Job Descriptions

DESCRIPTION:

Under general direction, the Water Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor plans, organizes, directs, and supervises the activities of the Water Treatment Plant including operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant, transmission mains, and ancillary facilities and coordinates activities and water production with the Cities of Turlock and Ceres.

The Water Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor must reside within 60 miles of the water treatment plant and be able to respond within 90 minutes in case of an emergency.

This classification is assigned to the Turlock City Employees Association bargaining unit for labor relations purposes and is subject to overtime, call back, and standby assignments.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

The Water Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor receives administrative direction from the Water Treatment Plant Manager and exercises direct supervision over assigned plant staff.

• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review domestic water treatment activities including operation and maintenance of the potable water treatment plant, raw water pump station, raw water pipeline, finished water pipelines, and ancillary facilities.
• Coordinate with the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) regarding the infiltration gallery, raw water pump station, raw water pipeline, flow split structure, Ceres Main Canal outlet structure (collectively known as the District Delivery Facilities) and any diversions to the Ceres Main Canal.
• Recommend and assist in the implementation of established production goals and finished water constituent concentrations in coordination with the Cities, and plan for and coordinate outages in terms of time and duration in recognition of the Cities’ distribution systems.
• Evaluate operations and maintenance activities within the area of responsibility and recommend improvements and modifications, document operation or maintenance procedures accordingly.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations, submit justifications for expenditures for equipment, materials, supplies and services; monitor and control expenditures.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff, provide, or coordinate staff training; conduct employee performance evaluations, work with employees to correct performance deficiencies, and implement progressive discipline as required.
• Ensure potable water meeting all regulatory requirements is always delivered in the required quantities.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports regarding plant operations and water quality.
• Coordinate plant activities with the Cities and be in regular communication with the Cities’ and TID’s designated Operations and Engineering staff members.
• Recommend operational efficiencies while maintaining the highest standard of water quality possible.
• Ensure that all analyzers and monitoring equipment are calibrated and appropriately sending and storing accurate information via a cyber-secure SCADA system.
• Monitor processes using a SCADA control system.
• Participate in and provide documentation for studies related to plant and filter rerating including operation of parallel pilot filters. Collate and analyze the data from the studies, prepare reports, and assist with reports prepared for the Division of Drinking Water (DDW) toward the goal of rating the plant for higher throughput.
• Assume the duties of Plant Manager as needed and be available to respond to emergencies, including those outside of normal working hours.
• Assist with the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
• Plan, supervise and participate in special projects or studies as assigned.
• Research and prepare technical and administrative reports, and other written documents, including the submittal of all regulatory required reports.
• Supervise the use of specialized equipment involved in water treatment plant operations; develop, plan and direct preventative and corrective maintenance; recommend equipment maintenance and replacement and prepare budget estimates using the plant CMMS.
• Make critical decisions to resolve emergency situations.
• Assist the General Manager in the planning and implementation of upgrades, changes or expansions of water treatment and conveyance facilities.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with staff, Cities employees, outside agencies, and the public through clear and concise communication.
• Assist the General Manager in developing and administering or assume delegated responsibility for the plant safety program.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of water treatment, water transmission, and water storage.
• Equipment, tools, and materials commonly used in the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant.
• Principles and practices of certified lab services.
• Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building, and conflict resolution.
• Local, State, and Federal rules, regulations, and laws as they relate to the operation of a water treatment plant and potable water transmission system.
• Design and construction standards as they relate to water treatment, conveyance, and storage facilities.
• Principles and practices of supervision; training and performance evaluation.
• Principles and practices of budget monitoring.
• Principles and practices of safety procedures and implementation.
• Hydraulics, applied mathematics, chemical metering, pumps, SCADA, and chemicals used in water treatment.
• Water sampling and analysis.
• Regulatory reporting.
• Use of modern office equipment and applicable software.

Ability to:

• Organize, implement, and direct all facets of water operations and maintenance.
• Interpret, explain and dutifully carryout pertinent Federal, State, local and SRWA policies and procedures.
• Assist in the development of an assigned budget. Know appropriate laws, regulations, codes, and evaluate plant conformance. Recommend and implement adjustments to policies and procedures, when necessary, to maintain conformance.
• Analyze problems, identify, and recommend solutions, evaluate effectiveness of solution, and implement further changes if needed to attain goals.
• Understand and troubleshoot operations and maintenance problems and serve as a resource to staff to solve problems.
• Read and understand engineering plans and specifications.
• Manage material and service contracts.
• Coordinate and oversee the work of outside vendors, consultants, and contractors.
• Gain cooperation through clear communication and effective leadership.
• Supervise, develop, train, and evaluate personnel.
• Operate modern office equipment and software programs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Federal, State, and local regulatory agencies.
• Communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing.
• Operate and maintain SCADA systems.
• Read and understand Process Control Narratives, Process Control and Instrument Diagrams (P&ID’s), and other related SCADA architecture documents.

Any combination of education, training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and ability is as follows:

Equivalent to a high school diploma or GED certificate and six college units or CEU’s in a related field or scholastic general education (i.e. Speech, Math, English, Science, Foreign Language etc.) and three college units or CEU’s in Supervision or Management for a total of nine college units or CEU’s. Possession of an associate’s degree in a related field is desirable.

Five years of increasingly responsible experience in the operation and maintenance of a domestic water treatment plant, and operation of a water distribution system similar or greater in size and complexity to the SRWA plant, finished water transmission, and ancillary facilities including two years providing technical and functional supervision over assigned personnel.

License:

Possession of an appropriate, valid Class C California Driver's License at the time of appointment, to be maintained as a condition of continued employment.

Certificate(s):

• Possession of a valid California Water Treatment Operator T-4 Certificate at time of appointment.
• Obtain California Water Treatment Operator T-5 within 18 months of appointment to this position and maintain thereafter as a condition of employment.
• Possession of a valid California Water Distribution Operator D-4 Certificate or ability to obtain within 12 months of appointment to this position and maintain thereafter as a condition of employment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Maintain the following physical abilities: see well enough to read, write and make observations, operate hand and power tools, vehicles and heavy equipment; hear well enough to converse on the radio, telephone and in person; bodily mobility to walk, bend, stand, crouch or climb for extended periods of time, operate assigned equipment and vehicles and perform heavy manual labor for extended periods; ability to tolerate extreme fluctuations in temperature while performing essential functions and be able to lift equipment on a frequent basis 25lbs, and on an occasional basis 50lbs.