Water Treatment Manager

Apex Companies; Somerset (Somerset County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

401(k) match

Tuition assistance

Bonuses and incentives

Career development and cross-training

Job summary

Apex Companies is seeking a Water/Wastewater Operations Manager to lead field staff, oversee treatment plant operations, and ensure regulatory compliance across multiple client facilities. You will travel to sites, coordinate with engineers, support startup activities, and mentor operators, with a competitive bonus program and opportunities for professional growth.

This role offers ongoing training, cross-functional collaboration, and a clear path to leadership within our national environmental

Qualifications

• Experience supervising water or wastewater operators or field staff.
• Strong knowledge of treatment processes, sampling, maintenance, and regulatory compliance.
• Current operator certification; PE license may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Oversee staffing, scheduling, and safety for water and wastewater operations.
• Review operations data, controls, and regulatory documentation with teams.
• Coordinate startup, commissioning, and project support with engineers and clients.
• Support regulatory reporting and client communications.

Skills

Supervising field staff

Water treatment operations

Regulatory compliance

Operator certification

Leadership & mentoring

Travel to client sites

Education

High-level water/wastewater operator certification

Professional Engineer license

Job description

Are you driven to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact? At Apex, we’re building more than a consulting and engineering firm—we’re creating a place where your career accelerates, your contributions matter, and your potential is fully realized. We believe your growth is our growth, which is why we invest in your development at every stage of your career. Here, you’ll work on projects that shape communities, protect the environment, and create lasting impact, all while being empowered with the autonomy and flexibility to do your best work. Fueled by high-quality delivery, exceptional client retention, and strategic acquisitions, Apex Companies continues to rank among the fastest-growing firms in the AEC industry, recently recognized by the Zweig Group for our industry-leading growth. Our success is grounded in strong leadership, a collaborative culture, and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes. As we continue to expand, we're looking for high-performing professionals who are ready to lead, collaborate, innovate, and create impact. At Apex, you help shape what's next. When we succeed together, we share in that success. All Apex positions are eligible for annual bonus opportunities, reinforcing our commitment to recognizing and rewarding meaningful contributions that drive our collective growth.

This role is eligible for a $10,000 sign-on bonus, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's sign-on bonus program.

Your Responsibilities As a Water/Wastewater Operations Manager

Responsibilities Include

• Supervise, schedule, coach, and support water and wastewater operations and maintenance staff performing circuit-rider services at multiple client facilities.
• Oversee daily and weekly staffing assignments to ensure proper operator coverage, site visits, sampling, maintenance activities, and emergency response support.
• Travel to client facilities to review water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, lift stations, and related infrastructure.
• Review treatment operations, maintenance activities, process controls, field observations, and operating data with Apex operators, project managers, and engineering staff.
• Serve as, or coordinate with, the assigned operator-in-responsible-charge where required and where properly licensed/certified.
• Direct and review procedures for collecting water and wastewater samples, field measurements, operational readings, and related compliance data.
• Review laboratory analytical data, sampling results, maintenance logs, operator reports, and facility records for completeness, accuracy, and operational significance.
• Support regulatory reporting, permit compliance, and client communication related to water and wastewater system operations.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and help resolve operational, mechanical, process, maintenance, and compliance-related issues at client facilities.
• Recommend operational, maintenance, process-control, and compliance improvements to improve system performance, reliability, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Support project managers at the local, state, and regional level on water and wastewater projects requiring operations, maintenance, startup, commissioning, or compliance input.
• Collaborate with project managers and engineers to support proposal development, scope definition, project delivery, client meetings, change management, and account coordination.
• Assist with startup and commissioning planning for new or modified water and wastewater treatment facilities, including coordination with contractors, engineers, clients, and operations staff.
• Participate in startup and commissioning activities to help confirm that new equipment, processes, and systems function properly before turnover to operations staff.
• Conduct formal and informal training for Apex staff and client personnel on treatment operations, maintenance practices, sampling, safety, documentation, and troubleshooting.
• Monitor field work for compliance with Apex safety policies, regulatory requirements, client expectations, and standard operating procedures.
• Lead or support safety meetings, tailgate discussions, and field coaching to reinforce safe work practices and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate employee performance, identify training needs, counsel staff on work-related issues, and help employees correct job-skill deficiencies.
• Mentor and develop operators by identifying skill gaps, supporting certification progress, and helping employees improve their technical and professional capabilities.
• Maintain constructive working relationships with operators, project managers, engineers, clients, subcontractors, laboratories, vendors, and regulatory representatives.
• Provide technical consultation and practical operations advice to management, clients, project teams, and field staff on treatment systems, process performance, maintenance needs, and compliance concerns.
• Perform administrative duties related to staff supervision, scheduling, documentation, reporting, training, performance management, and project support.
• Support delivery of operations and maintenance projects for municipal, commercial, and private clients, including client coordination, regulatory reporting support, personnel coordination, subcontractor coordination, and maintenance planning.
• Perform other duties as required.

What We're Looking For

• Prior experience supervising water or wastewater operators, field staff, maintenance staff, or circuit-rider teams preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of water and/or wastewater treatment operations, including treatment processes, pump stations, lift stations, sampling, maintenance, troubleshooting, and regulatory compliance.
• Current high-level water and/or wastewater operator certification with relevant subclasses preferred. Professional Engineer license or other relevant technical credentials may also be considered depending on experience and role responsibilities.
• Experience serving as an operator-in-responsible-charge, lead operator, chief operator, operations supervisor, compliance lead, or similar technical operations role preferred.
• Ability to lead field staff while also providing practical technical direction on treatment operations, process controls, sampling, maintenance, and compliance issues.
• Ability to interpret permits, operating requirements, engineering plans, specifications, process data, laboratory results, maintenance logs, and regulatory correspondence.
• Familiarity with DEP reporting, sampling requirements, compliance documentation, and regulatory expectations for water and wastewater systems.
• Practical knowledge of water sampling, wastewater sampling, pump operation, pump repair, plumbing systems, electrical troubleshooting, controls, mechanical systems, and facility maintenance.
• Ability to troubleshoot operational problems under pressure and recommend effective corrective actions.
• Ability to recognize system deficiencies, maintenance needs, process issues, safety concerns, and potential compliance risks.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain technical issues clearly to operators, project managers, engineers, clients, contractors, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and develop operations staff, including certified operators, non-certified operators, and employees working toward certification.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage schedules, documentation, reporting deadlines, staff assignments, client needs, and multiple facilities at the same time.
• Ability to work collaboratively with project managers and engineering staff while maintaining appropriate technical and compliance standards.
• Comfort working on a variety of treatment technologies across multiple water and wastewater facilities.
• Strong commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, client service, operational reliability, and practical problem-solving.
• Ability to travel to client sites as needed.

Why You'll Love Working for Us

• Company-subsidized medical and dental insurance.
• Company-paid life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance.
• 401(k) match and tuition assistance.
• Cross-training and opportunities to work on a variety of environmental projects.
• Performance-based bonuses and other incentives.
• Opportunities for continued technical and professional development.
• The opportunity to work alongside some of the best and brightest professionals in the environmental industry.
• Join a 2,000+ employee national firm with 70+ locations across the United States.

We believe in equality for all and celebrate the diversity and differences of our employees, customers, and communities. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. Apex aims to make apexcos.com accessible to all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, please contact [e-mail] or [phone]. Likewise, feel free to reach out to us if you would like to view or discuss Apex policy related to equal employment opportunity or have any related concerns. EO/AA/VEV/Disabled Employer