Operations Manager

California Water Service Group; Selma (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

California Water Service Group invites you to build a meaningful career with the third‑largest publicly traded water utility in the United States. The Operations Manager will lead district operations, customer service, and regulatory compliance, with oversight of budgets and capital projects from Selma or Visalia, CA.

The role requires a degree and extensive district management experience, plus multiple operator certifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent relevant water industry or field operations experience.
• Five years of increasingly responsible experience in district management or district supervisory role.
• Five years of experience in a water utility in field operations, customer service, or related department.
• State Water Resources Control Board-Drinking Water–Operator Certification Programs Water Distribution Operator Grade III Certification required.
• Must obtain State Water Resources Control Board-Drinking Water–Operator Certification Programs Water Distribution Operator Grade IV Certification within 12 months.
• State Water Resources Control Board-Drinking Water–Operator Certification Programs Water Treatment Operator Grade II Certification required.
• Must complete Operations Leadership Pathway Module I and II within 24 months.

Responsibilities

• Oversee staff, assign work, evaluate performance, and manage hiring and discipline.
• Oversee customer service activities and respond to billing or water quality inquiries.
• Provide oversight for water quality and system operations, maintenance and after‑hour standby duties.
• Manage district operating budget and annual operating budget for field activities.
• Schedule operations to meet corporate and local goals and project timelines.
• Perform shift operator duties daily and serve as chief operator as needed.
• Ensure trained operators for water quality decisions and SCADA operations.
• Oversee well sites, booster stations, reservoirs, treatment plant and sampling.

Skills

Public speaking

Written communication

Verbal communication

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Water Distribution Operator Grade III Certification

Water Distribution Operator Grade IV Certification (within 12 months)

Water Treatment Operator Grade II Certification

Operations Leadership Pathway Module I & II

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

California Water Service Job Description: California Water Service Group invites you to build a meaningful career with the third‑largest publicly traded water utility. Guided by our mission to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services, we are dedicated to improving quality of life for the customers, communities, and employees we serve. Our culture is grounded in core values—integrity, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship—and reflected in our recognition as a Top Workplace®, a Great Place to Work®, and a J.D. Power leader in customer satisfaction for multiple years. Join Cal Water and be part of a purpose‑driven organization where your work makes a lasting impact.

The Operations Manager is responsible for managing the operation, maintenance, and customer service activities of the district water system, including managing and monitoring operating expense budgets and supporting the execution of the capital budget; managing customer service and SOX compliance, establishes oneself as a leader in the community; complies with local, state, and federal regulatory requirements for drinking water; acts as the designated Company official for public meetings or forums; participates in the General Rate Case (GRC) process. This position can be located in Selma or Visalia, CA.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manages staff, including prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, overseeing training and development, and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations
• Oversees all customer service activities and responds to/resolves customer inquiries regarding billing or water quality
• Provides oversight for water quality and quantity water system operations, maintenance, and stand‑by operator after‑hour activities
• Oversees operations related to distribution, quantity, and quality including maintenance and construction activities, all capital construction and activities, budget development, monitoring expenditures, and resolving complex customer service issues
• Manages and oversees the District's Operating Budget; prepares the Annual Operating Budget for all field activities
• Schedules and modifies operations to meet corporate, Company, and local goals, initiatives, and projects
• Performs Shift operator duties on a daily basis and acts as the Chief operator as needed
• Ensures certified distribution operators and treatment operators are properly trained to make decisions that affect water quality and quantity using manual or supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
• Provides oversight to the operations and maintenance of well sites, system booster stations, reservoirs, treatment plant, compliance water sampling, and testing
• Provides oversight to system main repairs, service repairs, meter repairs, and replacement program, flushing program, valve operation program, and fire flow availability tests
• Develops, implements, interprets, and ensures compliance with complex rules and regulations, laws, codes, policies and procedures via interaction with government agencies and regulators
• Establishes and maintains relationships with local government officials; acts as the Company representative in a public forum or before the media
• Exercises technical expertise in preparing written and oral reports for management, boards, agencies, civic organizations, councils, and commissions
• Responds to all water quality and environmental inquiries and issues; participates in inspections, adheres to Cal Water Statewide NPDES Permit and interacts with applicable local, state, federal agencies
• Participates in the GRC process, including responding to requests for additional information from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), departments, and interveners
• Ensures that employees comply with all safety guidelines by providing required safety training in accordance with Company policy
• Collaborates with District Manager to ensure districts meet its capital budget schedule and budget
• Collaborates with Company's Customer Service, Engineering, Water Quality, Environmental and Safety, Rates, and other internal departments
• Participates in a community service organization consistent with district public outreach plan
• Participates in and supports the Company's Continuous Improvement program and projects
• Available for on‑call duty as required on a periodic basis. Will be a part of the on‑call rotation for Visalia and Selma
• Performs work on‑site in the assigned office location
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Attends meetings and training as directed by California Water Service

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent relevant water industry or field operations experience
• Five years of increasingly responsible experience in district management or district supervisory role
• Five years of experience working in a water utility in field operations, customer service, or related department
• State Water Resources Control Board-Drinking Water–Operator Certification Programs Water Distribution Operator Grade III Certification required
• Must obtain State Water Resources Control Board-Drinking Water–Operator Certification Programs Water Distribution Operator Grade IV Certification within 12 months
• State Water Resources Control Board-Drinking Water–Operator Certification Programs Water Treatment Operator Grade II Certification required
• Must complete Operations Leadership Pathway Module I and II within 24 months
• Must live within 30 minutes of the district
• Excellent written, verbal, and public speaking skills
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications
• Valid California Driver License

Salary Range: Selma, CA & Visalia, CA: $104,800 - $194,600 (DOE). Deadline to submit resume is Friday, October 9, 2026.

The Equal Opportunity Policy of the Company is based upon the philosophy that all people should be treated fairly and with dignity. California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service and Washington Water Service do not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected class. The Company makes all employment decisions in a non-discriminatory manner. EOE, VET, DISABILITIES.

California Water Service Group invites you to pursue a career in the water industry with the third largest publicly traded water utility in the United States. Our mission is to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services. We’re committed to improving the quality of life for our customers, communities, stockholders, and employees. To achieve that, we align our hiring strategies with the company’s core values of integrity, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship so that we can provide quality, service, and value to all of these groups. Our commitment to our employees is evident, as we have been named a Top Workplace in the Bay Area and designated as a Great Place to Work®, and Cal Water was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Water Utilities in the West” by J.D. Power in its inaugural water utility satisfaction study.