Utility Systems Specialist Operator

Company Overview
Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC) is the village corporation of Barrow, Alaska and is recognized as one of Alaska's top 10 companies with approximately 4,000 employees nationwide and revenues above $700M annually. UIC is projected to grow substantially in the coming years to become a top 3 company in Alaska by 2030. 

As a proud Alaska Native Corporation, our success brings growth and benefits to our Inupiat shareholders. The size and diversity of our operations means we have a broad variety of career opportunities. We recruit only qualified people looking to join a workforce characterized by strong leadership, competent and hard-working staff, and a superior work environment with a focus on career development, great wages and benefits.

Work with a team of local operators to maintain operational and regulatory compliance status of local municipal water and sewer utility systems. Water-Wastewater Operator aka Utilities System Specialist (USS) Operator will rotate in and out of each of the seven villages on North Slope, where populations range from 250 to 1000 residents. Work schedule will be 10 hours daily at a minimum, with longer days to meet repair and call out needs. Summer water pumping will be 12 hour days for approximately 3 calendar months. Rotation schedule will be 3 weeks on (23 days), 3 weeks off (19 days). $65 a day per diem is provided. The USS will be staying in provided local housing (no camp) Travel from/to Anchorage, AK or Fairbanks, AK to the villages are paid by employer - all other travel expenses are responsibility of the employee. The USS will report directly to the Field Operations Lead, or to the Project Manager when the Field Operations Lead is unavailable.

Equipment preventative maintenance and repairs will be required. This will include directing or accomplishing the excavation and repair of buried pipes in arctic conditions, and repair of individual residential and commercial service connections. The USS will be expected to maintain, clean and organized the Water and Wastewater plants. Maintain daily reporting to the central office in Utqiaġvik. Report emergency incidents when they occur. Communicate system issues to engineers. Keep daily water and wastewater logs on the Lotus Notes software. Prepare and send wastewater samples on a timely basis for monthly discharge monitoring reports. These are municipal sites and systems; they are not industrial. The USS must be able to interface with the public, maintain a professional demeanor, and work with municipal employees to maintain utility service. On-the-job training of local operators maybe required.

GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONS:

Water Treatment:

• Raw water intake

• Bag/Micro/Nano filtration with chemical disinfection, backwash, and cleaning systems

• Short water production season to store annual water supply Water Distribution:

• Water storage tanks with 3 to 10 million gallons in storage

• Central water circulation plant with fire pumps, water monitoring systems, and chemical dosing

• Direct-buried water circulation loops

• Residential and commercial service connections Wastewater Collection:

• Direct-buried gravity or vacuum collection systems

• Sewage holding tanks Wastewater Treatment:

• Extended aeration/activated sludge waste treatment and sludge dewatering

• Ocean, surface water, and sub-surface effluent discharge

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Ensures Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation compliance of utility plants

• Maintains a safe working environment and reports safety concerns to supervisor

• May train, mentor, or directs and oversees local resident utility operators as needed or as requested

• Daily reporting to central office by phone or email

• Performs a variety of duties essential to the operation of a small water and wastewater treatment facility

• Performs a variety of duties essential to the operations of water distribution and wastewater collection systems

• Inspects; operates; monitors; and maintains a variety of facilities; equipment; and systems involved in various processes of a water and wastewater treatment plants

• Monitors plant operation through visual observation and SCADA

• Regulates flows

• Performs chemical analysis and tests

• Performs a variety of related duties to ensure the facility’s final finished water and effluent is of the best quality and compliant to regulatory requirements

• Perform seasonal raw water pumping and treatment to meet anticipated water reserves

• Maintains logs of plant operations – periodic checks on fire hydrants, fire pumps, generators, valves, etc…

• Perform annual inspections of residential service barrel services

• Daily completion of work order reporting – detailing incidents, repairs and call outs conducted by all the W&S staff on all aspects of W&S infrastructure.

• Supports the maintenance (preventive and corrective) of the utility plants and systems

• Implement emergency protocols to protect the W&S systems, water reserves and general public safety during W&S emergencies or system failures.

• Coordination between W&S Operators and other local resources to identify, locate, isolate and repair leaks in W&S systems within the expertise of the W&S Operators onsite.

• Notify public of boil water notice or shut down of W&S services

• Provide temporary water and sewer to individuals that experience interrupted services

• Maintain and inventory parts and materials in the utility plants

• Work with vendors on soliciting quotes for parts and supplies

• Submit purchase requisitions and receiving reports on orders

• Submit service requests to local municipality for non-water/sewer repairs to facilities and equipment

• Coordinate water and sewer repairs with local village supervisor

• Will act as the waster/sewer plant manager oversee all water sewer related activities • Assume the lead operators role in the absence of a local operator or as needed

• Operation of heavy equipment, if pre-approved

• Monitor assigned village cell phone

• Subject to twenty-four (24) hour call outs and works varied shifts as assigned

Essential Knowledge; Skills and Expertise:

• Arctic experience in Water/Sewer Operations or Construction preferred

• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the Alaskan Native community

• Communicates clearly and concisely; both orally and in written

• Must be able to comprehend fully the complexity of the work requirements and work environment

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, co-workers and regulatory agencies

• Micro-Nano filtration treatment experience – preferred

• Extended aeration wastewater treatment experience – preferred

Required Qualifications:

• Must demonstrate a thorough comprehension of Water treatment/distribution and Wastewater treatment/collection and regulatory requirements
• Must possess a Level II or be able to obtain a level II within 12 calendar months after hire in Water and Wastewater Treatment Operator Certificates issued by the State of Alaska
• Ability to pass a respirator fit test
• Valid driver's license
• High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred Qualifications:

• Level III Water Treatment*
• Level III Wastewater Treatment*
• Level II Water Distribution*
• Level I Wastewater Collection *
(*) Water and Wastewater Treatment Operator Certificates issued by the State of Alaska. If out of state applicants, there is potential for reciprocity between states for these certifications.

Physical Demands:

• Walking; Standing; Crawling; Kneeling; Stooping
• Good near vision
• Respirator, ½ face and full face
• Wear safety goggles
• Lifting/Carrying frequently required up to 20lbs with occasionally lifting/carrying up to 50lbs
• Pushing/Pulling frequently required up to 10lbs with occasionally pushing/pulling up to 50lbs
• Safe operation of power tools

Physical Demands:

• Walking; Standing; Crawling; Kneeling; Stooping
• Good near vision
• Respirator, ½ face and full face
• Wear safety goggles
• Lifting/Carrying frequently required up to 20lbs with occasionally lifting/carrying up to 50lbs
• Pushing/Pulling frequently required up to 10lbs with occasionally pushing/pulling up to 50lbs
• Safe operation of power tools

Work Environment:

• Employee may be subject to environmental conditions such as cold; heat; exposed to noise; hazards; and/or close quarters. Applicant must be aware of work environment at all times
• While performing the duties of this job; the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; and outside weather conditions including extreme Arctic winter conditions
• The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts; dust; fumes or airborne particles; smoke; or gases
• The noise level in the work environment may be loud at times
• The employee is frequently exposed to commercial solvents and chemicals
• Must be able to walk on slippery and uneven surfaces
• Must be able to walk up and down stairs frequently
• Employee will be subject to confined areas, i.e.; sewer manholes, water vaults, wastewater pits, and/or protected trenches
• Working alone
• Remote work sites (no dispensary or hospital)
• Long and/or irregular hours
• Day shift and/or night shift rotations
• Lodging is via self-sufficient work camp accommodations with individual rooms, shared kitchen/refrigerator/freezer and multiple bathrooms/showers
• Per diem of $65 per day is provided for meals
• Work travel time begins/end from Anchorage, AK or Fairbanks, AK, maximum of 8 hours a travel day
• Travel will allowed three (3) fifty (50) pound bags
• This position is rotational and will work in the North Slope Villages. Seven days a week, three weeks on and three weeks off

#LI-WW1

UIC and its Family of Companies is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics EOE/AA/M/F/D/V.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.

Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)