Utilities Mechanical Operator I, II, III and Senior

Responsible for performing mechanical work with troubleshooting and repair of machinery and equipment of the County’s gravity, force main and vacuum sewer collection systems. Monitors performance of each pump station including but not limited to pumps, motors, controls, variable frequency drives, flow monitoring equipment, pressure transducers, gauges, wet wells, collection tanks, vacuum blowers, vacuum valves, air compressors, grinder pumps, generators and other equipment of the County’s wastewater system. Responsible for preventive and corrective maintenance work on all equipment and buildings, in addition to basic facilities maintenance work such as cleaning and painting facilities. Responds to emergency calls involving facility system problems and related equipment failures, and/or citizen complaints.

Utilities are a 24/7 year-round operation and position is required to be “on call” on a regularly scheduled rotating basis with the other station operators. Utilities’ pump stations and vacuum stations are designed and operated as Class 1 facilities by the Commonwealth of Virginia, DEQ, and Sewer Collection and Treatment Regulations. This position is considered an essential position which requires the individual report to work during inclement and extreme weather conditions.

Job responsibilities may include any of the following, depending on the incumbent’s functional assignment. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of job functions, but a representative sample of the type and level of work that is expected in this position.

Monitors the daily performance of pumps, motors, controls, valves, valve pits, and generators; performs preventive maintenance such as lubricating and adjusting equipment as scheduled; maintains records of inspections and maintenance activities.

Overhauls and repairs pumps, seals, impellers, drive shafts, valves, fittings, motors and other electrical and mechanical equipment, as necessary.

Identifies and orders necessary parts, supplies, and equipment; inspects, adjusts, and/or replaces units and parts as necessary.

Diagnoses and troubleshoots vacuum collection system malfunctions.

Performs scheduled and non-scheduled work on each of the pump station generators including changing oil, fuel filters, batteries, block heaters, water pumps, mufflers, air filters, pumps and belts.

Repairs various system components such as vacuum controllers, valves, tanks, breathers, etc. Inspects new service connections to County vacuum sewer collection systems. Documents inspections using the Infor software system.

Performs maintenance on shop equipment; maintains and cleans assigned work vehicle.

Responds to emergency situations, pump station alarms, and vacuum system malfunctions.



Utilities Mechanical Operator I
High school diploma or GED, and some experience in operating hand and power tools; or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Utilities/plumbing knowledge preferred, but not required.

Utilities Mechanical Operator II
Must meet and maintain all the required knowledge, skills, abilities, and certifications for Utilities Mechanical Operator I. Additional requirements include:

• One (1) year of satisfactory York County experience at the Utilities Mechanical Operator I level, or two (2) years of direct utilities mechanical experience.
• Completion or possession of the following certifications/trainings or have the ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment:
  1. Competent Person Trench Safety
  2. Confined Space Entry
  3. Arc Flash
  4. Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
  5. VDOT Flagger
  6. Basic chainsaw
  7. Mandatory County annual training
• General knowledge of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA).
• Ability to be entered into on-call rotation.

Utilities Mechanical Operator III
Must meet and maintain all the required knowledge, skills, abilities, and certifications for Utilities Mechanical Operator I and II. Additional requirements include:

• Two (2) years of satisfactory York County experience at the Utilities Mechanical Operator II level, or four (4) years of direct utilities mechanical experience.
• Basic knowledge of electrical systems (specific knowledge of automatic transfer switches, circuit breakers, and lockout / tag out procedures).
• Ability to independently enter and complete work orders on Infor enterprise resource planning system.
• External hires must complete, or provide proof of prior completion, training and certifications required for the Utilities Mechanical Operator II and III positions within one (1) year of employment date.

Senior Utilities Mechanical Operator
Must meet and maintain all the required knowledge, skills, abilities, and certifications for Utilities Mechanical Operator I, II, and III. Additional requirements include:

• Two (2) years of satisfactory York County experience at the Utilities Mechanical Operator III level, or greater than five (5+) years of direct utilities mechanical experience.
• Basic knowledge of welding.
• General ability to read and understand engineering plans and specifications such as piping schematics and electrical diagrams.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot and fix common problems with vacuum and gravity sanitary sewage systems.
• Ability to interpret and leverage SCADA data to maximize pump station efficiency and make informed decisions on specific pump station settings.
• Ability to troubleshoot and rebuild sewage pumps, grinder pumps, vacuum system controls, and vacuum system valves.

External hires must complete, or provide proof of prior completion, training and certifications required for the Utilities Mechanical Operator II, III, and Senior Utilities Mechanical Operator positions within one (1) year of employment date.

Safety shoes required.

Possession of a valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

This job is contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment checks to include criminal history, background and DMV record checks.

Salary depending on qualifications.

General knowledge of preventive maintenance practices for tools and equipment.
General knowledge of occupational hazards and safety procedures.
Ability to safely operate a variety of hand and power tools associated with utility maintenance.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods of time, often under unfavorable conditions.
Basic communication skills.
Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment and machinery including generators, pumps, valves, tanks, controls, and various mechanic's equipment and tools. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Work involves occasional lifting (weight varying between 40- 100 pounds) and pushing and pulling and hoisting of parts and equipment weighing between 40 and 50 pounds.

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