CHIEF HYDROELECTRIC PLANT OPERATOR

State of California; California; On-site; USD 114,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

State of California within the Department of Water Resources seeks a Plant Operations Supervisor to oversee the Delta Field Division’s pumping plants and ACC operations. The role includes supervising staff, coordinating with multiple teams, and ensuring safe, efficient plant performance.

The position requires availability outside normal hours, travel to remote sites, and adherence to safety and emergency protocols. Final filing date and location details are provided in the posting.

Qualifications

• Must possess strong leadership skills and communicate effectively in writing and speech.
• Experience coordinating across divisions and external agencies.
• Ability to manage daily pumping plant operations and emergency responses.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate Plant Operation Unit and ACC operations.
• Oversee starting, stopping, synchronizing, and regulating pumping units.
• Ensure compliance with operating policies and procedures across the Delta Field Division.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Operations

Emergency response

Public presentations

Training & evaluating employees

Safety & risk management

Decision making

Job description

Job Posting: Plant Operations Supervisor

Department of Water Resources

JC-534152 - Plant Operations Supervisor
CHIEF HYDROELECTRIC PLANT OPERATOR

$10,198.00 - $13,654.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/26/2026

Job Description and Duties

Under general direction of the Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) Operations Superintendent, the incumbent supervises and coordinates the Plant Operation Unit in the operations and control of pumping plants and Area Control Center (ACC) within the Delta Field Division (DFD), which includes, but is not limited to, starting, synchronizing, regulating, stopping, securing main pumping units and the manipulation of remotely controlled checks and turnouts. Responsible for the operation of digital process computers for control and optimization of plant and aqueduct output and flow. Ensures continuity in the implementation of operating policies and procedures throughout the field division. This is a 24-month rotation.

The reporting location for this position is Byron, California.
This position is not eligible for telework.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• CHIEF HYDROELECTRIC PLANT OPERATOR

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-534152

Position #(s): 842-330-6461-504

Working Title: Plant Operations Supervisor

Classification: CHIEF HYDROELECTRIC PLANT OPERATOR

Salary: $10,198.00 - $13,654.00

New to State candidates... New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions: 1

Work Location: Contra Costa County

Telework: In Office

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Division of Operations & Maintenance, Delta Field Division, Operations Branch, Byron

Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature. We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department. Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect. An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Department Website: https://water.ca.gov

Free virtual career consultation services including one-on-one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

Special Requirements

Must possess strong leadership skills; effectively communicate both orally and in writing; evaluate situations, exercise good judgment, and take appropriate action to ensure the security of the SWP; handle difficult situations effectively; identify practical solutions; and act independently.

The incumbent in this position must be available to work outside normal business hours. This position is not eligible for telework. Employee is required to successfully complete all safety training related to the functions of the job.

All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination.

Must have a valid California Class C license as incumbent will be required to operate automotive vehicles on public roadways as travel to remote areas within Delta Field Division is necessary to perform the requirements of this position. Travel, including overnight, is required.

Under the provisions of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection Standard CIP-004 as part of the Energy Policy of 2005, this position has authorized cyber access to or unescorted physical access around critical cyber assets and is subject to a satisfactory background check prior to appointment and every seven years thereafter.

This position provides necessary support to the Divisions of Flood Management, Safety of Dams, Operations
Maintenance, Engineering, and/or the Public Affairs Office during Governor declared emergencies, flood, dam, SWP, and other incidents and emergencies. Additionally, this position may participate in emergency operations in the capacity of area teams, field inspection, coordination, and assist agencies such as California OES and FEMA in disaster work, including preforming fieldwork to complete damage survey reports for droughts, flooding, earthquakes, and other emergencies. This position may also serve in one of the sections as established in the Incident Command System to assist the Department in preforming its emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation functions. These functions are established in the California State Emergency Plan and the Department's Administrative Orders.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Experience implementing industrial safety policies, procedures, and directives.
• Experience overseeing daily operations of a pumping plant or an industrial facility.
• Knowledge of operational methods, procedures, and documentation standards to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Experience coordinating activities across multiple divisions and external agencies.
• Experience monitoring maintenance of main units and/or operating equipment.
• Ability to make sound operational and personnel decisions.
• Experience coordinating major operational activities such as facility outages.
• Experience delivering public presentations to diverse audiences.
• Experience leading, training, and evaluating employees.
• Knowledge of performance management.
• Experience with safety meetings, safety audits, pre-work safety plans & Job Hazard/Safety Analysis.
• Experience in project planning, scheduling, and budgeting labor hours and forecasting downtime.
• Experience in emergency response activities.

The successful candidate should have the ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with others, maintain consistent and reliable attendance, and have excellent judgment. They should also be able to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing, and work proactively to analyze situations and take effective action to complete projects on time and within budget.

Benefits

Click here to read about the outstanding benefits offered to eligible employees.

Personal Leave Program 2025: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Eleanor Matuu
[phone]
[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Office of Civil Rights
[phone]
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.