Plant Operator

Job Summary:

This position operates and maintains hospital's central utility plant that supplies steam, chilled water, emergency power, medical gases, fire suppression system and domestic water to the hospital. Hospitals run 24/7 and reliability and safety are of upmost importance. This position interacts with Hospital employees, administration, physicians, volunteers, contractors, vendors, regulatory officials and the community.

• Maintains general repair/installation work on all types of equipment and systems.
• Assures proper operational and regulatory documentation is maintained.
• Assures that the facility, equipment and its systems are maintained to meet regulatory requirements and in a safe operating condition, and continually works in a safe manner following all relevant policies, procedures and codes.
• Evaluates malfunctioning systems and equipment and recommends repair or replacement as necessary.
• Performs general repair installation work on all types of equipment and systems.
• Processes work orders and preventive maintenance orders through the system in an effective and timely manner.
• Keeps self-informed on code requirements and changes in procedures.
• Maintains a clean work area, tools and shop.
• All other duties as assigned.
• Plant Operator Critical Distribution Systems - Essential Functions: Ensure optimal and continuous operation of boiler/steam/hot water systems/cooling systems by performing routine inspections and maintenance, monitoring metering equipment and adjusting levels as necessary. 1. Maintain systems by regular scheduled inspections, preventative maintenance and all other tasks necessary to keep all components performing optimally; identify and repair or replace malfunctioning components 2. Ensure safety by monitoring safety equipment, identifying potential issues and taking appropriate steps to suspend operations and repairs 3. Perform necessary repairs and replacements, obtain replacement parts and upgrade components as needed while staying within the budget 4. Ability to understand graphs/charts to analyze data.
• Plant Operator Critical Distribution Systems - Other Functions: 1. Ability to perform switch-overs from utilities feed from natural gas to diesel fuels per regulatory requirements 2. Perform routine maintenance on change-outs of pressure relief valves and calibrations of electronic controls 3. Maintain boilers with proper chemicals and testing including scheduled blowdown procedures 4. Ability of adjust Lead/Lag on operations as necessary for peak or seasonal steam demands 5. Knowledge & experience on steam traps service & operation 6. Responsibilities include coordination of leading/assisting contractors when necessary to do emergency or rebuild work beyond internal expertise 7. Knowledge of controls, computer software and software integration and ability to adjust parameters within the controls. 8. Has working knowledge of all distribution systems including but not limited to Hot water, steam, chilled water, electrical distribution and generators. 9. Understand lock out/tag out, confined spaces, arc flash safety.
• Critical Systems Proficiency of critical utilities listed below. 1. Those critical utilities are: 1. Generators 2. Boilers 3. Chillers 4. Fire Suppression System (Fire Pump) 5. Building Automation 6. Domestic water Distribution System 7. Steam distribution system 8. Electrical distribution system 2. Ability to troubleshoot, perform preventative maintenance, repairs, train and consult on each utility listed in the critical utility task spreadsheet. 3. May be requested to perform the above functions at any of the hospitals under the Deaconess Health licensure. Proficiency of critical components 1. Pumps 2. Valves 3. Safety shutoffs 4. Pressure reliefs 5. Shutoffs 6. Drives

Education Qualifications

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) Required
• Associate’s Degree Postsecondary certificate in Energy Center technology, electrical technology or related field Required
• Minimum of five years' relevant experience operating high pressure boilers, chillers, colling towers, emergency generators and associated pumps/valves Required
• Minimum of fifteen years' relevant experience in lieu of education Required

Experience Qualifications

• Direct hospital institutional experience Preferred