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Lead Water Treatment Operator

Woodard & Curran


Job Location:

Durham, NC - USA

Hourly Salary: USD 30 - 35
Posted: 19 September 2026 (17 hours ago)
Application Deadline: 17 December 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Woodard & Curran is an employee-owned engineering science and operations firm dedicated to clean water a safe environment healthy communities and happy people. We foster an inclusive collaborative culture that supports professional growth flexibility and meaningful work empowering our employees to make a lasting impact on our clients communities and the planet.


Woodard & Curran is growing! As part of this growth we are looking to add a Lead Water Treatment Operator to our water treatment team at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in Durham NH. Ideal candidates for this role will hold a minimum of a Grade 3T New Hampshire water treatment license and have a minimum of 5 years of experience.

As a Lead Operator you will take direction from the Plant Manager and help mentor and oversee a more junior-level Operator or Operator in Training as well as participate in the daily operations and maintenance of the facility. This plant uses conventional surface water treatment including rapid mix flocculation clarification/sedimentation and filtration. The plant consists of three separate treatment trains each having a capacity of 670 gpm providing 1.88 MGD firm capacity with one train offline.

Your primary focus will be in operation and maintenance of the facilitys equipment process control monitoring and troubleshooting as well as grounds maintenance. You will manage process data perform routine lab analysis operate SCADA controls and perform computer data entry and other operation and maintenance tasks as directed.

Schedule:

Employees work a rotating schedule designed to maximize your time off. One week consists of four consecutive workdays (Monday through Thursday) followed by a three-day weekend. The next week includes a day off midweek and then weekend coverage (Friday through Sunday). This rotation results in a three-day weekend every other week and a scheduled weekday off when working weekend shifts.

This position also includes rotating on-call responsibilities to cover after-hour emergencies or alarms and comes with an additional $200 stipend.

Pay Range: $30 - $35 an hour Depending on qualifications and experience.

What will you be doing at Woodard & Curran

  • Monitor water treatment plant processes and equipment both manually and via SCADA automation making adjustments as necessary to control their operation.
  • Monitor remote pump stations with inspections and daily sampling as required.
  • Perform water quality sampling testing and analysis to determine compliance with federal state and EPA standards.
  • Operate maintain control and perform routine repair of plant equipment including preventive maintenance duties. Establish maintain and control flow through the water treatment process and into and within the distribution system.
  • Utilize software programs for maintenance work orders and maintains all necessary records.
  • Perform general maintenance duties of plant and other assigned duties.
  • Monitors and controls assigned tasks to ensure cost-effective service to meet budget.
  • Coordinates to ensure that other facility employees follow established administrative safety and operating policies.
  • Oversees operation of assigned treatment mechanical and electrical equipment and other similarly related facility components and equipment.
  • Performs data entry and report generation including data for preparing the Monthly Operating Report.
  • Assists in maintaining a complete and accurate on-site log book and records on water quality analysis in accordance with assigned permits.

What will you need to succeed

  • High School Degree or Equivalent.
  • Massachusetts Grade 3T preferred 3T OIT accepted with ability to achieve Full status.
  • Minimum of 2 years relevant experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
  • Proficiency with computers including an ability to work with: SCADA Microsoft Word Excel Maintenance Management Programs and other site specific systems.
  • Ability to make sound decisions in process control and follow instructions as well as following safety procedures.
  • Ability to work alone with little supervision.
  • Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check pre-placement physical and drug screen before employment.
  • Valid MA drivers license with a good driving record.
  • Ability to lift up to 40 pounds on a regular basis.
  • Successful candidates will have to complete and pass a pre-placement background check drug screen and physical prior to employment.

Woodard & Curran offers a comprehensive benefits package. For more information about our benefits & workplace policies visit Benefit & Policy Information - Woodard & Curran.

E-Verify Participation: Woodard & Curran participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. As part of this process we provide access to the Right to Work & E-Verify postings.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accessibility: Woodard & Curran is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to non-discrimination and make employment decisions based on job-related factors. Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process please contact Beth Sweitzer.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

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We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process such as reviewing applications analyzing resumes or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed please contact us.

Required Experience:

IC


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