Water Treatment Plant Project Manager

GHD; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 94,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan

Paid time off

Holiday pay

Wellness reimbursement

Job summary

GHD is seeking a hands-on leader to run day-to-day operations at a 24/7 water treatment facility in Questa, New Mexico. You’ll manage both the operations and compliance teams, drive commissioning and troubleshooting, and treat the facility like a project with a schedule, budget, and performance bar each day.

With 10–15+ years in water/wastewater operations, you’ll lead a two-shift team, ensure regulatory discharge compliance, and own process performance from coagulation to filtration.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of experience in water/wastewater treatment operations.
• Strong working knowledge of chemical water treatment processes — coagulation, lime softening, chemical precipitation, clarification, and filtration.
• Proven experience managing people and managing projects — you can run a team and a P&L-style operation at once.
• Commissioning experience on treatment facilities.
• Strong troubleshooting instincts — process, mechanical, and people problems alike.
• A genuine passion for water treatment and doing the work right.
• Operator's license strongly preferred.
• PE preferred, not required.
• OSHA 30 or similar safety certification a plus.
• Team-first mindset with the leadership presence to run a 24/7 operation

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead the plant's operations team across 24/7, two-shift coverage.
• Oversee the compliance team and ensure the facility consistently meets discharge and regulatory requirements.
• Run the operation like a project — schedule, budget, resourcing, and performance all on you.
• Lead commissioning activities and troubleshoot process and equipment issues as they arise.
• Own day‑to‑day performance of chemical treatment processes, including coagulation, lime softening, chemical precipitation, clarification, and filtration.
• Build and mentor a strong, accountable team culture — this role needs a genuine team player, not just a boss.
• Partner with client and project leadership to keep the site running safely, compliantly, and efficiently

Skills

People management

Project management

Leadership

Troubleshooting

Water treatment knowledge

Job description

GHD is looking for a hands‑on leader to run day‑to‑day operations at a 24/7 water treatment facility in Questa, New Mexico. This isn't a desk job. You'll manage the operations team and the compliance team, drive commissioning and troubleshooting, and treat the whole operation like a project with a schedule, a budget, and a bar to clear every single day.

If you've got the chemistry chops, the leadership instincts, and the grit to run a plant that never sleeps, we want to talk to you.

What You’ll Do

• Manage and lead the plant's operations team across 24/7, two-shift coverage
• Oversee the compliance team and ensure the facility consistently meets discharge and regulatory requirements
• Run the operation like a project — schedule, budget, resourcing, and performance all on you
• Lead commissioning activities and troubleshoot process and equipment issues as they arise
• Own day‑to‑day performance of chemical treatment processes, including coagulation, lime softening, chemical precipitation, clarification, and filtration
• Build and mentor a strong, accountable team culture — this role needs a genuine team player, not just a boss
• Partner with client and project leadership to keep the site running safely, compliantly, and efficiently

What You Bring

• 10–15+ years of experience in water/wastewater treatment operations
• Strong working knowledge of chemical water treatment processes — coagulation, lime softening, chemical precipitation, clarification, and filtration
• Proven experience managing people and managing projects — you can run a team and a P&L-style operation at once
• Commissioning experience on treatment facilities
• Strong troubleshooting instincts — process, mechanical, and people problems alike
• A genuine passion for water treatment and doing the work right
• Operator's license strongly preferred
• PE preferred, not required
• OSHA 30 or similar safety certification a plus
• Team-first mindset with the leadership presence to run a 24/7 operation

Where

Questa, New Mexico — a legacy mine site treatment facility, part of a major long-term contract.

Benefits

• 401K - Employees are eligible to participate on the first day of the month following 3 months of service
• Paid time off – Our PTO benefit is designed to provide eligible employees with a period of rest and relaxation, sick, and personal time throughout the year. PTO starts at 16 days per year and increases with years of service
• Holiday Pay - Holiday pay is provided for eligible employees. GHD observes 9 holidays per year. Holiday pay will be based on the regular set schedule for the employee
• Wellness Benefit– Regular full-term employees are eligible to participate in the wellness reimbursement program. GHD will reimburse 50% of the cost of the following to maximum of $250.00 reimbursement annually for such items as: Health club membership fees, Home exercise equipment purchases, Bicycles, Race, run & marathon entrance fees, Smoking cessation programs, Weight loss programs (i.e—Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig), Fitbits and Fitness Tracking devices

Salary Range: $94,000.00 - $156,750.00, varies based on experience and location.

As a multicultural organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, sex (including same sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, disability or handicap, citizenship status, service member status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.