USDA Circuit Rider Alaska Rural Water Association
Job Title: USDA Circuit Rider Salary $35 per hour
Reports To: Executive Director Position Type: Full Time
Revision Date: 02/15/2024 FLSA: Non-Exempt
Program Management
• Submit travel plans in a timely manner to the online travel calendar, and as needed when plans change.
• Produce and follow a yearly Operational Plan as required by NRWA.
• Visit a USDA Rural Development District office as required by NRWA.
• Produce and submit reports as required by ARWA and NRWA in established formats to meet required due dates.
• Provide the ARWA office with accurate and complete travel vouchers, timesheets, etc. by required due dates.
• Keep all expenses within budget.
• Comply with all NRWA USDA Circuit Rider program procedures and requirements.
• Provide monthly Board report of the prior month’s activity to the Office Manager by the third working day of each month in established format.
Onsite Assistance
• Complete a minimum of 23 quality onsite contacts per month with eligible systems in accordance with NRWA requirements.
• Coordinate travel with other Circuit Riders to geographically travel the entire state as much as possible and avoid duplication and excessive repeat visits. Must visit a minimum of three (3) systems each month that have not been visited in the previous six (6) months.
• Contact as many new systems as possible during a contract year; solicit new members.
• Coordinate technical assistance activity with other ARWA staff.
• Properly prioritize technical requests according to need.
• Focus on training, rather than “fixing,” when conducting onsite technical assistance.
• Use ARWA equipment in a professional, safe, and proper manner.
• Adhere to OSHA/AKOSHA requirements at all times.
• Plan travel as efficiently as possible to minimize expenses, including overtime, and maximize geographic coverage.
Training
• Attend training sessions conducted by ARWA, as time and workload permit.
• Promote attendance at all ARWA training sessions and conferences.
• Assist in ARWA conference agenda development/implementation and securing speakers and vendors.
• Attend and actively participate in ARWA conference(s).
• Attend NRWA In-Service training and Annual WaterPro Conference as required.
• Continually strive to improve training skills and knowledge of the drinking water field.
Other
• Promote and support ARWA’s mission and goals at all times; show initiative and creativity in furthering the mission and goals.
• Attend and actively participate in staff meetings and all other meetings as required.
• Write articles for ARWA magazine and others as required or requested and submit them by established due dates.
• Assist with membership development and retention.
• Project a friendly, helpful, positive attitude to the public and fellow employees.
• Project a professional appearance and attitude at all times.
• Must be a team player.
• Provide safe and reliable transportation; personal vehicle to have insurance in accordance with ARWA policies and state law at all times.
• Maintain Alaska driver’s license in accordance with state law.
• Adhere to all ARWA Employee Manual, policies, and procedures.
Skills/Qualifications
• High school diploma or GED.
• Multi-year employment required (5 years minimum preferred) in working for, operating, maintaining, or managing a rural/community water system with an ADEC Level 1 or higher certification for water distribution and/or treatment (or other state equivalent).
• A well-rounded technical knowledge of rural and small system needs and methods of meeting those needs.
• Technical knowledge of operating, maintaining, and managing a rural/community water/wastewater system; Alaska Water Treatment and/or Distribution certification preferred.
• An understanding of budget/financial management.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally, and in writing, with operators, decision makers, regulatory agencies, and other professionals.
• Ability to identify, locate, and explain water/wastewater problems to system operators and decision-makers and provide suggestions for solutions.
• Knowledge and understanding of regulations, monitoring, and reporting requirements.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout the state.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Experience with utilities in cold weather climates.
Preferred Qualifications
• Sanitary survey inspector certified, or the ability to become certified within one year.
• Backflow tester certified, or the ability to become certified within one year.
• GIS experience using ESRI software.
Benefits* Package Includes:
Medical Insurance
- ARWA pays 100% of the premium for employee
- ARWA will pay 50% of the premium for employee’s spouse/family
- Payment-in-lieu-of health insurance of $1,200 per year available
- Medical insurance includes vision, prescription, and dental coverage (currently through Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska)
- Medical and vision have a $2,000 annual deductible per covered individual (for in-network providers) with ARWA reimbursing up to a maximum of $1,750 (after the first $250 is paid) and a $6,000 annual out-of-pocket maximum for individual coverage (for in-network providers)
- Dental has a $2,000 maximum yearly benefit with co-pays ranging 0%-50%.
Retirement
- ARWA offers a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan
- ARWA will match up to a 3% employee contribution
- Employee can contribute more through payroll deductions, up to IRS limits
Paid Leave (Eligible to use after six months of employment)
- Employees accrue 3.70 hours of paid sick leave per pay period
- Employees accrue 3.08 hours of paid vacation leave per pay period (increases in third year)
- Nine paid holidays are observed with an additional three paid floating holidays per calendar year
Employee Pay
- ARWA pays bi-weekly on Fridays
- Direct deposit is available
Travel Expenses
- ARWA pays for work-related travel expenses including airline tickets, rental cars, and lodging
- Mileage and meal/incidental expense (M&IE) per diem is paid bi-weekly on Fridays (same day as regular pay days)
- Employee is issued laptop, cell phone, and corporate credit card
- Employees retain airline miles
Additional Employee Benefits
- ARWA pays for basic arctic gear (remains ARWA property)
- Opportunities for professional development including additional certifications (sanitary survey, backflow testing, etc.)
- ARWA pays for training and renewals to maintain Alaska Operator certifications
- Flexibility with schedules, 4/10s available on a non-recurring basis
- Relocation expenses up to $5,000 is available.
* All benefits are subject to funding availability, restrictions as outlined in the Employee Manual, and are subject to change at any time.
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other duties as assigned to meet ongoing needs of the Association.
USDA Wastewater Training & Technical Assistance Specialist Alaska Rural Water Association
Position Type: Full Time Salary: $35/hr
Reports To: Executive Director Revision Date: 06/21/24 FLSA: Non-Exempt
Program Management
- Submit travel plans in a timely manner to online travel calendar, and as needed when plans change.
- Produce and follow a yearly Operational Plan as required by NRWA.
- Visit a USDA Rural Development District office as required by NRWA.
- Produce and submit reports as required by ARWA and NRWA in established formats to meet required due dates.
- Provide ARWA office with accurate travel vouchers, timesheets, etc. by the required due dates.
- Keep all expenses within budget.
- Comply with all NRWA USDA Wastewater TAT program procedures and requirements.
- Provide monthly Board report of prior month’s activity to Office Manager by third working day of each month in established format.
Onsite Assistance
- Plan, coordinate, advertise, track registration, and print/mail certificates as needed for all wastewater training.
- Complete a minimum of 23 quality onsite contacts per month with eligible systems in accordance with NRWA requirements.
- Geographically travel the entire state as much as possible, coordinating with other program staff to minimize duplicate visits.
- Contact as many new systems as possible during any given contract year and solicit new members.
- Coordinate technical assistance activity with other ARWA staff.
- Properly prioritize technical requests according to need.
- Focus on training, rather than “fixing,” when conducting onsite technical assistance.
- Organize and implement wastewater training sessions per program year; coordinate with EPA Training Coordinator/Office Manager.
- Use ARWA equipment in a professional manner, following all required asset management requirements.
- Adhere to OSHA/AKOSHA procedures at all times.
- Plan travel as efficiently as possible to minimize expense, including overtime, and maximize geographic coverage.
- Introduce new wastewater training regularly to meet system needs, requests, requirements, and to stimulate new attendance.
Training
- Attend training sessions conducted by ARWA, as time and work load permit.
- Promote attendance to all ARWA training sessions and conferences.
- Assist in ARWA conference agenda development/implementation and securing speakers and vendors.
- Attend and actively participate in ARWA conference(s).
- Attend NRWA In-Service training and Annual WaterPro Conference as required.
- Continually strive to improve training skills and knowledge of the wastewater field.
Other
- Promote and support ARWA’s mission and goals at all times; show initiative and creativity in furthering the mission and goals.
- Attend and actively participate in staff meetings and all other meetings as required.
- Write articles for ARWA magazine and others as required or requested and submit by established due dates.
- Assist with membership development and retention.
- Project a friendly, helpful, positive attitude to the public and fellow employees.
- Project a professional appearance and attitude at all times.
- Must be a team player.
- Provide safe and reliable transportation; personal vehicle to have insurance in accordance with ARWA policies and state laws at all times.
- Maintain Alaska driver’s license in accordance with state law.
- Adhere to all ARWA Employee Manual, policies, and procedures.
Skills/Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED.
- Multi-year employment required (5 years minimum preferred) in working for, operating, maintaining, or managing a rural/community water/wastewater system with an ADEC Level 1 or higher certification for wastewater collection and/or treatment (or other state equivalent).
- A well-rounded technical knowledge of operating, maintaining, and managing a rural/community wastewater system.
- An understanding of budget/financial conditions.
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally, and in writing with operators, decision makers, regulatory agencies, and other professionals.
- Ability to identify, locate, and explain wastewater problems to field personnel and decision makers and provide suggestions for solutions.
- Knowledge and understanding of regulations, monitoring, and reporting requirements.
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout the state.
- Ability to coordinate and/or conduct wastewater training to diverse groups.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
- Experience with utilities in cold weather climates.
Preferred Qualifications
- Backflow tester certified, or the ability to become certified within one year
Benefits* Package Includes:
Medical Insurance
- ARWA pays 100% of the premium for employee
- ARWA will pay 50% of the premium for employee’s spouse/family
- Payment-in-lieu-of health insurance of $1,200 per year available
- Medical insurance includes vision, prescription, and dental coverage (currently through Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska)
- Medical and vision have a $2,000 annual deductible per covered individual (for in-network providers) with ARWA reimbursing up to a maximum of $1,750 (after the first $250 is paid) and a $6,000 annual out-of-pocket maximum for individual coverage (for in-network providers)
- Dental has a $2,000 maximum yearly benefit with co-pays ranging 0%-50%.
Retirement
- ARWA offers a SIMPLE IRA retirement plan
- ARWA will match up to a 3% employee contribution
- Employee can contribute more through payroll deductions, up to IRS limits
Paid Leave (Eligible to use after six months of employment)
- Employees accrue 3.70 hours of paid sick leave per pay period
- Employees accrue 3.08 hours of paid vacation leave per pay period (increases in third year)
- Nine paid holidays are observed with an additional three paid floating holidays per calendar year
Employee Pay
- ARWA pays bi-weekly on Fridays
- Direct deposit is available
Travel Expenses
- ARWA pays for work-related travel expenses including airline tickets, rental cars, and lodging
- Mileage and meal/incidental expense (M&IE) per diem is paid bi-weekly on Fridays (same day as regular pay days)
- Employee is issued laptop, cell phone, and corporate credit card
- Employees retain airline miles
Additional Employee Benefits
- ARWA pays for basic arctic gear (remains ARWA property)
- Opportunities for professional development including additional certifications (sanitary survey, backflow testing, etc.)
- ARWA pays for training and renewals to maintain Alaska Operator certifications
- Flexibility with schedules, 4/10s available on a non-recurring basis
- Relocation expenses up to $5,000 is available.
* All benefits are subject to funding availability, restrictions as outlined in the Employee Manual, and are subject to change at any time.
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other duties as assigned to meet ongoing needs of the Association.