastewater processes and structures would be beneficial.
This person will be a key leader in moving the West Offsite unit into a mode of constant evaluation and improvement.
A person in this role will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, emergency response capabilities and wastewater expertise.
This role offers an opportunity to prepare for positions like Operations Supervisor and Plant Manager.
About the Role: The Wastewater Senior Operator in Charge (SOIC) Trainer role will serve as a key leader of a team of operators committed to reducing overflows and treating wastewater to meet the high King County standards demanded by the regulatory agencies.
This person will have a crucial role in expanding and improving the King County CSO and collections systems, implementing state of the art treatment processes.
The mission of the West Offsite directly affects the quality of life for King County residents and protects our watershed. Such an important role demands strong leadership and great teams.
About the Team:The Training unit supports the overall Wastewater Treatment Division mission to protect public health and the environment by collecting and treating wastewater while recovering valuable resources for a thriving Puget Sound region.
The training team is committed to delivering King County services with integrity building trust with the county and community leadership.
We are also committed to delivering exceptional service with equity and accountability.
The SOIC will help build empowered teams, founded on strong communication, innovation and environmental stewardship.
Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world.
Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees.
As a Wastewater Treatment Operator - Senior Operator in Charge Trainer, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.
Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.
Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP).
Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities.
Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.
Requirements
What You Will Be Doing:
- Perform the full scope of training responsibilities for WTD Operation’s multi-disciplinary West-Section Training Team.
- Training WTD Staff.
- Creating/editing training material.
- Coordinating Vendor training.
- Working with the Department of Ecology on Operator licensing & Professional Growth requirements.
- Updating SOPs.
- Monitoring, Instructing and documenting Training.
Qualifications
Qualifications You Bring:
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated skill managing written and/or computerized information systems including logs, reports, laboratory and process data, trouble reports and work requests.
- Skills in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships, with diverse individuals in varying occupations, including the public and co-workers.
- Operator experience at a level that supports providing and teaching technical expertise.
- Demonstrated ability in the application of Safety policies.
- Experience with interpreting and applying technical information from plant drawings, technical data sheets, operations and maintenance manuals and laboratory test results.
- Advanced troubleshooting skills for complex wastewater treatment systems and processes.
- Ability to work rotating shifts including nights, weekends and holidays if temporarily assigned to shift or during an emergency
- Ability to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions.
- Ability to regularly lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to work in confined spaces, climb in and out of tanks using ladders, and work around noxious odors, heat and high noise levels.
Workplace Exposures:
- Outdoors environment during wet weather, confined space and maybe exposure to hazardous chemicals and noxious odors.
- Regularly exposure to chemicals, noise, confined space, respirator use, and viral contaminants.
Competencies you bring:
Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Builds Effective Teams: Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
Required Licenses:
- Valid unencumbered Washington State Driver’s License.
- Washington State Group III Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification from the Washington State Department of Ecology or out-of-state equivalency which must be converted to a Washington certification within one year of employment
- CPR and first aid certification or ability to one within the first six months
It Would be Great if You Also Bring:
- 5 years plant experience
- At least three years in a training position
- 2 years as a Senior operator
Additional Information
Working Conditions:
- Work Location: West Point Treatment Plant - 1400 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 98199. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
- Union Representation: This position is represented by SEIU Local 925.
Work Schedule: 4/10 or 5/8 work schedule. This position is overtime eligible.
This position requires the ability to work all shift schedules and to report to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions and be on a rotating call list.
This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
Application and Selection Process:We welcome internal applications from qualified Wastewater Treatment Division Operators.
Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.
Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment: (subject to change)
- Interviews: week of May 18th (tentative)
To apply, submit a:
- Complete Application (Required)
- Resume (Required)
- Cover Letter (Required)
- Responses to the supplemental questions (Required)
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Emiliya Makaryan at emiliya.makaryan@kingcounty.gov.
Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and the WTD Blog.Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.
Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference?
Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce.
To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity.
Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards.
We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.
Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.To Apply If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.
If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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