Principal Plant Operator (Maintenance)

Principal Plant Operator (Maintenance)

Salary

See Position Description

Location

Chesterfield, VA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

26-00753

Department

Utilities

Opening Date

05/11/2026

Closing Date

6/7/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED and three years of experience in wastewater treatment plant operations or maintenance field and a Commonwealth of Virginia Class I Wastewater Operators License is required for Principal Plant Operators; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Applicants without a Class I Wastewater Works Treatment Works Operators License who possesses a Class II, Class III, or non-licensed status will receive consideration at lower-level plant operator classifications, salaries, and grades/ranges. The hiring range for this position, depending upon qualifications, are as follows:

• $59,053 - $100,390 for applicants with a Commonwealth of Virginia Class I Wastewater Works Treatment Operators License and three years of related experience.
• $53,309 - $90,625 for applicants with a Commonwealth of Virginia Class II Wastewater Works Treatment Operators License and two years of related experience.
• $48,123 - $81,809 for applicants with a Commonwealth of Virginia Class III Wastewater Works Treatment Operators License and one year of related experience or hold a bachelors degree in biological, chemical or engineering Science or related field.
• $43,442 - $73,852 for non-licensed applicants that will start as an Unlicensed Operator.

Through the career development plan, operators without or with licenses lower than a Class I license will receive salary increases after passing higher license exams and establishing minimum tenure requirements.

Other requirements: Candidate must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at date of hire. Candidate must be able to perform manual labor in the elements. Required duties include use of ladders, lifting up to fifty (50) pounds, and standing or walking for 30 minutes at a time.

Current valid drivers license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, record must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty-four months preceding the anticipated hire date, or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty-six months. Out of state driving records must be obtained by applicant and presented at time of interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of interview date. This position is considered Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check, and education/degree verification required.

PLEASE NOTE: We strictly adhere to policy guidelines for secondary/outside employment, which may include prohibiting such employment while working for Chesterfield County.

Duties

This position is for a Principal Plant Operator focusing on plant maintenance and operations at Chesterfield Countys Proctors Creek wastewater treatment plants. The Principal Plant Operator will perform all operational aspects required to maintain compliance with federal, state and local regulations governing wastewater treatment. This requires observations and/or adjustments of physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes at a wastewater treatment plant. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Operate and maintain process equipment and systems associated with wastewater treatment
• Monitor the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA)
• Observe and record process trends related to equipment operation and plant performance on daily log sheets
• Monitor and adjust process control instrumentation
• Inventory chemicals and inspect chemical dosing pumps and storage tanks
• Ensure proper operation of samplers, collect process monitoring samples and perform field analytical tests
• Transfer sludge by manually turning valves in correct sequence with operation of pumping equipment
• Perform preventive maintenance
• Work outdoors in the elements
• Perform other work, as required

This position is part of an approved Career Development Plan (CDP) and offers career progression opportunities and salary incentives, as funding permits, based on performance, qualifications, and experience.

PLEASE NOTE: Position open until filled (first review to begin May 18, 2026).

Shift

Monday - Friday; 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Work Location

Utilities

Chesterfield County is an Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

For information on county benefits, view Employee Benefits Summary.

01

Do you have a high school diploma or GED? (Please answer accurately. Failure to respond accurately will result in disqualification from consideration.)

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a current Virginia Class I Wastewater Operators License? (Please answer accurately. Failure to respond accurately will result in disqualification from consideration.)

• Yes
• No

03

How many years of experience do you have in the operation and maintenance of a Wastewater Treatment Plant? (Please answer accurately. Failure to respond accurately will result in disqualification from consideration.)

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 3 years
• 3 - 5 years
• 5 - 10 years
• 10 - 15 years
• More than 15 years

04

How many years of experience do you have related to process operations in an industrial setting? (Please answer accurately. Failure to respond accurately will result in disqualification from consideration.)

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 3 years
• 3 - 5 years
• 5 - 10 years
• 10 - 15 years
• More than 15 years

Required Question

Employer Chesterfield County

Address Human Resources Department

9901 Lori Road / P.O. Box 40

Chesterfield, Virginia, 23832

Phone 804-748-1551 (Office)

Website http://www.chesterfield.gov