Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II 67132010 - Erie County, NY : Job Details

Salary: $47,707.00 - $57,092.00 AnnuallyLocation : Buffalo, NYJob Type: Full TimeJob Number: 67132010Department: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & PLANNINGDivision: Division of Sewerage ManagementOpening Date: 09/06/2024Closing Date: 10/2/2024 11:59 PM EasternExam fee: $20.00DescriptionErie County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to workplace diversity.ALL CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE VIA EMAIL. PAPER APPLICATIONS CONTAINING AN EMAIL ADDRESS WILL ALSO RECEIVE EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE.IF NO EMAIL IS PROVIDED, PAPER NOTIFICATION WILL ARRIVE VIA USPS.CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There is one present vacancy at the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning - Division of Sewerage Management.A promotion examination will be held at the same time as this examination. The list resulting from the promotion examination will be used first but appointments from this open competitive examination are anticipated. Use of the list may be suspended after it is one year old for any position which it is practical to fill through a new promotion examination.Amended 9.20.2024See changes under Minimum QualificationsExamples of DutiesA Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator II is responsible during a shift for the efficient operation and maintenance of a Type 4A plant with facilities for plain settling, activated sludge, phosphate removal, reaeration, chlorination, filtration, and the handling of sludge by dewatering, drying, digestion and landfilling;Starts and stops pumps, motors, air compressors, and related machinery and equipment in the performance of the operation of a wastewater treatment plant during an assigned shift;Makes repairs to machinery and equipment;Records readings from meters and gauges;Treats and disposes of sludge;Adds chlorine and other chemicals to wastewater;Takes samples and analyses wastewater;Performs necessary sampling and testing for permit requirements and control of plant operations and makes process adjustments as necessary;Assists in the instruction of subordinate personnel;Supervises the work of subordinate personnel;Maintains a log of plant operations and related records;Performs custodial duties in connection with maintenance of the treatment plant and buildings and grounds;Utilizes computer software such as word processing, spreadsheet and database applications;Performs data entry. Minimum QualificationsMINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:A. Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and twelve (12) months of experience in the actual operation of a Type 4A or 3A wastewater treatment plant; or:B. An equivalent combination of training and experience meeting the requirements as outlined by New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation for a Type 2A Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator's Certification.SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:1. Possession of a Grade 2A certificate, issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, is required at the time within six (6) months of appointment; and2. Possession of a valid New York State Motor Vehicle Operator's License.NOTE: Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.Amended 9.20.2024***ADD: Educational and/or age requirements must be met within 12 months of the announced exam date. Eligibility for appointment will be subject to candidates providing proof that education and/or age requirements have been met within one year of the announced exam date. Documentation/proof of education and/or age should be provided at time of interview. If documentation does not prove that requirements were met within one year of exam date candidates will be removed from further eligibility for appointment.*** Supplemental InformationA medical examination may be required before appointment.VETERANS: PROOF OF SERVICE MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE LIST IS ESTABLISHED TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL POINTS. (See application for more information.)NOTICES TO APPEAR FOR THE EXAMINATION ARE MAILED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE EXAMINATION DATENO CELL PHONES ARE PERMITTED AT THE EXAM SITE.Examination date: November 9, 2024 Applications Must Be Postmarked or Hand Delivered By: October 2, 2024 Test guide: The New York State Department of Civil Service has NOT prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: Scopes / Subjects of examination:A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:Operation and maintenance of pumps, valves, and related mechanical and electrical equipmentThese questions test for knowledge of the principles and procedures involved in the operation, maintenance, and repair of pumps, valves, and related mechanical and electrical equipment, including motors and electric circuitry; and for the ability to identify various types of pumps, valves, and related equipment and understand their functions.Physics, chemistry, and bacteriology related to wastewater treatment and disposal, including laboratory and field tests for plant operationsThese questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices of wastewater treatment, disposal, and testing, including such areas as the principles of physics, chemistry, and bacteriology involved; terminology associated with wastewater treatment and testing; operating principles of the equipment and procedures used in wastewater treatment; measurements and measuring devices used; sampling and testing wastewater and interpreting the results; and identification and characteristics of chemicals and bacteria involved in wastewater plant operations and testing. Some questions may involve basic arithmetic calculations.Practices and equipment used in the operation and maintenance of a Type A wastewater treatment plantThese questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices associated with the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants employing the activated sludge process or its modifications (Type A plants), including such areas as objectives of plant processes, techniques, and equipment; terminology associated with Type A wastewater treatment plants; conditions and situations encountered in Type A wastewater treatment plants; plant safety and monitoring; and equipment and materials used in Type A wastewater treatment plants. Some questions may involve basic arithmetic calculations.Tools, mechanical aptitude, and reading of scales, meters, and gaugesThese questions test for knowledge of the tools used in water and wastewater treatment plants; the ability to identify various types of tools and their uses; knowledge of general mechanical principles and the operation of various types of mechanical devices such as gears, pulleys, levers, valves, and similar types of mechanical equipment; and the ability to read and interpret information displayed on various types of scales, meters, and gauges.SupervisionThese questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, Spell Checkers , Personal Digital Assistants , Address Books , Language Translators , Dictionaries , or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials.NOTICE TO CANDIDATES WHO ARE ALSO TAKING ANOTHER CIVIL SERVICE EXAM(S) ON THIS DATE (See Below)(IF YOU ARE TAKING 2 OR MORE ERIE COUNTY EXAMS ON THIS DATE IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO CALL)INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATESHOW TO APPLY: Either online by clicking Apply on the top right of the online exam announcement or by printing a paper application from erie.gov, , or if you do not have internet access you may pick up an application form at the Erie County Personnel Department, 95 Franklin Street, Room 604, Buffalo, New York 14202. Forms are also available at Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries and at Town, Village and School District administrative offices. Completed forms should then be returned to the Erie County Personnel Department. In addition, candidates must request their colleges to send transcripts to the Erie County Personnel Department or attach transcripts to your application. No applications will be evaluated until all the above information, including transcripts, is received. MILITARY STATUS: Active duty military personnel may file an application for this exam. A special military make-up examination will be conducted for any member of the armed forces of the United States who has duly filed a timely application but who was deprived of the opportunity to compete in the scheduled exam due to active military duty. Special conditions apply to these requests and may be reviewed at the Erie County Department of Personnel.VETERANS: Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 10 and 5 points, respectively added to their earned scores if successful in the OPEN examination. You must claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment. If you have already used these credits for a permanent position in NYS, you may not claim them again.In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Applicants whose religious beliefs prevent their taking examinations before sundown on Saturday and physically handicapped candidates who require special examination facilities should so inform the Erie County Department of Personnel, by a separately mailed letter at the earliest possible date before the test.MORE THAN ONE EXAM ON THE SAME DAY: If you have applied for more than one exam on the same day you MUST make arrangements to take ALL of the examinations at ONE examination test site. If you have applied for both STATE and LOCAL government examinations taking place on the same day, you must take all of your examinations at the STATE examination center. If you have applied for both COUNTY and CITY government examinations taking place on the same day, you must take all of your examinations at the COUNTY examination center. You are responsible to notify EACH Civil Service Agency no later than TWO WEEKS before the examination date on which you are taking multiple examinations by submitting a Cross-Filer form; EACH Civil Service Agency has their own Cross-Filer form. The Erie County Cross-Filer form can be found at If you are taking multiple exams on the same date with Erie County only, you do not have to file a Cross-Filer form.Candidates taking more than one exam in DIFFERENT exam series will be allowed the specified length of time for each exam, up to a maximum of eight hours. Example: If you are taking one exam which allows six hours and another exam in a different series which allows four hours, you must complete both tests in eight hours, but no more time can be spent on each exam than the time allotted for that exam. Candidates taking more than one exam in the SAME exam series will be allowed up to the specified length of time for each exam. Example: If you are taking two exams in the same series with a maximum time of five hours for each exam, you can spend no more than five hours to complete both exams.ADMISSION TO EXAMINATION: Notice to appear for the test will be conditional as review of application for minimum requirements may not be made until after the written test. Call or write this Department if you have not received your notice 3 days before the date of the test. You may not be admitted to the examination room without official notice.RATINGS REQUIRED: Tests are rated on a scale of 100 with a passing mark at 70. Unless the announcement states otherwise, you must pass the written test and the oral test, if any. Test instructions may further divide the tests into parts and set minimum standards for each part.TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: If a subject of the examination, training and experience may not be rated if all passing candidates are expected to be immediately reachable for appointment. If rated, training and experience will be based on the statements in your application subject to verification. If this examination includes a qualifying written test, candidates admitted to the test will have conditional approval only. Final decision regarding the qualifications of candidates rests with the New York State Department of Civil Service.MEDICAL EXAMINATION: You may be required to take a medical examination to determine if you are medically and physically capable of performing the duties of the position. In accordance with State Law, Governor's Executive Order 6, and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended the County of Erie does not discriminate against handicapped persons in access to employment, during employment, or in any of its programs and activities.VERIFICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates may be investigated or called for an interview to verify information contained on the application. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience may be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.ELIGIBLE LIST: The eligible list resulting from an examination may also be used for appointment to the same title or to any other title deemed to be similar and appropriate. Eligible lists are active for a minimum of one year and a maximum of four years from the date established.BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION (*including psychological evaluation when required by position): Candidates may be subject to a thorough background investigation or psychological evaluation when required to determine eligibility for appointment. Applicants may be required to authorize access to educational, employment, criminal history and other records check as part of such investigation or participate in related tests or interviews. Criminal convictions or other offense are subject to evaluation and may result in disqualification pursuant to Section 50 of the New York State Civil Service Law. Applicant will be required to submit the necessary fees for the fingerprint processing, where required. (*If a psychological evaluation is required, it shall be specified in the minimum qualifications or special requirements for the position.)**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.APPLICATION FEE WAIVER: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household. In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. If you can verify eligibility for application fee waiver, complete a and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Application Deadline as listed on the Examination Announcement. The form is available at the Erie County Personnel Department, 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY (Room 604) or can be downloaded from the County's website at Click on County Departments and Agencies , then Erie County Civil Service. This examination is prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service,and held in compliance with the New York State Civil Service Lawand the rules and regulations of the New York State Department of Civil Service.NA