Water Network Operator

Grade and Salary G (€32,213 - €48,319)

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.

We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.

The Role: 

The Asset Operations function forms the cornerstone of service delivery to customers, protecting the environment and meeting regulatory standards as well as managing the majority of operational expenditure. The Asset Operations function has responsibility for operational and maintenance strategy, policies, planning and standard operating procedures for Water and Wastewater operations both nationally and regionally, ensuring that value for money and customer service is delivered. The O&M team is responsible for the national delivery of water and wastewater operational services through the operation, inspection, maintenance & repair of the water and wastewater treatment and network assets. 

The Regional O&M Team has a regional remit and is responsible for the regional operational management of water or wastewater treatment and network assets and the associated delivery of water/wastewater services through operational, maintenance and repair activities, while managing health and safety. The team is also responsible for the implementation of the regional operations, maintenance and repair plan that forms part of the national operations, maintenance and repair plan, contributing to the development, management, implementation and approval of same. Managing change and transformation activities is a key aspect of this team's responsibility particularly in the initial phases as the regional operations team splits into separate water and wastewater teams and ways of working are standardised.

Reporting to the Water Network Operations Team Lead, the Water Network Operator has a remit over a geographical area and is responsible for supporting the operation of the water network assets to deliver a consistent customer service, carry out routine maintenance activities on the water network asset base. The Water Network Operator will be a key interface with the customer and will resolve issues first time where possible.

Out of hours working will be required and appropriate overtime and standby rates will apply

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operate the water network (e.g. operating valves, service reservoirs, pipeline fittings, identifying bursts etc.) including operating secondary treatment points on the network to deliver a consistent customer service and carrying out routine maintenance activities on the water network assets (e.g. maintenance of valves, pumping stations, flushing mains etc.)
• Regularly check the chemical dosing measures at pumping stations and other odour control activities and support Water Compliance and Sampling teams in operational sampling activity including new mains, burst repairs and failures and report on results of the analysis as required.
• Inform the customer about issues and resolutions, investigate and follow up on escalated customer complaints/local representative in order to support the delivery of a consistent customer service and manage the risk associated with public health and compliance.
• Support Customer teams including Key Account Managers and Customer Service with any customer issues/queries or where works impact customer service delivery in the area.
• Represent Uisce Éireann in the field as the first responder. Advise customers on Uisce Éireann policies and codes of practice
• Perform water infrastructure investigation and identify interventions on the network escalating as required to the Water Network Operations Team Lead
• Operate valves in accordance with controlled valve procedure, in order to avoid adverse impacts on the network
• Responsible for responding to alarms and carrying out investigations to deliver a consistent customer service 
• Support and participate in incident and emergency response as necessary, ensuring all health and safety standards are met 
• Actively investigate chamber covers for signs of damage
• Escalate issues to the Water Network Operations Team Lead as necessary
• Ensure data capture on issues that are relevant to the development of operational, maintenance and repair plans
• Responsible for working to schedules and closing work orders to perform water network operations activities using the technology systems provided
• Update relevant systems and report on customer’s issues / problems including task requests and GIS updates
• Ensure all information is accurately reported and promptly recorded for audit purposes using the technology systems provided
• Perform reactive investigations and raise work order requests for resolution, escalating to the Water Network Team Lead when necessary and providing adequate information for responding to customers
• Responsible for undertaking administrative tasks, including the completion of timesheets, work orders, raising of purchase requests, H&S records and inventory management using the technology systems provided

• Engage with internal and external stakeholders as required. For example:

  • Landowners
  • Local Authorities
  • Relevant IW personnel 
  • Third parties/contractors
• Responsible for issuing of permits to work/access/transfers to all relevant contractors within their area remit and ensure they follow all health and safety procedures
• Responsible for monitoring readings from online monitors on the water network and at service reservoirs 
• Responsible for supporting with leakage detection to maintain service levels and liaising with the Leakage Detection team as required
• Ensure that any damage caused to an asset, by a third party or otherwise, is captured and declared to the Water Network Operations Team Lead when required
• Support in the undertaking of capital works on the network 
• Support in the operation of newly commissioned/upgraded assets as required by undertaking appropriate training and / or undertaking additional tasks
• Participate in out of hours and standby working as required 
• Responsible for operating and maintaining Uisce Éireann vehicles and machinery, as required, in a responsible manner in line with all relevant Uisce Éireann vehicle, health, safety and security policies. Where the use of an Uisce Éireann vehicle is required, the following responsibilities will apply: 
• Responsible for carrying out any other duties deemed necessary and / or required, which the Water Network Operations Team Lead may reasonably request

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business
• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards. 
• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives.
• Conducts duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann’s Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information, and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation.
• Carry out any other duties deemed necessary and / or required which your line manager may reasonably request

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Secondary level education or equivalent work experience 
• Full, clean and valid Irish category B driving licence is minimum requirement. A clean driving licence is defined as meaning that the applicant has not been convicted of an offence under the Road Traffic Acts (other than an offence for which the penalty is the imposition of penalty points). Additional Driving License categories an advantage
• We keep each other safe - experience/understanding of working within a strong health & safety culture 
• Knowledge of the water network, infrastructure and operations is an advantage
• Sound knowledge and experience of all skills required for water network infrastructure and operations preferred 
• A basic awareness or understanding of water networks and knowledge of water network processes is an advantage 
• Experience of using IT systems 
• We aim high - strong problem solving skills
• We Deliver for Customers & Communities - strong customer service skills
• With full training and risk assessment, the role holder must have the ability to work in an environment that is sometimes uncomfortable or potentially hazardous such as: working with hazardous chemicals; sewage; confined spaces; lone working; remote working; deep water; animals; vermin; noise; hand and arm vibration, etc. This involves successful completion of occupational health assessment confirming suitability to work in such environments 
• Literacy skills
• Experience working within Water Services and/or other Utilities an advantage

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