Utility Operator I

Covia responsibly provides minerals solutions for a better tomorrow. As a leading provider of diversified minerals, our products support a variety of industrial markets, including glass, ceramics, coatings, metals, foundry, polymers, construction, water filtration, and sports and recreation. Long-standing relationships with a broad customer base enable Covia’s market-inspired approach to innovation to enhance solutions and customer benefits. Underpinning these strengths is an unwavering commitment to safety and to sustainable development, further enhancing the value that Covia delivers to all its stakeholders.

Covia is looking for a dynamic Utility Operator who will have a positive impact on our team at our Pevely, MO sand mine and mineral processing location.  The Utility Operator is accountable to ensure the safe and productive operation of the plant and must possess aptitude and proficiency for multiple disciplines within the heavy industrial mining process and operation of equipment associated with all functional areas of the plant. The Utility Operator also backfills all operator positions within the plant for planned and unplanned absences and assists the maintenance crew as required.

Employee work areas include a surface sand mine, indoor control rooms, laboratories, non-air-conditioned mechanical shops and processing buildings, cabs of mobile equipment, elevated platforms, offices, and outdoor areas during all weather conditions.  Confined space work areas for maintenance or vessel cleaning are required.  Employees must climb stairs and steel ladders, with and without cages, to elevated platforms and catwalks.

The successful candidate will have the following Key Accountabilities:

• Comply with applicable MSHA Regulations as outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and procedures applying to the worker or person that are part of a safety and health management system for the site.


• Comply with provided instructions for safety and health of supervision at the site.


• Adhere to site procedures and instructions given by Covia Management.


• Follow strict adherence to all applicable Personal Protective Equipment safety programs including the use of hard hats, safety glasses, safety shoes, respirators, gloves, high visibility apparel, and harness and lanyard PPE for working from heights.


• Perform equipment and area inspections and maintain a safe work environment.


• Operate equipment in a safe and efficient manner, and prevent damage, downtime, and quality issues. Act in a responsible and professional manner without negligence or recklessness that might adversely affect safety and health of co-workers and workplace productivity.


• Adequately fulfill responsibilities of the position to support production orders, quotas, and overall quality at the site. Complete required paperwork in an orderly, accurate, and timely manner.


• Assist Plant Maintenance as directed, perform Preventive Maintenance, and maintain work area housekeeping throughout the site.


• Perform all duties of mining high purity silica sand, bulk sand processing, packaging 75-pound bags, loading and shipping of bagged and bulk products, as required and directed by Management.


• Must be able to start up and operate plant process machinery, and mobile mining equipment.


• Operate a wide variety of hand and power tools, jack hammers, and shovels.


• All jobs require a full range of motion with lifting and carrying capacities up to 75 lbs.


• Must have capacity to work outdoors year-round in all weather conditions, inside buildings or machinery, and from elevated workplaces or man-lifts.


• Adhere to Covia and site procedures and instructions given by management and perform other duties as assigned.

The successful candidate will have the following Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required.


• Literacy in English, both verbally and written.


• Previous experience with mining operations (preferably sand).


• Prior exposure and understanding of processing equipment used in sand production.


• Demonstrated ability to operate heavy mobile equipment proficiently.


• Demonstrated commitment to safety with previous experience in identifying and managing risks.


• Demonstrated experience contributing within a team of professionals to deliver set targets.

Commitment to Our Culture

Our core values - Safety, Team, Customers, Growth, and Courage—guide our work every day and will help us achieve our vision: Covia is the leading minerals solutions provider, and through the passion and commitment of our people, we enable customer success—ensuring a sustainable future for our company.

All Covia Team Members are expected to:

• Live the Life-Saving Rules.


• Build high-performing work teams.


• Focus on customers.


• Demonstrate a growth mindset.


• Do the right thing, always.

 Benefits: 

• Excellent Healthcare Benefits – Medical, Vision, Dental


• 401K with Company Matching


• Paid Time Off + Paid Holidays


• Disability Plans and Life / AD&D


• Employee Assistance Program 

At Covia, we strive for and support a diverse workforce as we firmly believe this lays the foundation of our success.  Our compelling culture supports inclusion, individuality and respect within the workplace.  We are committed to providing employment opportunities to the most qualified candidate based on work-related factors and without regard to non-work-related factors including race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or military service or reserve or veteran status. 

The organization offers competitive salaries, advancement opportunities, and a full range of benefits.

An Equal Opportunity Employer 

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