Job Description

Posting number: IHA-05030 7/20/2026

Department: Colorado Department of Human Services

Division: AS - Facilities Management

Job classification: Utility Plant Operator I

Posting type: Open

Categories: Building Maintenance, Facility Management, Trades, Miscellaneous, Maintenance, Utilities, Custodial, Building & Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance, Faculty

Division of Facilities Management - North District

The Division of Facilities Management (DFM) is a customer-driven support organization responsible for operating, maintaining and managing the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) facilities and campuses according to all applicable standards. This is done in a manner that promotes the CDHS mission of providing a safe, sanitary and effective environment for clients, youth, residents, patients, consumers and staff and enhances the quality of life in CDHS facilities, campuses and in the surrounding neighborhoods. These services include the day-to-day facility maintenance and operational needs of buildings, grounds, custodial and fleet services.

North District services the following facilities:

• Colorado Mental Health Hospital at Fort Logan (CMHHFL)

• Wheat Ridge Regional Center to include 20 Group Homes

• Gilliam Youth Services Center

• Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center (Aspire, Golden Peak, and Summit YSCs)

• Marvin W. Foote Youth Services Center

• Mount View Youth Services Center

• Platte Valley Youth Services Center

• Prairie Vista Youth Services Center

Examples of duties

This is a full time, in person and essential position.

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.

This work unit exists to operate, maintain and manage the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Central heat plant, facilities and campuses according to all applicable standards in a manner that promotes the CDHS mission of providing a safe, sanitary and effective environment for clients, youth, residents, consumers and staff and enhances the quality of life in CDHS facilities and campuses and in the surrounding neighborhoods.

This position exists to provide operations and maintenance functions for the facilities’ physical plant equipment located within the Heat plant structure, and outside factors, by performing essential operational functions, maintenance, cleanliness, preservation, scheduled and emergency repairs (electrical and mechanical) to insure effective, operational practices to insure equipment longevity.

The Central Heat Plant monitors the Energy Management System (EMS), the Monaco D-21 Fire Alarm (a Life/Safety System), performs dispatch duties for service calls, coordinates maintenance functions that affect the EMS and to perform whatever administrative functions are needed to document regulatory compliance and task completion.

Primary Job Duties

• Operation and maintenance of high temperature hot water generators using natural gas, and diesel, analysis of all process fluids entering and leaving the steam plant, by utilizing accepted methods of analysis to obtain the desired results.

• To operate and maintain all environmental emission control systems to insure a safe environment at all times, which includes proper operation while burning natural gas or fuel oil.

• Accomplishes assigned scheduled preventative equipment maintenance by following the guidelines established by the plant supervisor, Follows manufactures guidelines and equipment status.

• Maintains plant cleanliness.

• Ensure proper operation of plant machinery including valves, pumps, fans, turbines, electric motors, coal and ash handling system components, piping distribution system components and digital control system components.

• Troubleshoot and repair to restore proper operation of plant machinery including piping systems, valves, pumps, fans, turbines, electric motors, coal and ash handling system components and digital control system components.

• Monitors, adjusts and operates the High Temperature Hot Water Generators at J Plant; as well as related equipment to include: fans, pumps, piping systems, valves, gauges, and computer based Direct Drive Control (DCC) systems, Emergency Diesel Generators (usually called EGEN’s) as well as the Energy Management System and the Monaco D 21 Fire Alarm System etc.

• In addition essential services such as electrical distribution, high temperature hot water (HTHW) as an energy source that provides heating, hot water, process steam and emergency electrical power for the Ft. Logan campus.

• Monitors and maintains equipment in the central utility plant for the Lookout Mountain Youth Service Center (LMYSC) campus.

• Provides support for various equipment located at the various sites around the state. Some examples are emergency generators, fuel tanks, fuel lines, mobile generators and other associated equipment.

• Answers phones from building tenants; directs calls and dispatches DFM personnel and others as necessary.

• Coordinates and oversees after hours emergencies as required.

• Provides appropriate notification to supervisory personnel and / or the management team.

• The building J Plant Control Room is the North District Operations Center.

• Monitor Apogee facility automation system for alarms that need to be addressed during 2nd and 3rd shifts.

• Notify night truck mechanics or trade shop supervisors as appropriate for situations that need immediate attention.

• Answer phones from building tenants during 2nd and 3rd shifts and determine which requests need to be addressed immediately.

• Notifies night truck mechanics on 2nd shift or trade shop supervisors on 3rd shift.

• When required, it operates, tests, and maintains diesel powered emergency electric generators in accordance with manufacturers specifications and Joints Commissions standards.

• Maintains grounds area surrounding building, operates state vehicles and all other duties as assigned.

• Performs water testing and chemical treatment on HTHW generators, boilers, cooling towers, feed water, condensate, chilled water, condenser water systems and other testing as required.

• Snow removal.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Possession of a valid Stationary Engineer License “A”, ASOPE or equivalent. You must attach your license/certification to this job application.

Conditions of Employment:

• A full pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges.
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.

• Must be willing to submit and pass a full background check.

• This position must possess and maintain a valid Stationary Engineer License “A”, ASOPE, or equivalent license/certification within 9 months of hire and maintain throughout employment in this position.

• Must possess and maintain a valid non-restricted Colorado driver’s license.

  • Out-of-State Driver’s License holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License within 30 days of employment start date.

• Must successfully pass Motor Vehicle Check

• Travel – This position will be required to drive State Vehicles as part of daily work assignment from site to site equipped with tools to perform daily duties. May be required to travel to training and meetings. On occasion, this position travels to other districts.
  

• Must be willing to receive an annual influenza vaccination or provide a document for a medical exemption or a letter for religious exemption.

• Must successfully pass a Tuberculosis (TB) test.

• Must be available to respond in person to after hours calls via call back to perform essential and/or emergency services without delay and/or interruption.

• Will be required to work various hours for coverage, weather related issues and essential/emergency services outside of normal business hours.

• Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials – Explain: Proximity to moving, mechanical parts, Exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals. Exposure to electrical shock, and or working in high exposed places, Fuels, Fuel by products, lubricating oil and greases, chemicals used to both test and treat all waters associated with the plant.

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

• Disclose that information on the application.

• Provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position.

• Provide the employee number from the applicant’s prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.

• You can find the official appeal form here

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

  • By email: dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us or or

  • Postmarked in US Mail to: 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or

  • Hand delivered to: 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or

  • Faxed to 303.866.5038 within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At 303.866.3300, or

• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Supplemental information

How to Apply

For additional recruiting questions, please contact michele.burkhardt@state.so.us

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together:We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to cdhs_ada@state.co.us

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.