Treatment Operations Manager

City of Waco, TX; Waco (TX); On-site; USD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Waco, TX is seeking a proactive Treatment Operations Manager to provide strategic oversight for its water and wastewater treatment plants and related facilities. You will lead the operation, manage capital projects, and ensure regulatory compliance.

You will supervise Plant Superintendents, coordinate budgets, and guide emergency response and long-term operational planning to keep systems reliable and compliant. This role requires licensure and strong leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years progressively responsible experience in water/wastewater operations and utility management; supervisory/management experience.
• Valid Texas Driver’s License, Class C.
• Class A license in Water or Wastewater (TCEQ) required; dual licensure preferred or obtainable post-hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight for water and wastewater treatment plants and related facilities.
• Direct and support superintendents in operational priorities and standards.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state regulations, permits, and reporting obligations.
• Develop strategies to improve reliability, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate Capital Improvement Program projects and major maintenance activities.
• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets; monitor expenditures and resources.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness and response for disruptions.
• Lead workforce development, licensing, and management training.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Regulatory compliance

Budgeting

Personnel management

Emergency response

Communication

Public administration

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Environmental Science, Engineering, Business or Public Administration, Water or Wastewater Technology

Class A Water or Class A Wastewater license (TCEQ)

Job description

Minimum Starting Salary: $120,000.00 per year

Summary

The City of Waco is seeking a proactive leader to become our next Treatment Operations Manager. This role will provide strategic oversight for the City’s water and wastewater treatment plants. If you are an experienced leader or manager in water and wastewater treatment operations, this is the perfect role for you.

Required

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Business or Public Administration, Water or Wastewater Technology, or a related field and 5 years Progressively responsible experience in water and wastewater treatment operations and utility management, including five (5) years of supervisory or management experience. Required experience must demonstrate responsibility for treatment operations, regulatory compliance, personnel management, budgeting, maintenance coordination, emergency response, and capital or operational planning within complex, continuously operated water and wastewater treatment systems. An equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Valid Texas Driver’s License. Must possess a valid Class C.
• Must possess a Class A license in either Water or Wastewater issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Demonstrated working knowledge of both water and wastewater treatment operations is required, demonstrated through licensure, relevant TCEQ-approved coursework in the non-licensed discipline, and/or progressively responsible experience in both water and wastewater treatment operations. Candidates without dual licensure may be expected to obtain additional certification based on operational needs.

Preferred

• Possession of both Class A Water and Class A Wastewater licenses issued by TCEQ is preferred and will be considered in evaluating advanced technical competency and operational leadership experience.

Position Overview

The Treatment Operations Manager provides leadership, coordination, and strategic oversight for the City’s water and wastewater treatment operations, including treatment plants, water pump stations, wastewater lift stations, and associated wholesale utility services. The position manages actions of the Water Treatment Plant Superintendent and Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent to ensure reliable, efficient, safe, and regulatory-compliant operation of these critical utility systems. The Manager establishes consistent operational and management standards across the treatment organization; evaluates system performance, capacity, infrastructure, staffing, and regulatory risks; and directs long-term operational planning and improvement initiatives. The position coordinates major capital projects, emergency response, resource allocation, and cross-functional activities while advising City leadership on treatment operations, regulatory compliance, system reliability, and future service needs.

Essential Functions

• Provides leadership and strategic oversight for the operation, maintenance, and performance of the City’s water and wastewater treatment plants, water pump stations, wastewater lift stations, and associated utility facilities.
• Directs and supports the Water Treatment Plant Superintendent and Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent in establishing operational priorities, staffing plans, performance expectations, and consistent management practices across treatment operations.
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, permits, operating requirements, and reporting obligations; evaluates compliance risks and directs corrective actions in coordination with operational leadership.
• Reviews operational performance, treatment capacity, regulatory data, infrastructure condition, maintenance needs, and system risks; develops and implements strategies to improve reliability, efficiency, resiliency, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinates planning and execution of Capital Improvement Program projects, major maintenance activities, facility upgrades, and process improvements affecting water and wastewater treatment operations.
• Develops and manages operating and capital budgets for assigned operations; evaluates expenditures, staffing, contractual services, chemical and energy use, revenues, and resource needs to support responsible fiscal management.
• Coordinates emergency preparedness and response for treatment process disruptions, equipment failures, utility service interruptions, severe weather, regulatory incidents, and other events affecting continuity of operations.
• Provides leadership for workforce development, succession planning, technical training, professional licensing, and management development across water and wastewater treatment operations.
• Communicates operational conditions, regulatory matters, infrastructure needs, project status, financial impacts, and strategic recommendations to City leadership, regulatory agencies, wholesale customers, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborates with internal divisions, engineering staff, regulatory agencies, wholesale partners, and outside organizations to coordinate utility operations, capital planning, service demands, regulatory compliance, and long-term system development.
• Operates a City vehicle and equipment to inspect facilities, support field activities, respond to operational conditions, and ensure the effective maintenance and operation of the water treatment plants.
• May be required to respond after hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, during operational emergencies, regulatory events, severe weather, or other departmental or City-wide incidents.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.
• Supports the relationship between the City of Waco and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with residents, visitors, and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information
• Lives the City of Waco Values.