Chief Water Plant Operator

West Melbourne Police Department

Florida

On-site

USD 73,000 - 113,000

Full time

29 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

The City of West Melbourne is seeking a Chief Water Plant Operator to lead the RO water treatment plant operations, supervise skilled staff, and ensure a safe, reliable public water supply.

You will oversee daily production and maintenance, monitor SCADA and lab data, enforce policies and safety rules, and coordinate with the Water Distribution team on flushing, residuals, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent; 5+ years RO plant experience.
Minimum 3 years supervisory experience in water treatment.
Florida Level B Water Treatment Plant Operator License required.

Responsibilities

Supervises water production activities and staff.
Reviews plans, assigns staffing, monitors compliance.
Administers personnel matters and timesheets.
Maintains records and prepares reports for Director.
Oversees production, maintenance, testing and reporting of wells.
Collaborates with Distribution Supervisor on flushing and pressures.
Provides technical guidance and site inspections for projects.
Reviews lab reports and ensures regulatory water quality compliance.
Responds to emergencies and communicates status to management.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Supervisory

SCADA proficiency

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Staff coordination

Education

High school diploma

Level B Water Treatment Plant Operator License

SEDA MOC certification

Tools

SCADA systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Chief Water Plant Operator

Salary: $73,124.00 - $113,342.00 Annually

Location: Water Plant, FL

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 202500044

Department: Water Production

Opening Date: 10/01/2026

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Water Plant Director, this position is responsible for the administrative, supervisory and technical oversight of the City’s RO Water Treatment Plant operations. The Chief Operator plans, organizes, and directs the work of skilled and semi-skilled staff in the operation and maintenance of R.O. water treatment equipment to ensure a safe and reliable public water supply. The role requires a high degree of independent judgement and decision‑making within established policies, rules, and regulatory guidelines. Evening, weekend, holiday and occasional unscheduled overtime may be required to maintain continuous water service.

Essential Job Functions

Supervises, assigns, and directs water production activities related to the operation, maintenance, and repair of the City’s RO Water Plant; establishes and enforces policies, procedures, and standards; instructs and advises staff as needed.
Reviews project plans to ensure compliance with procedures; communicates work plans and objectives; assigns appropriate staffing and resources; monitors progress and inspects completed work for compliance with specifications and established standards.
Administers or makes recommendations on personnel matters including training, safety, work assignments, scheduling, leave requests, performance evaluations, and discipline; reviews and approves timesheets and activity logs.
Assesses department needs; develops specifications for equipment and contractual services; monitors expenditures and assists with requisitioning of equipment, supplies, and materials.
Maintains accurate records of Division activities; compiles data and prepares performance and compliance reports for submission to the Water Plant Director.
Management, maintenance, testing and reporting related to production and monitoring wells
Collaborates with the Water Distribution Supervisor to ensure proper chemical residuals and distribution system pressures during flushing and routine checks.
Provides technical guidance and conducts system inspections for builders and contractors on site development projects.
Reviews laboratory reports, treatment parameters, and chemical dosages requirements with operations staff to ensure regulatory compliance and water achievement of water quality goals.
Assists with investigations of water quality issues and implements corrective actions as needed.
Communicates regularly with management regarding water quality status, operational issues, and corrective measures.
Responds to water plant emergencies, SCADA alarms, and after-hour incidents; carries and answers a City‑issued cell phone on nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
Performs other related job duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

High school diploma or equivalent; minimum of five (5) years of experience in the operation, repair, maintenance of an RO plant, of which three (3) years of experience at the supervisory level. A minimum Level “B” Water Treatment Plant Operators License as issued by FDEP is required. (License may be considered of an approved reciprocal State via the State of Florida Operation Certification Board and then issued by Florida).

Special Qualifications

Valid State of Florida Class E Driver’s License. Applicants who possess a valid out of state driver’s license must obtain the Florida driver’s license by the start date.
SEDA MOC certification or obtain within 6 months of employment
May require evening and weekend hours. Required at times to work unscheduled hours in order to restore water service.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of all FDEP, EPA, FDOH and SJRWMD rules and regulations for water use, sampling and reporting.
Knowledge of standard practices and procedures as well as regulatory requirements involved in the planning, operation, and maintenance of an RO water treatment plant.
Skill in effective communication both verbally and in writing.
Skill in the use of computers and applicable software programs.
Ability to understand and interpret complex written and oral instructions.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, City Staff members, and the general public.
Ability to plan, assign, and supervise work.
Ability to interpret and carry out written and oral instructions to maintain records, and to prepare accurate reports.
Ability to develop effective working relationships with employees and the public.
Proficiency in operation of SCADA systems.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office with strong ability in navigating Excel and modifying/creating spreadsheets.
Experience and efficiency in writing SOP’s
Ability to effectively supervise subordinates.
Ability to instruct staff in the use of tools, equipment, and the occupational hazards of the work.

Additional Information

The work is medium work, which requires standing or sitting for sustained periods of time; walking or moving from one work site to another; manual dexterity to pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work primarily with fingers; mental acuity including the ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes; hearing to receive detailed information and to make the discrimination in sound; and the ability to express ideas by means of the spoken word and have close visual acuity. Additionally, the following physical abilities may be required:

Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces.
Ability to carry, push, and pull items weighing up to 50 lbs.
Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position‑to‑position.
Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Work is typically performed in an environment with machinery where the employee is exposed to bodily harm to self, co‑workers, and/or others.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all‑inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. The City of West Melbourne has the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

The City is an onsite employer. While limited remote or flexible scheduling may occasionally be available at management’s discretion, all positions are based at City facilities and may be adjusted to onsite schedules at any time.

The City of West Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of West Melbourne is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and transgender status), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.

The City of West Melbourne is a Drug‑Free Workplace. The City requires all applicants who are provided a conditional offer of employment to successfully complete pre‑employment drug testing as a condition of hire. A positive test result or refusal to test will result in withdrawal of the employment offer.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of West Melbourne will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

We value our employees’ dedication, and it shows in our rewards. The City of West Melbourne offers competitive pay, great benefits, medical coverage, Florida Retirement System (FRS) options, and tuition reimbursement.

Our health and welfare plans are available to all full‑time employees and part‑time employees who work 25 or more hours per week.

The City of West Melbourne is proud to have received Cigna’s Silver Level Health Workforce Designation for demonstrating a strong commitment to improving the health and vitality of its employees through a workplace well‑being program.

A summary of our health benefits are noted below. To learn more, please visit this link to our Employee Benefits Guide.

Employer Paid Health Benefits

Group Health base plan (medical and prescription)
Group Dental base plan
Group Vision base plan
Group Long Term Disability base plan
Group Life Insurance of $50,000
Group Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Optional Dependent Coverage and/or Employee Buy Up

The City shares the cost of Dependent Coverage for Health Insurance, if selected
Employees may select additional coverage for dependents and/or optional health coverage, at employee cost, which includes but is not limited to: