$31.25 – $56.95
Full Time
Closing Date: 10/01/2025

Job Details:Join Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) as a Control Room Operator in our Energy Supply Department and play a key role in ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient power generation for our community. This is advanced skilled work operating fossil-fired electric generation station equipment, including high-pressure, high-temperature steam generators (boilers), steam turbine generators, combustion turbine generators, and associated auxiliary systems such as air quality control and water treatment systems.

In addition to operating and monitoring critical systems, the Control Room Operator will also serve as Shift Supervisor during absences, providing operational leadership and support to the team. The ideal candidate demonstrates a detail-focused approach to operations, strong problem-solving ability, and a commitment to safety, with the capability to train and mentor others. Knowledge of lock out/tag out procedures is valuable in maintaining safe and compliant practices.

To be considered, candidates must demonstrate fully qualified (journey-level) power plant operating experience in both gas/oil-fired and coal-fired steam and combustion operations, along with proficiency in system operation through a Human Machine Interface (HMI) or Graphic User Interface (GUI). Candidates must successfully complete GRU’s technical assessment standards or training program requirements or present an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Job Description:

SUMMARY

This is advanced mastery level skilled work operating  solid fuel fired or natural gas electric generation station equipment, including high pressure, high temperature steam generators (boilers), steam turbine generators, combustion turbine generators, and associated auxiliary systems and equipment including air quality control and water treatment systems. 

Incumbents in this classification report to a designated supervisor or manager and work under limited supervision.  Work in this class is distinguished from higher classes by its lack of managerial responsibility and from lower classes by its limited supervisory responsibility, leadership, advanced technical skills and requirements to perform operating functions and tasks as well as to train and instruct personnel.

EXAMPLES OF WORK**

** This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Utilizes remote Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems to monitor, observe, analyze and operate equipment and process systems for power generation, environmental monitoring and control. 

Optimizes the safe, reliable and efficient operation of equipment through technical analysis of data. 

Aligns the priorities of other shift personnel and other support personnel to support the safe, reliable and efficient generation of power.

Generates written work requests and project requests based on observations.  Takes or directs actions required to anticipate, correct or change a condition, as needed.

Operates and provides direction for the operation of solid fuel fired steam electric generating units and associated equipment including all fuel sourced steam generators (boilers) (including but not limited to natural gas, liquid fuels, pulverized coal, and biomass) and steam turbine generators.  Operates and provides direction for operation of natural gas or liquid fuel oil fired combustion turbine generators and associated equipment.

Place in and remove from service systems such as, but not limited to, electrical switchgear, breakers, controls, turbine generators, air quality control and monitoring equipment and material handling systems.

Operates and provides direction for operation of combustion controls, burner management systems, alarm and monitoring systems, switches, and other devices.

Coordinate with system control in ensuring a reliable source of power is available at all times and ensuring Regulatory (i.e. NERC) requirements regarding electrical system reliability are met.

Monitors, measures, observes, and maintains inventories including fuel storage, ash levels, pond levels, and water storage.

Monitors, observes, and analyzes equipment and systems characteristics and takes or directs actions required to correct or change a condition as needed.

Performs and directs routine equipment checks and tests in accordance with standard operating practices, policies, and procedures.

Works directly with other power plant personnel to start up, troubleshoot, or shut down equipment for corrective or preventive maintenance.

Ensures proper working order for all regular and emergency electrical power, lighting, and control equipment.

Operates and troubleshoots problems with instruments, fire alarm and deluge systems, process alarms (i.e. DCS, Wonderware, CEMS, etc.) and electrical control systems.  Monitors and initiates action for process plant equipment and structures, including but not limited to:  yard lighting systems, cooling towers, fuel handling and water process treatment equipment, combustion turbine electrical equipment and mechanical components, controls, generators, boilers, drive mechanisms and filtering equipment.

Leads troubleshooting efforts across shops and departments to develop root cause analysis and to define corrective and preventive actions.  Follows through on corrective and preventive actions to ensure they are adequately addressed to full resolution.

Provides leadership and supervision within the working shift.  May work small projects to completion by involving the correct affected personnel and brings closure to the project through documentation, procedural development and communication. 

Keeps accurate and complete process/operating, labor, material and equipment records and prepares other required reports. 

Analyzes and evaluates work activities from a standpoint of cost, efficiency, productivity and established budgetary guidelines. 

Assists in planning and establishing work schedules for planned and unplanned maintenance activities and established maintenance programs.

Understands mastery level boiler and turbine principles and applies theory for continuous improvement.

Complies with Safety Data Sheet information for all products.  Properly handles and stores parts inventory, hazardous and non-hazardous materials and uses basic skills to prevent fires and explosions. 

Attends training courses and studies independently to improve knowledge and understanding of all process plant systems and to obtain the ability to perform calculations on plant performance, heat transfer, combustion conditions, equipment efficiency and water quality.  Completes established training objectives required for level and assignment.

Provides training and instruction to other employees and assesses competency/proficiency. Advises supervisor or manager of job knowledge level, skills, and abilities of personnel in training.

Adheres to and implements proper lockout/tag out of plant equipment and systems in accordance with established clearance procedures, policies and practices. Has authority to grant approval of all pre task checklist permitted work that occurs on the plant site. 

Plans work activities to prevent injury and property damage.

Responds to emergency situations.

Attends work on continuous and regular basis.

Acts in absence of supervisor or manager at assigned plant.

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Keeps plant facilities in a clean and orderly fashion and performs general housekeeping.

May be required to transport, mix, handle or use hazardous materials (other than cans of gasoline, batteries, pumping fuel or access to normal janitorial cleaning materials) or may be responsible for facilities or equipment carrying electrical current, dangerous fluids or gas that could endanger the public or other employees.

May be required to train and perform duties in emergency egress, accidental spill incidents and other safety-related emergencies.  Training may include attending hazardous materials response plan (HAZWOPER) and emergency egress training.

May be responsible for enforcing city policies such as but not limited to the drug-free workplace program.

Understands the principles, practices, methods, materials and theory of analysis of water chemistry, and has basic experience in process plant laboratory procedures and the care and use of laboratory analysis equipment. 

Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily.  Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma, demonstrated ability as a journeyman level power plant operator experienced in both gas/oil fired and coal fired steam or biomass fueled and/or combustion electric power plant operations. Skilled in operation and control through a Human Machine Interface (HMI) or Graphic User Interface (GUI).  Candidate must pass technical assessment standards or completion of all requirements as established in the Training program(s); or an equivalent combination of training and experience which provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

 Minimum of 5 years Journeyman Level Power Plant Operations Experience or Similar Operational control of sophisticated industrial equipment such as but not limited to a Chemical Plant Control Board Operations or Pulp and Paper Industrial Production Operations.

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES

Valid Florida Driver License.