Chief Plant Operator - Burnt Store Water

Charlotte, County of (FL); Punta Gorda (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Charlotte County seeks a Chief Plant Operator to lead the daily operations of the water treatment facility. The role will supervise plant operators and maintenance personnel, directing work to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant plant performance.

Candidates should have significant leadership experience in water treatment, along with the required licenses and certifications. The position emphasizes regulatory adherence, asset care, and staff development in a service-critical municipal setting.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of experience in wastewater or water treatment facility operations, including lead or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of water treatment facilities and supervise plant operators and maintenance staff.
• Oversee treatment processes, system flows, chemical feeds, and water quality to maintain compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Manage preventative and corrective maintenance and oversee work orders for treatment equipment and systems.
• Assist with planning plant improvements, budget preparation, and staff development and safety programs.

Skills

Leadership/supervisory experience

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Are you an experienced water treatment professional ready to lead critical operations that keep our community running? We are seeking a Chief Plant Operator to oversee the daily operations of our water treatment facility, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable service. In this leadership role, you will guide plant operators and technical staff, manage complex treatment systems, and apply your expertise to maintain the highest operational and regulatory standards.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent:
  • Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Operator Certification Program only accepts General Educational Development (GED) issued by the American Council on Education through an approved GED Administrator.
• Five (5) years of experience in wastewater or water treatment facility operations, to include lead or supervisory experience.

Licenses and/or Certificates:

• Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Depending on area of assignment, must possess and maintain a valid Florida Wastewater Operator "A/B/C" License for Domestic Wastewater Treatment or Florida Water Class "A/B/C" Operator License of Drinking Water Treatment.

The Chief Plant Operator leads the daily operations of water treatment facilities to ensure safe, efficient, and regulatory-compliant plant performance. This role supervises plant operators and maintenance personnel, assigning and prioritizing work while providing technical guidance, training, and oversight of treatment processes and equipment.

Responsibilities include monitoring plant operations, system flows, pressures, chemical feeds, and water quality to ensure optimal performance and compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. The Chief Plant Operator oversees preventative and corrective maintenance of treatment equipment, manages work orders, and ensures proper operation of systems such as injection wells, reclaimed water operations, biosolids processing, and disposal systems.

The position also maintains operational records, prepares regulatory reports, reviews permits and sampling schedules, and monitors inventory of equipment and supplies. The Chief Plant Operator participates in planning plant improvements, assists with budget preparation and monitoring, and supports staff development, safety compliance and performance management.

This position requires strong leadership, technical expertise in treatment plant operations, and the ability to make operational decisions that maintain efficiency, safety, and water quality standards.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Walking, sitting, grasping, hearing, seeing up close, seeing far away, talking, standing, finger movement, repetitive motions, depth perception. Occasional lifting up to 10-25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed indoors but is exposed to temperamental changes (e.g., warehouses, covered loading docks, garages, etc.) or irate customers, extreme noise, odors, heights and/or dust.

RISK/SAFETY CONDITIONS

The position requires exposure to some risk related to physical and/or mental health and safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, assault and battery, communicable disease, etc.).

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Charlotte County is an Affir... Women, Minorities, and Persons
with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.