Wastewater Plant Operator Intern

Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District (FSSD) is currently seeking a candidate to fill an Operator Internship opportunity within our Operations Department.

We’re in search of someone who is eager to dive into the role of a wastewater operator and gain valuable experience! If you embody the qualities of a team player who fosters trust and determination, and you’re enthusiastic about learning through active participation with your team, then you’re an excellent fit for this opportunity. We are particularly interested in candidates who are currently enrolled in a wastewater education program or hold an Associate’s degree or program completion certification in this field. Your dedication to wastewater education and your commitment to professional growth make you an ideal candidate for this role.

To thrive in this position, you should be engaged, collaborative, studious, and possess a foundational understanding of wastewater operations. Moreover, your exceptional interpersonal skills and cultural awareness will significantly contribute to the team’s cohesion. Your capacity to communicate transparently, directly, and constructively will be highly valued.

Here are a few reasons why this role is worth your consideration:

• Your contributions will directly influence the District’s ability to deliver crucial public services.
• You’ll have the privilege of learning from a highly skilled and knowledgeable team.
• While acquiring a comprehensive grasp of wastewater treatment, you’ll also accumulate valuable OIT work experience hours, which align with your certification requirements.

Challenges you’ll embrace:

• Meeting the job expectations for this position, including diligently maintaining a work log of your daily activities, will be a part of your responsibility.
• Navigating through competing demands and shifting priorities will be a regular aspect of your role.
• You’ll encounter a diverse array of communication and learning styles, and your adaptability in response will be crucial.

This role offers you the chance to not only enrich your own learning journey but also contribute to the vital work of wastewater treatment and its impact on the community.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

An intern in the operations department will be expected to learn and participate in all aspects of day-to-day operation of a wastewater treatment plant and collection system. Some experiences may include:

• Learning to conduct daily checks
• Making process adjustments
• Gaining a basic understanding of SCADA systems
• Learning industrial safety programs, such as confined space and lock-out tag-out procedures
• Learning to troubleshoot and identify electrical component failures
• Conducting tests of laboratory analysis
• Managing chemical inventories 
• Accommodating construction project activities.

By the end of the internship period incumbents should be able to draw basic diagram of the treatment process indicating each subprocess, calculate basic wastewater math formulae typically used by District operators, apply for and take the SWRCB grade 1 state exam, perform successful demonstration of capabilities in de-ragging a pump and backwashing a filter for inspection.

HOURS OF WORK

This internship may work either 40 hours per week (preferred) or up to 29 hours per week, depending on the needs of the selected candidate, but no longer than 999 hours in a fiscal year.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking an intern that is currently enrolled in a wastewater education program or holds an Associate’s degree or program completion certification in this field.

A High School diploma or GED with six educational points is required for the internship and to obtain the OIT certificate.

Experience working in a closely related field such as water/wastewater maintenance, lab, inspection, or other forms of industrial operations is preferred but not required.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Background Checks: The District may conduct a background check and a reference check on candidates prior to appointment to a position within this class. 
• Independent Travel: Incumbents are required to travel independently, for example, to perform work at other work sites, to attend meetings with other District employees, to attend meetings with community organizations, etc.
• Hours of Work: Incumbents may be required to work weekends, holidays, irregular hours, and after normal business hours.

SELECTION PROCESS

July 9, 2025 – Tentative dates for hiring interviews.

Responses to supplemental questions may be used as screening and testing mechanisms and will be used to assess an applicant’s ability to advance in the process; as such, responses to supplemental questions should be treated as test examination responses. 

All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the recruitment process.

HOW TO APPLY

A completed FSSD employment application and supplemental questionnaire must be submitted. This recruitment will close at 5:00 pm, on Monday, June 16, 2025.

IMPORTANT: Contact with candidates will primarily be via email. Make sure you list a current email that you check regularly with your application.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application packet.