Operations Team Lead

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. 

Are you looking for a fantastic career at Aqua? We have a great opportunity for an Operations Team Lead in the University Park, IL area!

This person will be responsible for prioritizing / assigning day-to-day operational tasks of Technicians in their assigned area.  This person will also be expected to ensure sufficient staff or contractors are assigned to complete both emergency and planned work, and that necessary equipment and goods are available to complete these tasks accordingly.

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $78,136.20 - $103,335.12

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Prioritize and assign the day-to-day operations of Facility Operators in the assigned area. 
• Ensure that sufficient staff or contractors are assigned to complete both emergency and planned work, and that necessary equipment and goods are available to complete the tasks accordingly. 
• Report directly to the Plant Manager and provide back-up support, as needed (this person may serve temporarily in the Manager’s stead if the manager is away on leave).
• Serve as a short-term replacement for any staff if/when they are not available. 
• Provide training to new staff on requirements of the position as well as providing supplementary guidance to staff that are having difficulty meeting the requirements of their position. 
• Ensure that staff are efficiently and effectively completing assigned duties.
• Ensure staff are correctly using business software; this includes (but is not limited to) Service Link, SAP, and TimeTrack.
• Review the work of contractors to determine if their work is completed effectively and efficiently.
• Develop contractor business relationships to assist with completing utility field work.
• Assist with Inventory Control and ensure inventory control procedures are consistently followed.
• This person will be expected to be based primarily in the field with minimal time spent in the office.
• This person will be assigned to on-call field supervision duty when needed.
• Other duties may be assigned, as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) is required; Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• At least 6 years of professional experience working in Operations and Maintenance (O&M); experience working with Wastewater Utility system(s) is preferred.
• IEPA Municipal Wastewater Operator Class 1 license required.
• A Valid U.S. Drivers license and Class-B CDL with Tanker and Air Brake endorsements are required. Within 90 days of the date of hire, the new employee or transfer must obtain CDL permit and medical card. Within 90 days of company sponsored hands-on training, employee must obtain Class-B CDL with Tanker and Air Brake endorsements.
• Must reside within 30 minutes of the plant.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook Email, Word, Excel, etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills; this person will be expected to communicate effectively (clearly, concisely, and professionally) with internal customers.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to articulate technical information from plans and specifications
• A Team Player demeanor with the ability to work effectively and multi-task in a team-fostered environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• May be subject to extreme temperatures, noise, wet and/or humid conditions, mechanical, electrical, gas exposure hazards, fumes, dusts, mists, gases, and /or poor ventilation atmospheric conditions.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• See, hear, talk, and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity.
• Working conditions include traveling to work sites of Essential Utilities and/or other constituents (if applicable).

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.