Water Plant Operator Trainee

Water Plant Operator Trainee

Salary

$19.93 - $27.11 Hourly

Location

Utility Services, Boca Raton, FL

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

04729

Department

Utility Services

Division

Water Treatment Plant 42/09401

Opening Date

07/24/2026

Closing Date

8/7/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

B

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Build Your Future with the City of Boca Raton!

At the City of Boca Raton, a career in public service is more than a job - it's your chance to make a meaningful impact in a vibrant and sustainable coastal community. Driven by our core values of Fairness, Integrity, Respect, Service, and Trust, we are committed to fostering a workplace where employees feel appreciated, inspired, and supported.

Why Boca Raton?

As the second largest city in Palm Beach County, the City of Boca Raton offers robust benefits to their employees:

• Health Insurance Benefits: No-cost employee Medical, Dental & Vision plans
• Generous Paid Time Off: 12 paid holidays + vacation, sick, and 3 floating holidays
• Continuous Service Benefit: Paid out annually after 5 years of service
• Work-Life Balance: Flexible work schedule
• Retirement Plans: Two pension/retirement options to choose from

Whether youre starting out or looking to take your public service career to the next level, the City of Boca Raton offers the tools, resources, and culture to help you succeed.

Apply now and join the city that's building careers and shaping a stronger tomorrow!

General Statement of Job:

Water Plant Operators Trainees are essential for the operation of the water treatment plant. Critical areas of responsibility include ongoing learning and proficiency of plant equipment, Lab Procedures, and process control through Scada. All Operators will be trained properly to meet the City of Boca Raton Water Plant standards.

Essential Functions

• Makes regular tours of plant and equipment including pumps, lime softening units, chemical feed equipment, sodium hypochlorite generators and pumping systems, ammoniators, filters, nanofiltration membrane systems, degassifiers, scrubbers, etc. to assist in plant operations.
• Monitors gauges, meters, control panels, SCADA systems, etc.; controls tank levels and flow rates.
• Records readings from meters and instruments.
• Checks functioning of equipment.
• Operates computer SCADA system to control plant flow and machinery.
• Regulates and adjusts motors, pumps, chemical feed systems, blowers, valves, and other apparatus to meet changing operating conditions.
• Pumps sludge, drains tanks, and rotates equipment.
• Cleans and services pumps, motors, and other equipment.
• Monitors sodium hypochlorite solution strength, makes feed rate adjustments, batches bulk hypochlorite from 12.5% to 0.8%
• Monitors telemetry system thru Scada at remote pumping stations dispatch crews for abnormal situations.
• Answers phones for utilities department after hours and dispatch field crews for emergency situations.

Related tasks:

• Collects samples and performs routine lab work.
• Backwashes filters
• Assists with changing out of cartridge filters
• Troubleshoots chemical, mechanical process problems.
• Responds to customer complaints, dispatches field crews, lab personnel, etc.
• Makes minor or emergency repairs; performs preventive maintenance on plant equipment.
• Assists with mixing chemicals, adjusts valve positions, and monitors instrumentation in the cleaning of membrane elements.
• Performs general maintenance and housekeeping duties.
• Performs painting of facilities and equipment as needed.
• Performs related tasks around the water plant as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• The operating characteristics and maintenance of the water treatment plant equipment.
• Hydraulic chemical and mechanical principles pertinent to lime softening and membrane softening / nano filtration water treatment plant operations.
• The occupational hazards of the work and of necessary safety precautions

Skilled in:

• The use and care of laboratory testing and analysis equipment and instruments.

Ability to:

• Detect flaws in the operation of mechanical equipment and to determine proper remedial measures.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Read meters and charts accurately and to maintain records of shift operations.

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school.
• Must have completed or be currently enrolled in a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved program to qualify for the Class "C" water operator exam.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• "C" water operator exam must be taken and passed within twelve (12) months of employment Florida DEP Class
• Must possess a valid State of Florida Drivers license with no more than six (6) points in the past three (3) years.
• Abstained from the use of cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products for at least one year prior to their date of hire and shall abstain from the use of tobacco products at all times during the period of their employment with the City while both on and off duty.

POST OFFER PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING REQUIREMENTS:

Final offer and employment are contingent upon successful completion of the following post-offer, pre-employment screening items:

• Criminal Background Check
• Employment Verification
• Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) Check
• Physical Examination
• Drug & Alcohol Screening

The City of Boca Raton is an Equal Opportunity, Inclusive, Veterans Preference Employer and Drug Free Workplace. It is the policy of the City of Boca Raton to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

CITY OF BOCA RATON - BENEFITS SUMMARY

SEIU Employees

ANNUAL LEAVE: Shall accrue prior to an employee attaining permanent status in the classified service and may be used after six (6) months of employment at the sole discretion of the Department Head, but it shall not be paid out upon resignation or termination unless the employee has attained permanent status (one full year). The maximum accrual is 360 hours.

0 to 5 full years 8 hours per month

5 to 10 full years 10 hours per month

10 to 15 full years 12 hours per month

15 years and over 14 hours per month

CASH OUT OF ANNUAL LEAVE: Employees who have attained permanent status shall be permitted to cash out up to forty (40) hours of accrued and unused Annual Leave, either in a single lump sum payment or two or more partial payments, each fiscal year., each fiscal year.

SICK LEAVE: 8 hours per month. Any hours in excess of 960 will be paid off annually at 50%. Upon retirement, employees with a minimum of 5 years continuous service will receive 50% of sick leave balance. Termination for reasons other than retirement shall be entitled to payment for accrued, but unused sick leave, as follows:

Continuous years of service Percentage

Less than 2 full years 0%

2 to 5 full years 10%

5 to 10 full years 20%

10 full years or more 30%

Retirement (normal, early or disability) 50%

HEALTH INSURANCE (Premiums): Employee Medical (Base Plan) - Paid 100% by City. Employee contributions are required for the buy up employee coverage plans. Employee contributions are required for Employee Dental and Vision Plans, as well as Dependent(s) Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans.

CONTINUOUS SERVICE BENEFIT: Continuous Service is determined on December 1st of each year. Payment is issued during the month of December based upon years of service as follows:

5 to 10 full years $600 annually

10 to 15 full years $800 annually

15 full years and over $1,000 annually

RETIREMENT PLANS: The two pension/retirement options are listed below:

• The option to enroll in a Defined Contribution Retirement Plan. The Defined Contribution Plan will not require a mandatory contribution on your part. The City will contribute seven (7%) percent of your annual base wages to this plan. The vesting period for this plan shall be one (1) year from your date of hire in the classified service, which coincides with your one-year probationary period.
• An option to enroll in a Defined Benefit Plan option available to you that will have a ten (10) year vesting period with a multiplier of 2.00% at normal retirement and a mandatory seven and three-quarters (7.75%) percent contribution.
• The two (2) options will be fully explained to you prior to your selection.

Optional: 457 Deferred Compensation Savings Plan is available.

HOLIDAYS: 15 per year: 12 recognized holidays and 3 floating holidays which are allocated for the fiscal year starting October 1, to all 8 hour per day employees. Employees hired between October 1 and March 31 shall receive 3 floating holidays. Employees hired between April 1 and September 30 shall receive 1 floating holiday. Non-task employees working 10-hour days receive 10, 10-hour paid holidays but do not receive floating holidays.

FUNERAL LEAVE: Up to 3 workdays - In State Up to 5 workdays - Out of State

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: A performance review(s) is given to new hires during the first year of employment and an annual review on their anniversary date. Every employee is evaluated on their anniversary date. The current ratings are: Requires Improvement, Meets Expectations, Exceeds Expectations, and Significantly Exceeds Expectations.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT: Full-time employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement as outlined in the City's Tuition Reimbursement Policy which is available in Human Resources and subject to the availability of departmental funds.

MILITARY LEAVE: Members in military reserve units who attend annual training are entitled to paid leave not to exceed 30 days each calendar year.

EAP: Employees, spouses, and eligible dependents have access to five (5) face-to-face sessions with a counselor through Cignas Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Services include assistance with legal, financial, parenting, elder care, pet care, and identity theft.

01

Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from information included within the application?

• Yes
• No

02

What is the highest level of education you have completed? NOTE: You must attach proof (diploma or degree or transcripts) of highest education completed with your application. Failure to do so may result in your application being marked as incomplete and removed from consideration.

• Less than High School
• High School Diploma or GED
• Trade or Vocational School
• Associates Degree or 60 credits of college courses
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree

03

What area of study is your education?

04

Are you currently enrolled in or completed a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved program to qualify for the Class "C" water operator exam? - Or are you able to obtain within twelve (12) months of hire?

• I am currently enrolled in a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved program to qualify for the Class "C" water operator exam.
• I have completed a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved program to qualify for the Class "C" water operator exam.
• None of the above.

05

Do you possess and maintain a valid Florida drivers license? - Or are you able to obtain within thirty (30) days of hire?

• Yes, I have a valid Florida drivers license.
• No, I do not have a Florida drivers license but can obtain within thirty (30) days of hire
• No, I do not have a Florida drivers license and cannot obtain within thirty (30) days of hire

06

Have you used tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff) or electronic cigarettes (according to the CDC electronic cigarette is defined as "e-cigs," "e-hookahs," "mods," "vape pens," "vapes," "vaping", "tank systems," and "electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)" within the last 12 months from the date of application?

• Yes, I have used tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes in the last 12 months from the date of application.
• No, I have not used tobacco products or e-cigarettes in the last 12 months from the date of application.

Required Question

Employer City of Boca Raton

Address 201 W. Palmetto Park Road

Boca Raton, Florida, 33432

Phone 561-393-7805

Website http://www.myboca.us