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Position Title:

Heating and Cooling Plant Operator II

Job Category:

University Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Heat/Cool Plant Operator II

Job Duties:

This position operates a variety of equipment in the Halbert Heating Plant, which operates 24 hours a day, year-round. The operator is responsible for the operation of the natural gas/fuel oil fired boilers, various pumps, motors, air compressors, etc., during the assigned shift operation.

Operators perform a variety of duties, including monitoring, maintaining, and repair power plant equipment. This position is performed under the general supervision of the Heating/Cooling Plant Superintendent.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Ensures safe and efficient operation of the plant and its associated equipment

• Cleans and maintains work areas and equipment

• Starts, stops, and adjusts equipment settings to maintain operational requirements

• Maintains forms, logs, or reports

• Assists with preventative and corrective maintenance as needed

• Analyzes data and communicates recommendations on equipment and systems operations, both verbally and in written reports

• Assists in the training and oversight of new employees in these and other safe and efficient plant operational procedures

• Adheres to safety protocols and procedures

• Makes regular inspections of plant equipment and prepares equipment malfunction reports

• Complies with environmental protection protocols and procedures

• May work without direct supervision on shift operations

Department: Facilities Management

Reports To: Power Plant Superintendent

Full-Time: 100%, University Staff, 12-month ongoing appointment, one vacancy

Shift Expectations: Relief operator shift - various shifts on a set schedule. Rotating weekends. 8-hour shifts, 40 hours per week, with overtime possible.

UW Standard Job Responsibilities:

• Ensures safe and efficient operation of the plant and its associated equipment.
• Makes regular inspections of plant equipment and prepares equipment malfunction reports.
• Cleans and maintains work areas and equipment.
• Starts, stops, and adjusts equipment settings to maintain operational requirements.
• Maintains forms, logs, or reports.
• Analyzes data and communicates recommendations on equipment and systems operations, both verbally and in written reports
• Adheres to safety protocols and procedures.
• Complies with environmental protection protocols and procedures.
• May work without direct supervision on shift operations.
• Assists with preventative and corrective maintenance as needed.
• Assists in the training and oversight of new employees in these and other safe and efficient plant operational procedures.

Additional duties specific to the position:

Operate a variety of equipment in the plant.

• Operate boilers fired by gas and fuel oil.
• Operate valves, pumps, motors, motor controllers, air compressors, fans, blowers, generators, and water treatment equipment.
• Record and interpret readings from thermometers, pressure gauges, flow meters, digital display screens, computers, and trend screens.
• Operate/monitor emergency generator as required.
• Blow down boilers.
• Operate automatic combustion controls on automatic, manual, or local manual as necessary to meet conditions.
• Exercise judgement in the event of casualties or breakdowns with plant equipment.
• Take water samples, test water samples and interpret the results.
• Mix boiler water treatment chemicals in proper portions and regulate feed of same to maintain boiler water within control limits.
• Operate/monitor Reverse Osmosis equipment, softeners, and water pre-filters.
• Make hourly rounds of the plant monitoring equipment and climbing many flights of stairs and ladders.

Perform a variety of general repairs and maintenance.

• Diagnose problems and make minor repairs and adjustments to heating plant equipment.
• Assist with major repairs of heating plant equipment.
• Keep work area and equipment clean and in an orderly condition.
• Clean boilers
• Lubricate equipment.

Other Duties:

• Complete required trainings and professional development as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to kneel, squat, bend, climb and stretch to read gauges, thermometers, sight glasses, operate valves and perform other related duties.
• Ability to read gauges, thermometers and sight glasses.

• Ability to read and understand manuals, blueprints, and diagrams.
• Ability to work 8 hours shift, alone, in large industrial steam plant setting.
• Ability to work shift work all hours of the day, night, and weekends as scheduled.
• Ability to climb stairs and overhand ladders.
• Ability to enter manholes and exit same via overhand ladders.
• Ability to enter and work in confined spaces.
• Ability to swing a sledgehammer and be able to lift up to 75 pounds.
• Ability to operate and monitor data on computers.
• General custodial and building maintenance knowledge.
• Knowledge of the operation of natural gas and/or oil-fired steam boilers, water pumps, computers, pressure gauges, temperature gauges, flow meters, load centers, and switchboards.
• Ability to obtain permission to drive state owned vehicles.
• Knowledge of water testing and water treatment.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalency document

This position is currently ineligible for H1-B sponsorship. A qualification for this position includes independent eligibility to work within the United States upon hire date.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Strong mechanical aptitude, high and low pressure boiler knowledge/experience

Compensation & Benefits: Salary range for this position is: $24.00 - $26.00 hourly. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/univstaff.pdf.

Starting Date:  As soon as possible

Contact Information:

For additional information about UW-Superior, visit www.uwsuper.edu;

For additional information about this position, contact Jodi Komarek at jkomarek@uwsuper.edu.

Application Process:

Review of all complete applications will commence at 8:00am on December 29, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.

How to Apply:

Please click the “Apply” button to begin the application process or visit https://www.uwsuper.edu/about/employment/. You will be required to log in or create a Workday account to continue.

As part of the application process, you will be required to upload the documents listed below.  Applications will not be considered complete unless all required materials are submitted.

1.) Cover Letter

2.) Resume  

UW-Superior, A Superior Place:

The University will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identities of ‘final candidates’ must be revealed upon request. According to the Attorney General, ‘final candidates’ under Wisconsin law means the five candidates who are considered most qualified for the position. See Wis. Stat. Sec. 19.36(7)(a).

Employment will require a criminal background check, and if you have prior work history within the last seven years with Universities of Wisconsin or State of Wisconsin agencies, a personnel file review check for employee misconduct. It will also require your references to answer questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University reserves the right to check references with notice given to the candidates at the appropriate time in the process.

Employment is subject to federal laws that require verification of identity and legal right to work in the United States as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

For UW-Superior campus safety information and crime statistics, review the Annual Security Report or contact the University Police Department Safety at 715-394-8114 for a printed copy.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.