Water and Wastewater Operator

Environment, Conservation and Parks | Environnement, Protection de la nature et Parcs; Greater Sudbury; On-site; CAD 38,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Health plan

Life and disability insurance

Maternity and parental leave

Job summary

Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) is seeking a water/wastewater operator to operate and maintain facilities across the region. You will monitor processes, collect samples, and respond to routine issues to ensure safe, reliable drinking water for Ontarians.

The role offers an Operator Career Path Program with increasing licenses and pay steps, and additional pay for water/wastewater certification. Candidates must hold Class 1 certifications and be willing to work overtime and be on-call.

Qualifications

• Analytical mindset for monitoring wastewater treatment processes.
• Strong problem-solving and planning skills for operating plants.
• Good oral and written communication for logs, reports and liaison.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain water and wastewater facilities in the region.
• Inspect processes, take samples and adjust parameters as needed.
• Be available for overtime and on-call rotations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Teamwork

Manual labour

Education

Class 1 Certification (Water/Wastewater)

Tools

Computerized Maintenance Management Systems

Job description

Apply By:Friday, November 6, 2026 11:59 pm EST

$27.92 - $31.06 Per hour* (plus pay for water and wastewater certification)
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) believes in our communities, our environment and our people. As a trusted partner to municipalities, First Nations communities, businesses, governments and institutions across Ontario, we provide our clients with total solutions in water and wastewater. We are dedicated to working closely with our clients to help them build healthy, sustainable communities and organizations and provide safe and reliable drinking water to thousands of Ontarians each day.
Join our team as a water/wastewater professional with OCWA!

About the job

In this role, you will use your skills to operate and maintain the water and wastewater facilities within the region.

OCWA's Operator Career Path Program:

OCWA's Operator Career Path Program provides learning, continuing education, career development and certification advancement opportunities. As you develop and obtain higher level licenses, you will progress through the Operator Career Path with increased operational responsibilities as well as training and mentoring opportunities. When you successfully obtain a higher certification/license, you will be eligible for additional base or premium pay in accordance with the schedule above.

• $26.51 to $28.14 per hour (OIT)
• $27.92 to $31.06 per hour (Level 1 Operator)
• $29.49 to $32.83 per hour (Level 2 Operator)
• $30.67 to $38.04 per hour (Level 3 or 4 Operator)
• *OCWA provides additional pay for water and wastewater certification/license

Mandatory requirements

• Class 1 Wastewater Treatment, Class 1 Wastewater Collection, Class 1 Water Treatment and Class 1 Water Distribution and Supply.
• A lesser qualified candidate may be considered as an under-fill minimum Operator-in-Training (OIT), as specified in O.Reg. 128/04 of the Safe Drinking Water Act and O.Reg. 129/04 of the Ontario Water Resources Act.
• Should a successful applicant be employed as an under-fill Operator, he/she will be required to write and pass the required Class 1 certification exams and Limited Surface Water or Ground Water subsystem within 180 days from their start date.
• Must be available for overtime and ability to be on-call after regular working hours as part of a rotation and must be able to respond to on-call within a reasonable period of time.
• Valid Class G driver's license

Knowledge

• Good knowledge of wastewater treatment processes to operate the facilities.
• Working experience/knowledge of the skilled trades for the maintenance and repair of a variety of equipment and structures, including but not limited to the following skills: basic electrical repair, welding, plumbing, millwright and instrumentation.
• Sound knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other relevant regulatory and legislative acts, codes, policies, guidelines and procedures related to wastewater operations and maintenance; health and safety procedures/WHMIS.
• Good knowledge of the relevant regulatory and legislative acts, codes, policies, guidelines and procedures related to water and wastewater operations and maintenance, including the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and health and safety procedures.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics and chemistry to make calculations for chemical and operating processes.
• Ability to interpret maintenance manuals, blueprints and other technical specifications; use and storage of industrial chemicals.
• Familiarity with computers, including monitoring and operating systems.
• Familiarity with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems would be an asset.

Skills and Ability include

• Analytical, problem-solving, planning and scheduling skills required to effectively inspect, operate and monitor the facilities processes and equipment.
• Ability to perform routine preventive maintenance; take samples, interpret results and make process control adjustments to resolve operating issues.
• Good oral and written communication skills to liaise with a variety of people including coworkers, clients, suppliers, while keeping accurate logs and writing reports.
• Ability to work in a team environment and take initiative.
• Ability to perform manual labour.

Ontario Clean Water Agency is an inclusive employer.

We will accommodate your needs under the Ontario Human Rights Code

The Ontario Clean Water Agency is an agency of the Province of Ontario, reporting to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. In 2023, OCWA staff treat water and wastewater, and provide other technical services for 318 clients in the province including 169 municipalities, 16 First Nations, 108 commercial and industrial clients and 25 government and institutional clients. Municipal clients range in size from populations as large as 1.5 million in the Region of Peel to as small as 2,400 in Moose Factory. This broad scope of experience ensures OCWA has the expertise to solve any issues that may arise, in any size or type of treatment process in the province. Our Agency has grown its municipal client base every year over the past 30 years is proof of this value. We continue to focus on our people and strategies to attract and retain competent staff.

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

What we offer

• Flexible learning and develop opportunities
• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization with the largest provider of water and wastewater services in Ontario.
• A wide-ranging compensation structure focused on pay for certification, over-time and Overall Responsible Operator (ORO) pay.
• Work with the partner of choice for more communities than any other water and wastewater service organization in Ontario for over 30 years.
• Work with an organization committed to innovation and advanced technology.
• A defined benefit pension plan; comprehensive health plan; life and disability insurance.
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits including for adoptive parents.

Additional information:

• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 9 months, 3767 Hwy 69 S, Sudbury, North Region