QUEENSLAND URBAN UTILITIES
Role Description
ROLE TITLE:
Grade 8 Operator
SECTION:
Treatment & Production
DEPARTMENT:
Operations
LOCATION:
Lockyer Valley
ROLE CLASSIFICATION:
MANAGER:
Grade 8
ANZSCO Code: 71291
Name:
Peter Donaghy
Signature:
…………………………………………
Date:
…………………………………………
PRIMARY ROLE PURPOSE:
The operation and maintenance of Queensland Urban Utilities wastewater treatment
plants and effluent reuse plant include the following activities:
Treatment Process
Perform Operation of waste water treatment plants including the adjustment of process
parameters, maintenance of the process equipment, monitoring of performance, and
reporting of equipment failure.
Sludge Treatment and disposal
Operation of sludge treatment process components including anaerobic digesters,
dewatering devices and associated chemical dosing.
Site Maintenance
Maintain treatment plant surrounds including grassed areas, roadways, drainage and
sludge disposal areas.
Asset Maintenance
Maintain structures such as buildings, chemical storage areas, process equipment, and
plant structures to operable conditions.
Carry out operations and maintenance activities at Wastewater Treatment Plant Sites
to Business Units standards of service such that the plant is operated within legislative
requirements and the environment is protected.
Queensland Urban Utilities
Work across a variety of plants/sites and processes to create a fluid and flexible
workforce that assists Queensland Urban Utilities to achieve desired outcomes as
outlined in the Business Plan.
Lead and role model customer focused behaviour, to internal and external customers,
by:
 Delivering the highest standards of customer service (think ‘Customer First’)
 Treating customers with honesty, fairness, sensitivity and dignity
 Solving customer issues within level of delegation or escalating for resolution
 Thinking of how your actions affect customers before reacting
 Working together within whole of QUU to solve customer issues
 Responding to customers in a timely manner.
ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:
The specific competencies of the role are listed below. Over time the employee will be
expected to develop all the competencies listed. Employees may be expected to
perform other work within the scope of the Role Definition up to their level of
competence.
The Treatment Plant Assistant will be expected to perform a range of duties, under
supervision of the Treatment Plant Operator, that are commensurate with the
competencies held by the operator. The range of duties includes, but is not limited to:
Monitor the day to day operation of the plant/s, under guidance of the Treatment Plant
Operator, to maintain compliance with Queensland Urban Utilities business
requirements, relevant legislation and the EPA licence by:

Having an understanding of the range and nature of the chemical and biological
processes used in sewage treatment

Having a detailed understanding of the EPA licence requirements and an
understanding of how variations in plant performance can effect the capability of
the plant to maintain licence compliance

Undertaking visual inspections, and monitoring via the process control system, to
verify that the plant is operating within the set limits

Interpret available plant data to measure the operational performance of
individual items of plant and equipment

Remaining informed of the current performance of all parts of the plant

Remaining informed of any limitation on plant capacity or capability (e.g. items of
plant that are not available)

Modifying equipment status (e.g. duty/stand-by) to ensure equipment is operated in
accordance with the established asset management strategies

Authorising the release of operational plant and equipment for maintenance

Registering work orders for plant and equipment in need of unplanned
maintenance

Undertaking routine inspection and condition monitoring of plant and equipment

Undertaking minor routine maintenance activities (e.g. lubrication)

Identifying and reporting plant and equipment that is failing to meet the required
level of service
Queensland Urban Utilities

Managing security and access on site.
Identify and respond to minor operational variations from the expected performance
standards by:

Responding to alarms as directed

Developing the capability to diagnose the nature and scope of potential plant
faults/issues and identifying the resource requirements for rectification

Utilising personal knowledge and experience, in additional to other support
mechanisms, to identify and resolve plant operational issues

Responding to the plant, as per rostered arrangements, outside of normal hours (i.e.
standby)

Using remote access technology, as per agreed protocols, to monitor plant
performance

Advising Treatment Plant Operator, and managers as required, of operational issues
that may require management intervention
Respond to plant incidents or emergency issues, in order to mitigate the impact by:

Remaining aware of the range and scope of contingency plans available and
being able to implement the contents of these plans when the need arises

Inputting into the identification of the need for, and development, of contingency
plans

Undertaking fault diagnosis to identify the type and scope of the incident or
emergency

Identifying the resource requirements (people, equipment, materials) required to
control and rectify the situation

Maintaining normal plant operation, as far as practicable, during an incident or
emergency situation

Escalating incidents and emergency situations as circumstances dictate

Acting as a Site Manager as required during an incident

Liaising with external parties as required.
Collect and analyse information for improved decision making by:

Monitoring and recording plant performance against established Key Performance
Indicators

Producing daily/weekly/monthly plant data reports

Maintaining a daily operator log sheet

Interrogating the plant control system (e.g. Citect) to identify potential adverse
trends.
Queensland Urban Utilities
Maintain and contribute to a healthy workplace so that safe systems of work,
procedures and processes are established and monitored to meet the relevant IMS and
legislative requirements by:

Administering the QUU permit system on site as well as the identification and
development of isolation procedures to support the implementation of the permit
system

Undertaking site inductions for employees/visitors/contractors

Liaise effectively with contractor personnel to ensure a safe plant

Supervising contractor personnel on site

Acting as a warden for any emergency evacuation of the site

Participating in hazard identification/risk managements activities (e.g. HAZOPS)

Assisting in the Identification and development and implementation of safety
related procedures resulting from the risk management activities

Attending, and actively participating in, safety meetings and audits as required

Complying with all relevant workplace health and safety legislation

Complying with QUU “Zero Harm” health and safety management system

Implementing safety related policies and procedures on site

Utilising the management system for chemicals (e.g. ChemAlert) to control the
procurement, storage, handling, use and disposal of chemicals

Assist in the storage and handling of “Dangerous Goods” on site

Undertaking confined space entries

Preparing Job Safety Analysis (JSA) for operational activities performed on site

Maintaining housekeeping standards on site

Reporting of injuries, illnesses, hazards, unsafe acts etc.

Contributing to a safety culture on site

Assist in the successful implementation of the Production Branch’s Health and Safety
Plan

Assisting the Production Branch Safety Health and Environment Officer (SHEO) as
required

Writing reports on safety related matters.
Queensland Urban Utilities
Operators performing the role of the elected health and safety representative have
additional health and safety responsibilities including:

Preparation of plant safety reports

Representing the plant/plants at the Workplace Health and Safety Committee
Meetings

Participate in the planning of health and safety initiatives for SDE.

Participate in the investigation of illnesses, injuries and other dangerous events

Provision of health and safety awareness presentations for operational personnel on
site
Contribute to the identification, development and implementation of business
improvements by:

Identifying potential business opportunities

Willingly sharing personal knowledge and experience with other operators

Participation in cross functional work teams to identify, investigate, develop and
implement improvement projects

Providing valuable operational input into the planning and design and new works
as required

Participating in the commissioning of new works and associated activities. Working
with other groups to deliver best practice capital projects.

Implementing Standard Work Procedures for site related activities

Participating in system audits

Writing reports on areas of opportunity for improvement.
Contribute to the operation of a successful commercial business by:

Assist in the maintenance and provision of accurate information for use n the
preparation of budgets

Assist in the monitoring of expenditure against budget and taking corrective action
as required.

Identifying, sourcing, evaluating and purchasing materials in accordance with
established procurement guidelines and delegated authority levels

Acting as a relief operator for other plants.
Queensland Urban Utilities
Maintain the environmental values impacted by the plant through:

Understanding those aspects of the operation of the plant that may have the
potential to impact the environment

Operating the plant in accordance with the Site Based Management Plans, as
required under the EPA licence

Responsible storage, handling and disposal of waste

Controlling the potential for contamination outside the plant boundary (e.g.
Stormwater Management)

Operating the plant to minimise the impacts of odour and noise.
Maintain effective communications with management, process engineers,
maintenance personnel, contractors, community and other operators as required to
ensure the safe and efficient plant operations by:

Ensuring the effective and efficient handover between operators in accordance
with agreed procedures

Identifying the needs of internal stakeholders on the quantity, and quality, of
operational information that they require and then facilitating the effective,
efficient and timely provision of information

Treating all communications in line with the organisations “customer service”
principles

Handling of community contact either directly or through the Call Centre

Accurately recording and investigating community complaints
ROLE DIMENSIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal Relationships






QUU Chief Executive Office and Board Members
COO of Operations
General Manager of Service Delivery East
Manager of Operations
QUU Service Delivery Leader
Process engineers, Maintenance personnel, and other operators
External Relationships



QUU Customers
Community of Brisbane
Contractors
Queensland Urban Utilities
CORE CAPABILITIES:
Skills and Abilities
The role requires the following skills and abilities:





Ability to work on a variety of Wastewater Treatment plants, within a nominated
zone, with limited supervision for short periods of time
Ability to make informed decisions based on available information
Ability to write procedures in accordance with QUU guidelines, and
literacy and numeracy skills required to perform the tasks required of an operator
Interpersonal communication skills including the ability to liaise with other
technical and professional personnel
Ability to perform shift work where there is a site requirement.
Knowledge and Experience
The role requires the following knowledge and experience:




Understanding of the process chemistry involved in sewage treatment
Basic understanding of the principles of operation of the mechanical and
electrical equipment of site
Understanding of the capabilities (i.e. operating limits) of the plant and
equipment located on the site
Analyse plant process information (such as sample results, standards tests, plant
variations etc.) to determine optimal parameters to ensure effluent standards
meet DEH Licence and WS&S Standards of Service whether plant is attended or
unattended.
Qualifications
The role requires the following qualifications:

Driver’s Licence
Desirable:

Staff/contractor Supervision Training

Secondary School Certificate
Queensland Urban Utilities
Behavioural Competencies
ORGANISATION CHART:
Executive Leader Operations & Service Delivery
General Manager, Treatment & Production
Manager Treatment Plant Operations
Service Delivery Leader
Treatment Plant Coordinator
Treatment Plant Operator x 3
Queensland Urban Utilities