Senior Wastewater Plant Operator

City of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5% night shift differential

On-call standby pay

Job summary

City of San Diego is seeking a Senior Wastewater Plant Operator to lead a crew responsible for the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities to ensure treatment standards are met. You will adjust chemical feed rates and interact with regulators, while maintaining logs and training staff.

Applicants must hold a CA Grade III+ Wastewater Operator Certificate and a California Class C driver's license.

Qualifications

• Valid Grade III or higher Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate (CA).
• Willingness to work nights, weekends, holidays, or unusual shifts (staffing 24/7/365).
• California Class C Driver License required at time of hire.

Responsibilities

• Lead/direct a crew operating and maintaining wastewater facilities to meet treatment standards.
• Adjust chemical feed rates for effective wastewater treatment.
• Interact with regulatory inspectors and maintain operating logs.
• Provide technical training on facility operations and conduct facility tours.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Job description

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Senior Wastewater Plant Operator positions lead/direct the work of a crew responsible for the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment or facilities to ensure that treatment standards are met; adjust chemical feed rates for effective wastewater treatment; interact with regulatory inspectors; inspect facility for compliance with safety and permit/regulatory requirements; develop and provide technical training on facility operations; maintain operating logs; conduct tours of facilities; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSCME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Senior Wastewater Plant Operator employees may be required to work nights, weekends, holidays, and/or unusual shifts to manage 24/7/365 operations for which they may receive 5% additional pay.
• Senior Wastewater Plant Operator employees may be required to be on standby and work overtime on a frequent basis.

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

CERTIFICATION: A valid Grade III or higher Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate issued by the State of California Water Resources Control Board.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is be required at the time of hire.

NOTE:

• Candidates will generally be required to show proof of the driver license within about two weeks of receiving a conditional job offer.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of a valid Grade III or higher Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate issued by the State of California Water Resources Control Board, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: [phone]; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.

Rev. 11 – October 2, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)