Chief Mechanic

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we're delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you're looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• The primary duties of the Chief Mechanic consist of those jobs necessary, but not limited to, the maintenance and repair of pumping, storage, and purification equipment, control, data and electrical instruments, buildings, and grounds. This position involves installation, dismantling, repair, maintenance, and record keeping of all assigned facilities. When necessary, operate pumping, storage, and purification systems, including associated instruments and facilities. Perform work either individually or by coordinating and performing work with other employees.
• Plant employees of the collective bargaining unit shall be responsible for the proper operation and routine maintenance of the plant equipment entrusted to their care during their entire working period, and shall leave the treatment, water quality and equipment in good operating condition or advise the employee about to assume the operator's duties of any unusual condition that may prevail, or of any equipment that requires attention and which could not be corrected during the shift that was worked.
• A basic knowledge of electronic theory and application is required, and the capability of checking and repairing electronic circuits. The ability to read and understand wiring diagrams and schematics and to use the same in troubleshooting. Provide technical support and troubleshoot operational problems, oversee preventative maintenance and corrective repairs.
• An understanding of variable frequency drives, motor starters, motors, DC Drives, programmable logic controllers and the ability to diagnose problems and repair equipment where and when feasible is required. Experience with actuated valves is a plus. Coordinate contractor work to ensure safe and continuous operation in accordance with Aqua SOPs and regulatory compliance
• Follows Arc Flash, Lock-out/Tag-out, and all other safety policies and procedures without exception.
• Operate and maintain Aqua vehicles and equipment safely.
• Operates, maintains, monitors and/or controls all treatment plant equipment and processes and various system equipment and processes.Coordinate necessary repairs to equipment as required to ensure proper operation of equipment.
• Operates, maintains, reads, interprets, and records as directed all instruments at the plant. Support Chief Operator to maintain water quality standards. Perform the calibrations and repairs as needed.
• Ensures all maintenance and operational efforts are adequately managed and captured within asset management software in accordance with company and local policies.
• Performs assigned lab testing and sampling as directed; ensures all regulatory and compliance requirements are met when performing work.
• Performs assigned inspections as directed. Ensure Job Hazard Analysis and other Aqua safety requirements are upheld for all work overseen.
• Prepare reports required by the Company, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and other jurisdictional entities. Serve as back-up to the Operators of Record, including responding to after-hours emergencies, as may be required in the absence of management. Prepare and submit compliance reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate and perform housekeeping duties and monitors the security of the treatment plant and remote facilities. Ensure work areas are kept orderly to avoid safety risks to assigned workers and anyone in the plant. End-of-day work areas are to be secured, cleaned and free from potential hazards by others near or working in the area.
• Responsible for the new orientation and training of operators in maintenance activities.
• Works autonomously and makes clear and concise decisions on plant and lift station maintenance and readiness while understanding operational ramifications throughout the system. Responsible for coordinating work assignments and monitoring the daily work activities of the Mechanics and/or Trainees to ensure timely completion of all work orders. Recommend the scheduling of the maintenance team to accomplish this.
• Coordinates and directs internal support groups, contractors, and other working groups in support of maintenance and improvement activities.
• All other duties as assigned in plant and system operations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Construction, mechanical, electrical, computer, PLC, plumbing, welding, and/or fabrication skills. Trade school certification preferred.
• Possess the technical, academic, and physical ability to perform the duties of the position. Be able to read, understand and accurately communicate operating instructions both written and verbal to a team. Mathematical ability to perform calculations to determine various ratios, dosages, and volumetric calculations that are required for the operation of the treatment plant and systems.

• Candidate must hold a valid U.S. driver's license at time of hire.
• Preferred 5 years of experience as a water or wastewater system operator.
• Pennsylvania DEP Class A Wastewater Operators Certification with subclasses 2 and 4 or the ability to obtain in an agreeable timeframe.

• Achieve satisfactory score on Personnel Tests which may include a written examination. Achieve a minimum score of 65 on Customer Service Skills Assessment Program test.
• The candidate must be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office.
• Complete a seventy-five (75) pound lift assessment.
• Satisfactory work record (currently no more than one disciplinary occurrence in last three years).

• Must have a high school diploma or the GED equivalent
• Must be available for emergency work after regular working hours, weekends and for scheduled overtime

Candidate must adhere to all provisions of the prevailing Articles of Agreement between Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union of America AFL-CIO-CLC Local No. 9305-08 (Union Agreement).

Pay Rate: $28.72 per hour* as of 1 January 2025

HOURS OF WORK:

The Chief Mechanic will have preference for work hours of Monday through Friday 7:00 - 3:00 but may be required to work scheduled day and night shifts, weekends, and/or holidays in accordance with the prevailing Union Collective Bargaining Agreement. Must be available for voluntary and involuntary overtime and for emergency callouts to maintain uninterrupted service to our customers.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.