Operator Trainee - Water and Wastewater Treatment

Fort Meade, FL April 9, 2026 Full Time
Woodard & Curran is a national engineering, science, and operations firm with a simple vision for clean water, a safe environment, healthy communities, and happy people. As an employee-owned company, we strive to cultivate teams that encourage collaboration in an inclusive culture. We seek talented individuals from all backgrounds to help us address a broad range of water and environmental issues. We prioritize our people, offering opportunities for professional growth, ownership, and flexibility. This commitment enables us to make a meaningful impact on our clients, communities, and the planet.

Woodard & Curran draws on the experience of hundreds of certified operators across the country, backed by the knowledge and skills of hundreds of engineers, scientists, and regulatory experts, to quickly tackle the most challenging operational issues and keep treatment plants running efficiently and in full compliance.  Woodard & Curran also promotes and aids employees in earning, upgrading, and keeping their certifications within the industry.

 

Why a career in water and wastewater treatment?

 

Making an impact!

Everyone needs clean water- for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing….. even to flush the toilet!  Providing high quality water to your community allows you to make a significant impact not only on the environment, but in the lives of your neighbors, family, and friends.  The ability to turn on your faucet knowing that clean water will always come out is a luxury that we have come to expect.

 

State of the art technology!

Like all things, the way we treat our water changes with the times. Much of the process involves using up-to-date technology that allows you to learn a variety of digital platforms.  This assists us in keeping a treatment facility running efficiently and accurately in order to meet compliance standards that are put in place for producing a safe product. 

 

Career Stability!

The need for clean water will never go away which makes this one of the most recession-proof careers out there. Woodard & Curran provides the chance to grow and develop a life-long career through hands-on learning, assistance and rewards for achieving treatment licenses, additional continuing education in the industry, and opportunities for advancement… all the way from intern to senior level managers!

 

 

What will you be doing at Woodard & Curran?

 

The successful Operator Trainee candidate regularly participates in the daily operations and maintenance of the City’s Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants and Collection and Distribution Systems as directed by Woodard & Curran’s management. The ideal candidate will work a scheduled day shift and be required to participate in an on-call rotation on weekends, holidays and outside normal shift hours for alarm call outs and possible shift coverage.  

 

What will you need to succeed?

 

  • High School or trade school diploma is required.
  • Entry level candidates will be considered, and a valid State of Florida Class "C" Drinking Water and/or a valid State of Florida Class "C" Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators license is preferred.
  • Working knowledge of the principles, procedures, methods, equipment, materials, and tools employed in the operation' and maintenance of the Water and Wastewater Treatment, Collection and Distribution systems.
  • Knowledge of, or the ability to learn, the hazards and safety precautions involved in water and wastewater treatment work.
  • Knowledge of computer applications for water quality sample data and maintenance record keeping.
  • Ability to read, interpret, and apply instructions, drawings, and specifications for work assigned.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, other personnel, and the general public.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  • Ability to lift up to 40 pounds on a regular basis.
  • Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check, pre-placement physical and drug screen before employment.

Woodard & Curran draws on the experience of hundreds of certified operators across the country, backed by the knowledge and skills of hundreds of engineers, scientists, and regulatory experts, to quickly tackle the most challenging operational issues and keep treatment plants running efficiently and in full compliance.  Woodard & Curran also promotes and aids employees in earning, upgrading, and keeping their certifications within the industry.

 

Why a career in water and wastewater treatment?

 

Making an impact!

Everyone needs clean water- for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing….. even to flush the toilet!  Providing high quality water to your community allows you to make a significant impact not only on the environment, but in the lives of your neighbors, family, and friends.  The ability to turn on your faucet knowing that clean water will always come out is a luxury that we have come to expect.

 

State of the art technology!

Like all things, the way we treat our water changes with the times. Much of the process involves using up-to-date technology that allows you to learn a variety of digital platforms.  This assists us in keeping a treatment facility running efficiently and accurately in order to meet compliance standards that are put in place for producing a safe product. 

 

Career Stability!

The need for clean water will never go away which makes this one of the most recession-proof careers out there. Woodard & Curran provides the chance to grow and develop a life-long career through hands-on learning, assistance and rewards for achieving treatment licenses, additional continuing education in the industry, and opportunities for advancement… all the way from intern to senior level managers!

 

 

What will you be doing at Woodard & Curran?

 

The successful Operator Trainee candidate regularly participates in the daily operations and maintenance of the City’s Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants and Collection and Distribution Systems as directed by Woodard & Curran’s management. The ideal candidate will work a scheduled day shift and be required to participate in an on-call rotation on weekends, holidays and outside normal shift hours for alarm call outs and possible shift coverage.  

 

What will you need to succeed?

 

  • High School or trade school diploma is required.
  • Entry level candidates will be considered, and a valid State of Florida Class "C" Drinking Water and/or a valid State of Florida Class "C" Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators license is preferred.
  • Working knowledge of the principles, procedures, methods, equipment, materials, and tools employed in the operation' and maintenance of the Water and Wastewater Treatment, Collection and Distribution systems.
  • Knowledge of, or the ability to learn, the hazards and safety precautions involved in water and wastewater treatment work.
  • Knowledge of computer applications for water quality sample data and maintenance record keeping.
  • Ability to read, interpret, and apply instructions, drawings, and specifications for work assigned.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, other personnel, and the general public.
  • Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  • Ability to lift up to 40 pounds on a regular basis.
  • Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check, pre-placement physical and drug screen before employment.
Employee Support & Benefits
 
Retirement Savings:
       401(k) Pre-tax or Roth Contributions: The company matches 100% of the first 3% of salary contributed
 
Time away from work:
       Observed holidays: Choose up to 8 holidays to observe annually
       Vacation: Accrued based on years of experience and calculated on hours worked
       Sick time: Paid sick time for non-work-related illness or injury.
       Parental leave: Up to 80 hours of Paid Parental Leave for child bonding
 
Coverage and support for your needs and well-being:
       Disability: Paid short- and long-term disability
       Health: Medical plan options; plus dental and vision plans.
       Life: Basic employee group life insurance and AD&D benefits; additional voluntary life insurance for employees and families is available through Sun Life.
       Wellbeing: DarioMind assistance program combined with personalized mental health and wellbeing resources.
 
E-Verify Participation
Woodard & Curran participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. As part of this process, we display the required Notice of E-Verify Participation and Right to Work posters. To view the Right to Work and E-Verify Posters combined posters, click here.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Woodard & Curran is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply. We are committed to ensuring our employment practices are non-discriminatory and based solely on job-related factors.  To read our entire Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement, click here. To view the EEOC Workplace Discrimination is Illegal poster and supplement, click here.
 
If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to apply, please contact Beth Sweitzer.
 
Inclusion & Belonging
We welcome individuals from all backgrounds to apply, as we believe that different perspectives and experiences enrich our workplace and enhance our ability to serve our clients and communities effectively.
 
At Woodard & Curran, we are committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment. We understand that the best solutions for our clients and communities come from a culture that nurtures the success and growth of all employees. As an employee-owned organization, our dedication to fostering growth, access and opportunity empowers us to serve our clients effectively and advance our mission of making a positive impact on the world. Our success is rooted in supporting our team members to reach their full potential, enabling us to deliver the most innovative, sound and effective solutions to improve our communities around us.
 
Non-Solicitation Disclosure:
Please be advised that we do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from recruitment agencies. Any resumes or candidate profiles submitted without a signed contract in place will be considered unsolicited and will not be eligible for any referral fees. Recruitment agencies must have a valid signed agreement with our company prior to following the submission process to consider potential candidates.
 
Text Message Communication Notice:
We know your time is valuable! To keep things moving, we may send brief SMS reminders or updates during the hiring process. If you prefer not to receive texts, you can opt out by replying STOP.
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