Water Operator/Operative (Network, Network Maintenance & Repair, or Treatment) - Cork City

The Role The Asset Operations function forms the cornerstone of service delivery to customers, protecting the environment and meeting regulatory standards while managing the majority of operational expenditure. It is responsible for operational and maintenance strategy, policies, planning and standard operating procedures for water and wastewater operations both nationally and regionally, ensuring value for money and customer service is delivered.

Water Treatment Operator The Water Treatment Operator will have responsibility for the operation of treatment processes at the assigned treatment plants and carry out routine maintenance activities on assets across a variety of sites as requested, in accordance with the task schedule. The operator also provides cover for other Treatment Operators at the assigned treatment plants or assets as required.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the operation of water and wastewater treatment processes and carry out routine maintenance activities across a varied plant asset base.
• Operate and maintain assigned assets as required including controlling and adjusting assets, inspecting and monitoring assets, testing and calibrating equipment, maintaining assets, replenishing consumables.
• Operate the water and wastewater network including operating secondary treatment points to deliver consistent customer service and carrying out routine maintenance activities.
• Conduct asset checks and inspections to ensure early identification and resolution of asset problems, raising work orders on Maximo where required; use electronic equipment as assigned such as handheld units, PCs, Lone Working App.
• Check, record and monitor all necessary quality parameters.
• Conduct daily indicative operational checks and analysis as required and report results through appropriate systems.
• Respond to SCADA/telemetry alerts in accordance with standards and procedures.
• Support the implementation of process optimisation recommendations to improve treatment performance or to deliver efficiencies.
• Promptly record and accurately report relevant information in relation to water treatment using the technology systems provided.
• Meter reading as required.
• Maintain stocks of materials and chemicals ensuring reorder when necessary.
• Support the Customer Contact Centre with any customer issues or queries.
• Maintain onsite critical spare stocks, tools and equipment.
• Ensure that all mechanical, electrical and control plant and equipment is in good condition at all times and is operated effectively and efficiently in accordance with all technical instruction and operation and maintenance manuals provided, and such further instructions as may be given by the Line Manager.
• Take samples of the water and wastewater, both before and after treatment, carry out all necessary laboratory analyses as set out in the relevant technical manuals and record all results obtained.
• Supervise all maintenance and repair work carried out and ensure that it is executed properly, efficiently and left in a completed and satisfactory condition.
• General maintenance of all sewers, including rising mains, storm overflows, pump chambers, treatment plants and sites including all fencing, gates and buildings and ancillary facilities.
• Be in attendance when new connections are being made if required.
• Maintain interiors and exteriors of all treatment works, pumping stations, and other buildings in good repair and in a clean and tidy condition; all buildings shall be kept in a spotless condition.
• Support the operation of newly commissioned or upgraded assets as required, including undertaking of relevant training.
• Participate in out of hours and standby working as required.
• Ensure compliance with work safety procedures and fully participate in any safety programme that may be implemented; undertake duties in a safe manner and use suitable personal protective equipment or clothing daily.
• Perform duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act.
• Adhere to Construction Regulations.
• Identify hazards and conduct site risk assessments in advance of work activities.
• Apply safe work procedures and standard operating procedures.
• Undertake all assigned health and safety training, including Safe Pass and, where relevant, Certified Construction Skills.
• Use appropriate safety equipment and tools, including personal protective equipment.
• Seek guidance from Team Lead on carrying out site risk assessments where necessary.
• Maintain site welfare facilities.
• Control and record access to sites by other Uisce Éireann personnel and by external visitors and service providers.
• Co operate at site level with other Uisce Éireann personnel and with other service providers.
• Record all site matters, including accidents, incidents and near misses.
• Complete any corrective actions for operational area of responsibility.
• Provide support in updating the construction stage safety & health plan.
• Provide relevant information for the safety file.
• Update and maintain the safety file locally and send updates to Uisce Éireann's ECM system.
• 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 business information, and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation.
• Carry out any other duties deemed necessary and/or required which your line manager may reasonably request.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Secondary level education or equivalent work experience.
• Experience working independently and as part of a team.
• Experience of using IT systems and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word & Excel).
• Experience and understanding of working within a strong health & safety culture.
• Good basic knowledge of water and wastewater systems and practices is desirable.
• Strong problem solving skills and drive to resolve issues promptly using initiative.
• Strong literacy skills.
• Full, clean and valid Irish category B driving licence - minimum requirement.
• Certification in Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations preferred.
• Water Services Training Group qualification preferred.
• Plumbing or electrical skills or training desirable.
• Experience working within the water industry and/or other utilities preferred.
• Experience working with automated control systems such as SCADA desirable.
• Experience working with control systems and servicing and maintenance of instrumentation installed on plants to automatically monitor and control processes desirable.
• Ability to work in environments that may attract vermin, be noisy and require use of ear defence, manage hazardous chemicals with necessary protective equipment, enter confined spaces where trained, etc.

Water Network Operator The Water Network Operator will support the operation of the water and wastewater network in order to deliver consistent customer service and carry out routine maintenance activities on the network asset base. The operator will be a key interface with the customer and will resolve issues first time where possible, and may work on both water and wastewater as required.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the operation of the water and wastewater network to deliver consistent customer service and carry out routine maintenance activities. This includes assisting with sewer surveys, identifying location of heavy infiltration or storm water from road gullies, performing investigations and identifying interventions required, clearing blockages and responding to alarms; also operating valves, service reservoirs, pipeline fittings, identifying bursts, operating secondary treatment points.
• Regularly check chemical dosing measures at pumping stations and support compliance and sampling teams in operational sampling activity including new mains, burst repairs, failures and reporting results.
• Inform the customer about issues and resolutions, investigate and follow up on escalated customer complaints or local representative in order to support delivery and manage risk.
• Support Customer teams: Key Account Managers and Customer Service with any customer issues or queries or where works impact service delivery in the area.
• Promptly record and accurately report relevant information in relation to the operation of the water network using technology systems, including logging investigations, raising requests for follow on work orders, updating H&S records and inventory management.
• Adhere to health and safety procedures, perform risk assessments, use PPE, and required duties under Construction Regulations.
• Operate Uisce Éireann vehicles and machinery responsibly, ensuring stock levels in vehicles are sufficient.
• Conduct duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls.
• May be required to operate a 3.5 tonne / 4.2 tonne vehicle or HGV vactor unit.
• Carry out any other duties deemed necessary and/or required which your line manager may reasonably request.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Secondary level education or equivalent work experience.
• Full, clean and valid Irish category B driving licence - minimum requirement; additional driving licence categories an advantage.
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