Plants Operator In Training, Plants Operator I, II, III

Plants Operator In Training, Plants Operator I, II, III

Salary

See Position Description

Location

City of Bellingham, WA

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

26-Plants Operator IT I,II,III

Department

Public Works

Division

Public Works Operations

Opening Date

07/31/2026

Closing Date

8/17/2026 8:30 AM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Local 1937

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Nature of Work

Keep the water flowing. Protect public health. Build a career that matters. Join our team as a Plant Operator, and operate the critical systems that provide safe drinking water and wastewater treatment for our community. We offer hands-on training, career advancement opportunities, and meaningful work every day. Apply today!

JOB SUMMARY:

The Plants Operators In Training, I, II, III series performs progressively responsible wastewater and water duties, computer console operations, process control, troubleshooting functions, minor maintenance to equipment, facilities and grounds to ensure proper operation of incinerators, advanced secondary wastewater treatment plant systems, water distribution, wastewater collection, and water treatment plant. Duties are performed on a rotating shift basis and include weekend, graveyard, swing shift, and after-hours public works dispatch responsibilities. Error or negligence in performance could result in equipment damage, violation of air and water quality standards, and have serious consequences for the Citys water supply and/or wastewater treatment system.

For more information, please review the job classification.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The 2026 starting hourly rate is at Step 1. The full salary ranges for each position are:

• Hourly Rates:
• Plants Operator In Training: Starting hourly rate is at Step 1 ($31.69/hour) for full time positions. The full salary range for this position is $31.69/hour - $41.35/hour.
• Plants Operator I: Starting hourly rate is at Step 1 ($35.61/hour) for full time positions. The full salary range for this position is $35.61/hour - $46.46/hour.
• Plants Operator II: Starting hourly rate is at Step 1 ($40.02/hour) for full time positions. The full salary range for this position is $40.02/hour - $52.21/hour.
• Plants Operator III: Starting hourly rate is at Step 1 ($42.42/hour) for full time positions. The full salary range for this position is $42.42/hour - $55.35/hour.

Candidates that do not already have valid State of Washington Incinerator Operator, Water Treatment Plant Operator, and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certifications should expect to start as Operator-in-Training at a salary grade 109, level 1 (currently $31.69/hr). All three certifications are required for placement at higher salary grades.

Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here's a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Mon., Aug 17, 2026 at 8:30 AM Pacific Time

Experience and Training

Plants Operator in Training

• High school diploma or GED required upon entry;
• One year of experience or related training using hand and power tools and motorized equipment to perform manual labor required upon entry;
• Associates in applied science degree in process technology, instrumentation and control technology, water supply technology, wastewater technology, or related field preferred;

OR

• Associates of science degree or bachelors degree in science, engineering, or mathematics is preferred;
• Department of Ecology certification as an Incinerator Operator obtained within 1 year from date of hire.

Must advance to Plant Operator I within two years of hire as a Plant Operator in Training.

Plants Operator I

• Department of Ecology Solid Waste Incinerator Operator certification;
• Department of Ecology Wastewater Operator Group I certification;
• Department of Health Waterworks Operator Level I certification.

Must advance to Plant Operator II within three years of promotion or hire as a Plant Operator I.

Plants Operator II

• Department of Ecology Solid Waste Incinerator Operator certification;
• Department of Ecology Wastewater Operator Group II certification;
• Department of Health Waterworks Operator Level II certification.

Must advance to Plants Operator III within six years of promotion or hire as a Plants Operator II.

Plants Operator III

• Department of Ecology Solid Waste Incinerator Operator certification;
• Department of Ecology Wastewater Operator Group III certification;
• Department of Health Waterworks Operator Level III certification.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Valid Washington State drivers license and good driving record. Candidate considered for hire must submit an abstract of his/her driving records for the past three years.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule involving shift rotation, call-back for relief shifts, overtime and emergency situations which may include evenings, weekends or holidays.
• Employment contingent on passing a criminal background check (See Fair Hiring Practices).
• Must secure and maintain the required certifications to progress in the classification series within established time limits.
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.

Failure to secure and maintain required certifications will result in dismissal.

NOTE: Washington certification substitutions for education and training requirements are available as outlined in Water Certification - Washington Administrative Code 246-292-060, January 29, 2001; Waterworks Operator Certification Program Guideline, October 2008; Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Plants - Washington Administrative Code 173-230-061, December 1, 1999.

Selection Process

You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City's commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Application Review Process:

• Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 17, 2026.
• Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 31, 2026.
• The top 30 scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of September 7, 2026.
• Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following: Experience and Training Review (30%) and Oral Board Interview (70%). Candidates scoring a 60% or higher on the Oral Board Interview will be placed on the eligibility list.

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There are currently two full-time vacancies in Public Works. This position is represented by a union.

If you wish to claim Veterans' Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form(Download PDF reader) and upload it to your application with your DD214.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity:

The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate or make decisions on the basis of an individuals race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicants criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section for additional information.

This position is represented by The Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Local 1937 labor agreement.

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website for more information on PERS.

Civil Service Information

This position is subject to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. When a vacancy occurs, the top fifteen candidates or the top 25% of the register will be forwarded to the department for further consideration. All new Civil Service employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. A candidate may challenge the scope, content, or method of an examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days following the date of the challenged examination. A candidate may also challenge the scoring of an examination or test, failure of the candidate on any part of an examination, or clerical error in examination results of any examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days of notification of the challenged result. The Examiner shall consider all timely filed protests and make appropriate corrections if an error is demonstrated.

Veterans Scoring Criteria

Applicants who have been honorably discharged from active military duty may be eligible to receive veterans scoring criteria points as provided by Washington State Law (RCW 41.04.010). If you wish to claim Veterans' Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.

01

Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.

Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No

02

Select your highest level of education:

• High school diploma or GED (required upon entry)
• Associates in applied science degree in process technology, instrumentation and control technology, water supply technology, wastewater technology, or related field (Note: This is preferred)
• Associates of science degree in science, engineering, or mathematics (Note: This is preferred)
• Bachelors degree in science, engineering, or mathematics (Note: This is preferred)
• I will not have received my high school diploma or GED upon entry and understand I do not meet minimum qualifications.

03

If you indicated that you hold one of the preferred degrees, please explain how your coursework has prepared you for this role in-detail.

04

Do you have one year experience or related training using hand and power tools and motorized equipment to perform manual labor?

• Yes
• No

05

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions in an industrial plant environment at the water and wastewater plants, pump stations and other facilities of water distribution and sewage collection system. Work is performed in an atmosphere that may include loud noises for prolonged periods, fumes, wet and slippery surfaces and the need to climb ladders or move in restricted spaces as circumstances require. Employees are required to use appropriate safety equipment, wear protective clothing and follow standard safety practices.

Are you able to accept these working conditions?

• Yes
• No

06

This position requires a state of Washington Department of Ecology certification as an Incinerator Operator within 1 year of hire. Please select your current level of certification.

Note: Candidates that do not already have valid State of Washington Incinerator Operator, Water Treatment Plant Operator, and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certifications should expect to start as Operator-in-training. All three certifications are required for placement at higher salary grades.

• I currently have a Department of Ecology Solid Waste Incinerator Operator certification.
• I do not currently have a Department of Ecology certification as an Incinerator Operator but am able to obtain within one (1) year from date of hire.
• I am not willing to obtain my Department of Ecology Solid Waste Incinerator Operator certification within one (1) year from hire date and understand I do not meet minimum qualifications.

07

Do you have a state of Washington Department of Ecology Wastewater Operator certification?

Note: Candidates that do not already have valid State of Washington Incinerator Operator, Water Treatment Plant Operator, and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certifications should expect to start as Operator-in-training. All three certifications are required for placement at higher salary grades.

• I currently have the Department of Ecology Wastewater Operator Group I certification.
• I currently have the Department of Ecology Wastewater Operator Group II certification.
• I currently have the Department of Ecology Wastewater Operator Group III certification.
• I do not currently have the Department of Ecology Wastewater Operator certification. (Only required for advance placement in series)

08

Do you have a state of Washington Department of Health Waterworks Operator certification?

Note: Candidates that do not already have valid State of Washington Incinerator Operator, Water Treatment Plant Operator, and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certifications should expect to start as Operator-in-training. All three certifications are required for placement at higher salary grades.

• I currently have the Department of Health Waterworks Operator Level I certification.
• I currently have the Department of Health Waterworks Operator Level II certification.
• I currently have the Department of Health Waterworks Operator Level III certification.
• I do not currently have the Department of Health Waterworks Operator certification. (Only required for advance placement in series)

09

This position requires working rotating shifts and includes weekends, holidays, day shifts, swing shifts, and graveyard shifts, as well as working outside in all types of weather. Are you willing and able to accept these requirements?

• Yes
• No

10

This position requires the use of a respirator and self-contained breathing apparatus when conditions require it. Are you willing and able to accept this requirement?

• Yes
• No

11

Do you have a valid Washington State drivers license or the ability to obtain one by the time of hire and a good driving record? The successful candidate(s) must submit a three-year driving record abstract prior to hire, with period submission of driving abstract per City policy.

• Yes
• No

12

Describe your paid experience and any related training involving the use of hand tools, power tools, and motorized equipment while performing manual labor. Please include the employer names and the dates of employment for each position.

How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we'll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months).

13

Please describe your paid experience and/or relevant training in monitoring multiple activities, interpreting data, prioritizing tasks, and diagnosing process or equipment issues.

14

Please describe your paid experience and/or training using basic computer software and systems, including your use of computers to monitor and analyze complex industrial processes and operational activities.

15

If you are requesting Veterans Preference points, a completed Veterans Scoring Criteria Status Declaration is required along with a copy of your DD214. The required form is in the Selections Process section of the Job Posting. Check "YES" here if you are attaching a Veterans Declaration form and DD214.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Bellingham

Address 104 West Magnolia Street

Bellingham, Washington, 98225

Phone 360-778-8220

Website http://www.cob.org/employment