Water Treatment Senior Operator - Louth / Meath

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.

The Water O&M Management area is responsible for the national delivery of water operational services through the operation, inspection, maintenance and repair of the water network and treatment assets.

Reporting to the Water Treatment Operations Team Lead, the Water Treatment Senior Operator will have a remit over a geographical area and may be required to work on complex abstraction and treatment activity. The role holder is responsible for the operation of the water abstraction points (including groundwater and surface water intakes), raw water transmission (including pumping stations) and water treatment processes on the treatment plants, including the water sludge treatment process and carrying out routine maintenance activities on treatment assets for an area, in accordance with the task schedule. The Water Treatment Senior Operator will also be required to support the Water Treatment Team Lead in the coordination of large tasks and the re arrangement of resources as required.

Please note that there will be a requirement to be located within a reasonable distance from the assigned work area in order to be able to respond to out of hours requirements in a timely manner.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for supporting the Water Treatment Operations Team Lead and mentoring of Water Treatment Operators, as required
• Responsible for coordinating larger/more complex tasks, including the arrangement of resources, in conjunction with the Water Treatment Operations Team Lead to complete water treatment activity
• Operation of the water 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 treatment
• Support the provision of water treatment services, escalating issues and ensuring 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 treatment activities
• Responsible for taking process samples on the water 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 request, 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 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.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business.
• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards.
• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation wide objectives.
• Conduct duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann's Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information, and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation.
• Other duties as required

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. A clean driving licence is defined as meaning that the applicant has not been convicted of an offence under the Road Traffic Acts (other than an offence for which the penalty is the imposition of penalty points)
• Previous experience of supervising or mentoring teams working in health and safety culture preferred and in a water or wastewater treatment environment an advantage
• We keep each other safe - experience/understanding of working within a strong health & safety culture is an advantage
• We work better together - 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
• Good knowledge of water and wastewater treatment systems and practices
• Strong problem solving skills and drive to resolve issues promptly using initiative
• Experience of using IT systems
• We deliver for our customers and communities - strong customer service skills with demonstrable experience of dealing with customers
• Literacy skills
• 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
• With full training and risk assessment, the role holder must have the ability to work in an environment that is sometimes uncomfortable or potentially hazardous such as: working with hazardous chemicals; sewage; confined spaces; lone working; remote working; deep water; animals; vermin; noise; hand and arm vibration, etc. This involves successful completion of occupational health assessment confirming suitability to work in such environments

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 are an equal opportunity employer and through our recruitment process 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.