Attracting Operators to the Field
Olga Mikhalchishina, Bradley Hayes · Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation · 2024
Attracting Operators to the FieldAbstractThe wastewater industry has been dealing with significant workforce challenges. Woodard and Curran O&M also faced this issue and to solve it, partnered with X-Cel Conservation Corps (XCC). We would like to share the story of successful regional collaboration in the state of Massachusetts. XCC focuses on matching young adults from Greater Boston with educational and career opportunities focused on water conservation and wastewater management. The program consists of 3 Phases described below. Phase 1: X-Cel Conservation Corps (XCC) members engage in 8 hours a week of paid water conservation work projects on a work crew in partnership with local environmental organizations in order to gain tangible work experience in the field of water conservation. These work projects serve several purposes: the corps members develop workforce-readiness skills that are sought by employers, the work projects improve the environment, and the projects are primarily focused on teaching specific skills connected to drinking water and wastewater treatment, such as water quality testing. Simultaneously, during Phase 1, XCC members participate in weekly wastewater treatment classes taught by X-Cel staff members to prepare corps members to pass the Massachusetts Grade Three Municipal Wastewater Operator's License exam. In addition, XCC members receive weekly instruction videos along with practice questions to review their skills. XCC members take weekly tests on the material taught in the classes. They are paid based on their participation in the water conservation work projects and passing the weekly wastewater treatment exams. XCC members who do not yet have a high school diploma simultaneously participate in HiSET preparation classes three mornings/week and corps members who do not have a driving license are given preparation assistance to take their learner's permit exam and are enrolled in driving classes to obtain their driving license. At the end of Phase 1 each corps member who passes a final practice exam is signed up to take their Grade Three Municipal Wastewater License exam. Phase 2: Following the completion of Phase 1 and passing their high school equivalency exam, XCC members are placed in individualized paid internships with Woodard and Curran for additional work experience and networking in the fields of wastewater management. Internships are for 20 hours/week for 10-14 weeks. While participating in their internships, XCC members are given time to study for higher level wastewater operator licenses and are encouraged to sit for those state license exams at the end of their internship. In some cases, XCC members with Grade 3 licenses choose to apply directly for open wastewater operator positions before participating in an internship. XCC members who desire to enter a related field but do not want to pursue a career in wastewater management will not be placed in an internship but will be given assistance and support to enroll in post-secondary education or training for that career (i.e. recent XCC members chose to enroll in local community colleges to study Zoology and to study Engineering). Phase 3: Job placement assistance into jobs in the wastewater management or conservation fields. At this point XCC members will have both wastewater operator licenses and work experience from the paid internship, giving them the qualifications for securing full-time employment in the wastewater management field, essential jobs in a field with high demand for additional employees.This paper was presented at the WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference, February 13-16, 2024.SpeakerMikhalchishina, OlgaPresentation time14:00:0014:30:00Session time13:30:0015:00:00SessionWorkforce Development: A Focus on OperatorsSession number05Session locationOregon Convention Center, Portland, OregonTopicOtherTopicOtherAuthor(s)Mikhalchishina, OlgaAuthor(s)O. Mikhalchishina1, B. Hayes1Author affiliation(s)Woodard & Curran Inc 1;SourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Feb 2024DOI10.2175/193864718825159305Volume / Issue Content sourceUtility Management ConferenceWord count6