Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Utilities Operator

🎯 Role Definition

The Utilities Operator is responsible for safe, efficient operation and routine maintenance of critical building and plant utility systems — including boilers, steam distribution, chilled water, HVAC, compressed air, pumps, water/wastewater treatment, and power distribution. This role ensures continuous service delivery by monitoring equipment, executing preventative and corrective maintenance, responding to alarms and emergencies, maintaining regulatory compliance, and documenting operations using CMMS and control systems (SCADA/PLC). Ideal candidates combine hands-on mechanical and electrical aptitude with strong safety discipline, clear communication, and experience operating within 24/7 shift environments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Maintenance Technician or Facilities Technician with hands-on HVAC/boiler experience
Apprentice or Journeyman Pipefitter/Mechanical Technician from industrial trades
Military technical roles (engineering, utilities, power generation) or plant operator trainee

Advancement To:

Lead Utilities Operator / Senior Plant Operator
Shift Supervisor or Operations Supervisor (Utilities)
Facilities Maintenance Manager / Plant Manager
Energy & Utilities Coordinator or Reliability Engineer (with additional training)

Lateral Moves:

Instrumentation & Controls Technician (SCADA/PLC focus)
HVAC/R Technician or Boiler Technician
Water/Wastewater Treatment Operator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate, monitor and adjust boilers, burners, steam traps, pressure-reducing stations, and associated feedwater systems to maintain stable steam pressure, temperature and flow within specified setpoints while minimizing fuel consumption and emissions.
Start up and shut down plant equipment (boilers, chillers, compressors, pumps, fans, cooling towers) according to procedures, ensuring correct sequencing, purge cycles, and safety interlocks are verified before placing equipment online.
Continuously monitor control room panels, SCADA screens and PLC data to detect anomalies, respond to alarms, log events, and take corrective actions to prevent outages and equipment damage.
Perform routine preventive maintenance tasks (lubrication, belt and coupling inspection, filter changes, valve exercises, pump alignment checks) and execute minor repairs to reduce downtime and extend equipment life.
Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical and instrumentation failures using diagnostic procedures, hand tools, and test equipment; coordinate emergency repairs with trades (electricians, pipefitters, welders) as required.
Conduct daily, weekly and monthly rounds of boilers, mechanical rooms, pump stations and distribution lines to inspect for leaks, vibration, unusual noises, hot spots, corrosion, and other signs of deterioration; document findings in the CMMS.
Maintain accurate and timely logs and records of operating parameters, maintenance activities, energy usage, chemical feed, and safety checks to ensure regulatory compliance and support reliable operations.
Execute Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, confined space entries and permit-required work safely, ensuring all energy isolation points are verified and documented before maintenance begins.
Operate and maintain water treatment systems (filtration, chemical feed, softening, blowdown) for boiler and cooling systems to control pH, conductivity and prevent scale/corrosion.
Inspect, test and maintain emergency generators, UPS systems and electrical distribution equipment to ensure reliable backup power during outages, including fuel checks and load testing.
Perform pump station operations, including pump selection, flow balancing, valve operation and pressure control to maintain distribution system stability and avoid cavitation or no-flow conditions.
Monitor and manage compressed air systems (dryers, receivers, filters) to maintain adequate pressure, minimize leaks and ensure instrument-quality air for control systems.
Conduct welding, brazing and mechanical fabrication tasks within scope or coordinate with certified tradespeople; ensure all hot work permits and fire watches are in place during hot work.
Respond to after-hours and on-call incidents rapidly, diagnose root causes in high-pressure situations, and coordinate restoration with internal teams and external contractors when necessary.
Ensure compliance with environmental, safety and regulatory requirements (OSHA, NFPA, EPA, local codes) by maintaining documentation, participating in audits, and implementing corrective actions.
Perform chemical handling and dosing activities safely for boilers, cooling towers and wastewater systems; maintain inventory, MSDS records and spill response readiness.
Oversee and participate in shutdowns, turnarounds and planned outages — coordinating isolations, temporary services, hot work scheduling, and post-maintenance testing to return systems to service safely and on schedule.
Inspect and repair steam traps, heat exchangers and condensate return systems to optimize efficiency, reduce energy losses and prevent water hammer and pump cavitation.
Work with energy management teams to implement conservation measures, track key performance indicators (kW, BTU, GPM) and suggest upgrades or operational changes to improve plant reliability and reduce utility costs.
Perform basic instrumentation calibration and sensor checks (pressure, temperature, flow, level), and escalate complex calibration or control loop tuning tasks to instrumentation specialists as needed.
Maintain spare parts inventory for critical equipment, recommend stocking levels, and procure long-lead items to minimize outage exposure.
Provide clear shift handover reports, including outstanding work, safety issues and performance metrics, to ensure continuity between day/night shifts and across teams.
Train and mentor junior operators and contractors on safe operating procedures, emergency protocols and plant-specific practices to build team capability and maintain consistent standards.

Secondary Functions

Create and update standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists, and emergency response plans based on operating experience and incident reviews to improve reliability and compliance.
Support preventative maintenance planning by inputting work orders, estimating hours and parts in the CMMS and helping prioritize backlog with supervisors.
Assist engineering and energy teams with data collection for energy audits, root cause analyses and capital project scoping.
Participate in safety meetings, toolbox talks and incident investigations; implement corrective and preventive actions to address identified hazards.
Coordinate contractor access, verify qualifications and ensure contractors follow site safety rules and permit-to-work systems during maintenance and construction activities.
Provide routine customer-facing communication when utilities interruptions affect building occupants, coordinating notifications and escalation as necessary.
Support inventory management and purchasing requests for consumables (chemicals, filters, gaskets) and spare parts through established procurement channels.
Contribute to shift-based continuous improvement initiatives (5S, Kaizen) to improve workspace organization and streamline maintenance workflows.
Assist in compiling regulatory reports and sampling documentation for water, wastewater and emissions monitoring to satisfy compliance schedules.
Participate in on-call rotations and maintain required certifications for emergency response readiness.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Boiler operations and boiler room safety: start/stop, feedwater control, blowdown, combustion tuning and low/high water handling.
Steam systems and condensate return troubleshooting, steam trap inspection/replacement and steam distribution balancing.
HVAC systems operations: chillers, cooling towers, air handling units, variable frequency drives (VFDs) and refrigeration basics.
SCADA and PLC fundamentals: monitoring tags, acknowledging alarms, performing basic setpoint adjustments and trend analysis.
Mechanical diagnostics: pump alignment, vibration checks, bearing replacement and seal maintenance.
Electrical troubleshooting: motor starters, control circuits, MCCs, breakers and basic 480V/240V wiring awareness.
Instrumentation and controls: PID loop basics, pressure/temperature/flow/level sensor checks and basic calibration.
Preventive maintenance and CMMS proficiency (e.g., Maximo, SAP, Fiix): creating work orders, documenting labor and parts.
Safety certifications and procedures: Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, hot work permits, and gas detection instrumentation.
Water and wastewater treatment processes: filtration, chemical feed, pH and conductivity control for boiler and cooling systems.
Emergency generator operation and testing, fuel system maintenance and automatic transfer switch (ATS) testing.
Welding, brazing or mechanical fabrication for field repairs (or coordination with certified trades).
Reading and interpreting P&IDs, electrical one-line diagrams, and maintenance drawings.

Soft Skills

Strong situational awareness and safety-first mindset with demonstrated ability to follow and enforce procedures.
Clear oral and written communication skills for shift handovers, incident reporting and coordination with multidisciplinary teams.
Problem-solving and troubleshooting under pressure, with disciplined root-cause thinking and documentation.
Time management and prioritization to balance routine rounds, reactive repairs and planned maintenance tasks.
Team player with the ability to train and mentor less-experienced operators and work collaboratively with contractors.
Dependable and flexible attitude for shift work, rotating schedules and on-call responsibilities.
Attention to detail for accurate log-keeping, parts requisition and regulatory reporting.
Adaptability to follow new technologies and continuous improvement initiatives (energy efficiency, digitalization).

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required, with demonstrated mechanical or electrical aptitude.

Preferred Education:

Vocational certificate, technical diploma or Associate’s degree in Mechanical Technology, HVAC, Electrical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, or related field.
Additional certifications (boiler operator license, water/wastewater operator certification, OSHA 10/30, NFPA training).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mechanical Technology / Industrial Maintenance
HVAC/R or Refrigeration Technology
Electrical Technology / Applied Electricity
Instrumentation & Controls
Water/Wastewater Treatment Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years of hands-on experience in industrial or commercial utilities operations, facilities maintenance, power/steam plant, or water/wastewater facilities.

Preferred:

3+ years operating boilers, steam systems, chillers, or water/wastewater plants in a 24/7 shift environment.
Proven track record with CMMS, SCADA/PLC exposure, and demonstrated safety compliance (LOTO/confined space).
Experience performing preventive maintenance, troubleshooting mechanical/electrical systems and coordinating vendor contractors.