Job Details

Job OverviewUnder general direction, the Instrumentation Specialist focuses on and is responsible for electronic instrumentation data quality and reliability for the water system – which is mostly used in the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) control system. The instrumentation information managed by the incumbent is used to serve other WTP personnel, for data retention verifying regulatory compliance, for general equipment monitoring (operation, maintenance, troubleshooting), and to protect expensive water system equipment. This instrumentation generally measures water quality chemistry or physical parameters such as pressure, levels, or flow. The incumbent installs, monitors, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs programmable logic process control systems, electrical and electronic controls and data acquisition equipment, and related instruments throughout the water system, including the Water Treatment Plant.Responsible for the quality and accuracy of their own work, for the care and safe operation of valuable equipment, and for instrumentation data quality and reliability. The instrumentation monitors water processes that are highly regulated by the EPA to provide compliant and safe drinking water to a population of over 180,000 people. Violations can lead to public notifications, water system boil orders, fines, and erosion of public trust.Key ResponsibilitiesInstalls, monitors, maintains, calibrates, repairs, and replaces programmable logic controls, instruments, and electronic devices.Design and plan installation of new meters and install/wire new meters.Analyze and determine causes of malfunctions and take corrective action regarding repair or replacement.Conduct or arrange for component‑level repair and installation.Research available sources and/or design new parts, controls, and instruments to replace obsolete components and equipment.Calibrate analog, digital, and other sophisticated chemical/electronic devices according to mandated requirements, specifications, and operations/maintenance manuals to ensure accuracy.Installs, monitors, maintains, calibrates, repairs, and replaces continuously monitoring water quality instrumentation.Know how the instrumentation outputs and results tie to and impact compliance with EPA regulations for water quality.Maintain instrumentation O&M records that are reviewable by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, USEPA, or other agencies. Know records retention criteria under federal and state law.For the entire water system, manage advanced online water quality instruments such as Total Organic Carbon analyzers, Trihalomethane analyzers, Metrohm Process analyzers, Monochloramine parameter analyzers, Ultraviolet analyzers, raw water early‑warning parameter analyzers, and others.Coordinate and schedule annual maintenance with instrumentation manufacturers or technical service providers for the sophisticated instruments installed in the WTP.Manage basic or typical water industry instruments such as pH, turbidity, chlorine, ozone, conductivity, ORP, and others.Compare water quality instrumentation outputs against environmental lab results (benchtop), other similar instrument outputs in SCADA, logical expected results within water system processes operation, and other means to verify outputs make sense within water system operation.Implement strategies to identify deterioration of instrumentation outputs data such as decreased sensor sensitivity, instrumentation damage, or worn components.Develop and maintain a schedule for maintenance and calibration of continuously monitoring water quality instrumentation to comply with EPA regulatory requirements, maintain high‑quality data to SCADA system, and minimize instrumentation downtime.Replace or refill consumable materials in continuously monitoring water quality instruments to maintain operability and avoid after‑hour alarms or downtime.Have detailed knowledge of regulatory and safety requirements for plant operation. Drinking water is highly regulated by the EPA. Key areas of knowledge include:EPA turbidity rules for individual conventional filters, conventional plant combined filter effluent, membrane ultrafiltration trains, membrane plant effluent, and any other regulated process water streams from both water treatment plants.Pathogen disinfection/inactivation requirements in both water treatment plants, distribution entry point(s), and water distribution system.Knowledge of miscellaneous regulations for the operation of treatment plant operation and water distribution system such as EPA Recycling Rules, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal requirements, disinfection by‑product regulations, Lead & Copper regulations, and other regulations.Understanding of operational theory of treatment processes/systems and how operator adjustments or raw water quality changes will affect treatment process performance and water quality data.Knowledge of personnel safety, OSHA requirements, safe housekeeping practice, Chemical Risk Management (Clean Air Act) requirements, and other safety‑related requirements.Coordinates with personnel in the Fargo WTP Environmental Laboratory to maintain quality instrumentation data and operations data within the whole water system. The objective is to promote efficient workflow and responsiveness to other WTP personnel in the event of questionable instrumentation data or instrument failure.Assist in Fargo WTP Environmental Laboratory or Operator Laboratory as needed for water quality benchtop testing.Provides training to other WTP personnel regarding continuously monitoring instrumentation (flow, pressure, level, water quality, etc.) to foster understanding principles of operation, simple diagnosis/troubleshooting, and recognizing instrumentation value to the water system and limitations.Coordinates with contractors regarding installation, maintenance, and repairs on outsourced systems such as security and fire alarms.Sends out bids to various contractors; makes recommendations to Water Treatment Plant Superintendent or Water Utility Director.Monitors and inspects installation and repair work performed by outside contractors to certify accuracy.Coordinates with Water Treatment Plant Superintendent, Water Utility Director, and others regarding automation opportunities for manual work tasks and implementation of the latest online instrumentation technologies available in the Water/Wastewater field.Researches technical information for new technology and products related to installation, integration, and value to the Water Utility; makes recommendations to Water Treatment Plant Superintendent or Water Utility Director.Works with outside contractors, consultants, or other Water Utility personnel to implement new instrumentation or automation strategies to improve decision‑making information or personnel workflow.Recommends replacement schedule for water quality instrumentation and other industrial instrumentation.Compiles information and costs regarding instrumentation changes and recommends annual budgetary costs.Carries out preventative maintenance program for equipment and devices including cleaning, tightening, and inspecting parts. Makes adjustments to equipment as required.Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.Communicates with others within the work unit, the public, vendors and across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information.Interacts with contractors and utility representatives to coordinate activities.Responds to inquiries, provides information and/or refers individuals to supervisors or other appropriate personnel as necessary to resolve issues.Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.Knows and follows department and City policies/rules as well as sound work and safety practices to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss.Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work.When potentially unsafe conditions are observed, makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.Installs new water meters under the Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) project and facilitates minor plumbing changes using local plumbing contractors.Completes the installation of new water meters of all sizes under the AMI project within the allowed budget.Manages and schedules appointments for the installation of water meters under the AMI project.Solicits quotes or bids under the Purchasing Policy for plumbing contractors or other services to complete the AMI related project tasks.Remedies customer concerns and answers questions associated with the AMI project.Attains quotes and makes purchase arrangements for needed water meter inventory and fittings to complete installations.Performs statistical analysis to compare new AMI system performance against data from old water meters.Develop enhanced features with new water meters for other City users such as an alarm dashboard and a water pressure heat map of the City.Manages any additional needs or requirements to successfully complete the AMI project.Manages the Backflow prevention program for the water system as required by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ).Performs other duties and activities as assigned.QualificationsThe job requires an Associate's degree or higher in Water/Wastewater technology, Chemical or Biological science, instrumentation electronics, industrial electronics, computer science, or a closely related field and three years of previous experience in Water/Wastewater operations, environment laboratory operation, industrial processes, manufacturing, maintenance and repair of electrical devices and electronic equipment (PLCs), or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. A valid driver's license is also required.Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesKnowledge of the proper operation and maintenance of equipment used in the treatment process including pumps and motors.Knowledge of confined space entry and hazardous materials handling as related to treatment process.Knowledge of procedures of sampling and sample testing.Knowledge of principles of water, wastewater and sludge treatment processes and process control.Knowledge of general concepts and principles of electronics including PLC Controls. Allen Bradley experience is preferred.Knowledge of techniques, methods, procedures and practices of installation, maintenance and repair of electronic and electrical devices and equipment.Knowledge of techniques and procedures of metrology and calibration of electronic equipment.Knowledge of operation and maintenance of computer software systems and equipment.Knowledge of water treatment processes as it relates to the online instrumentation data and outputs.Skill in installation, maintenance, calibration, and repair of electronic equipment.Skill in the use of repair and testing tools and equipment.Skill in providing instruction and training to other workers.Skill in performing mechanical maintenance and repair to equipment.Skill in performing basic mathematical computation such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.Skill in reading and writing English sufficient to read and write logs and records.Skill in observation and interpretation of changes in process control to sufficiently determine necessary adjustments.Intermediate skill with Microsoft Office applications.Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms and have good customer skills.Ability to read and interpret schematic and other technical drawings and technical manuals.Ability to learn specialty testing and repair equipment, new systems, and software.Work ConditionsWork is performed primarily in the Water Treatment Plant and other remote water distribution and storage facilities. Work is generally light with extensive computer use and involves moving between rooms and buildings within multiple locations including remote water towers, raw water pumping stations, ground storage reservoirs and drinking water pumping stations. Work involves local driving on a weekly basis. Frequent exposure to chemicals, fumes, humidity and moving mechanical parts, loud noise, and possible electric shock. Considerable attention to detail and deadlines is required, including activities such as stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pulling, lifting, digital dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing/listening, and seeing/observing.Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires the exertion of forces greater than for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated Light Work.Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.#J-18808-Ljbffr