West PDX Today

Rudy Mendoza never really thought about the water that runs through his Hillsboro home.

Like most of us, Rudy assumed the water would always be there when he turned a tap — and gone after flushing a toilet. But, beyond that it was a mystery.

“A lot of people don’t really think about water in our daily lives,” he admits.

Now, as a graduate of Hillsboro’s Water Operator-in-Training program, Rudy thinks about water all day long. He and fellow graduate Jacob Medel Soriano work to deliver high quality water to Hillsboro’s homes and businesses.

“We learned about everything it takes to treat, store, and serve the water,” Jacob says. “The whole process is in our hands.”

Careers for Community Members

The City of Hillsboro’s Water Operator-in-Training (OIT) program is a paid, one-year, internship position. Designed to help create a diverse workforce that reflects Hillsboro’s diverse community, prospective interns must be current City of Hillsboro residents and a member of a historically marginalized community.

The earn-as-you-learn approach helps remove barriers — like the high cost of training and certification — that often keep otherwise qualified candidates from the job.

“After I heard I could get paid while I train, I said, ‘sign me up!’” Jacob says.

Jacob left a somewhat unsatisfying 20-year career to join the program. During the 12 months of training, he and Rudy (who got out of the Marine Corps after eight years of service as a combat engineer, finished college, and left an unsatisfying office career during covid) dove deep into the industry.

Together, they got their hands dirty learning about water treatment, water distribution, and wastewater system operations. They also established credits and hours toward an Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Operator Certification and a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Wastewater Certification.

Now, both Rudy and Jacob are full-time, certified water operators with the City of Hillsboro Water Department. Along with earning a good wage with excellent benefits, the pair take a lot of pride in their work.

“It is a great feeling to represent my community,” Rudy says. “This position gives me the job satisfaction I was looking for."

More Job Opportunities for Homegrown Talent

The City of Hillsboro began its Water Operator-in-Training program in 2022, graduating job-ready technicians.

These certified graduates are qualified to apply for openings in Hillsboro’s Water and Public Works departments. Or they can apply their valuable skills to similar positions in other jurisdictions. This portability gives Jacob peace of mind.

“I have a title, a back-up plan,” he says. “I’m a Water Operator.” 

The Hillsboro Water Department is not currently hiring for Operator-In-Training positions, but the program will be seeking new applicants in the future.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about the program, watch this video and contact Hillsboro Water at 503-615-6702 or by email.

Original source can be found here