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Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued.
People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.
We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.
About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Experienced Water Operator? Grow Your Career in Woodridge, IL
Shift 7:00am to 3:30pm and will have a workweek of either Sunday through Thursday or Tuesday through Saturday (dependent on management discretion and determined by need). This position will also have on-call duties.
This position is a union position with Illinois American Water and the starting pay rate is $37.83 per hour with a Class C Water license, $39.47per hour with a Class B Water license, $41.07 per hour with Class A Water license.
This position may be eligible for annual incentive pay and contracted increases as determined by the collective bargaining agreement, and you will have the opportunity for continued salary growth. In addition to compensation, you will receive a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more!
American Water employees also receive learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally.
Key Accountabilities
The successful candidate will know the many aspects of water distribution, chemical feed processes, sewer lift station operation, and ultimately share operating responsibilities of water and wastewater Production facilities in Chicago-Metro’s Southern region (including Alphine Heights, Fernway, American Lake Water, Homer Township, Arbury, Midwest Palos).
Knowledge/Skills
- Responsible for the safe operation of water and wastewater facilities.
- Follow all safety rules and operation procedures as established by the Company.
- Responsible for proper sample collection and related laboratory or field tests.
- Mathematical aptitude to effectively perform calculations associated with the position.
- Mechanical aptitude to service, maintain, and make minor repairs to a wide variety of machinery and equipment.
- Comply with all requirements to provide high quality water and proper wastewater treatment as established by the company and governmental regulatory and environmental agencies.
- The ability to learn and use computer programs such as Outlook, Microsoft Office, Waterly (Production Department’s data entry systems), Teams, and MapCall.
- Familiarity with SCADA computer systems for utilities.
- Must be available for work after business hours and during emergencies.
- Physical capability to perform heavy manual labor in all types of weather.
- Must be reliable, responsible, organized, resourceful, and able to think and act promptly, all while most often working alone.
- Ability to cooperate/collaborate with other operators and laboratory personnel.
- Good written and verbal skills.
- Strong problem solving and prioritizing skills.
- Expected to cross-train for awareness in other south service areas to meet SOP (South-Ops) On-Call qualification.
Experience/Education
- Possession of a valid Illinois driver’s license at the class level required to operate fleet equipment associated with the job, as well as a safe driving record with ability to pass motor vehicle background check.
- Qualified candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
- The possession of a Class C IEPA Drinking Water Operator Certification is required for this position. Consideration for this position shall be given to bidders already attaining a valid IEPA Class A, B, C, or D drinking water operator certification, those with IEPA operator in training status, or those with a reciprocal state- issued drinking water operator certificate that are able to achieve IEPA Class A, B, C, or D drinking water operator reciprocity certification.
Licences
Consideration for this position shall be given to candidates already attaining a valid IEPA Class A, B, C, or D drinking water operator certification, those with IEPA operator in training status, or those with a reciprocal state- issued drinking water operator certificate that are able to achieve IEPA Class A, B,C, or D drinking water operator reciprocity certification.
Example of Job Duties
- Perform a variety of water/wastewater field tests (e.g., Cl2 and Fluoride screening, MLSS, etc.).
- Make process adjustments based on process data and operational skillsets.
- Collect treatment and equipment data (flow data, run times, etc.).
- Collect compliance samples (water and/or wastewater).
- Adjust chemical feed systems and change chemical containers as needed.
- Maintain process and facility equipment.
- Maintain asset recordkeeping via MapCall.
- Well operation and maintenance.
- Flush system hydrants.
- Periodic customer communications..
- Perform leak investigations and coordinate and/or communicate needed repairs with excavation crews.
- General housekeeping of facilities and grounds.
- Other duties as assigned by management.
Competencies
Plans & Aligns Decision Making Communicates Effectively Builds Networks Action Oriented
Join American Water...We Keep Life Flowing™
American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.