Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Lead Operator

Davita Inc.; Clarksville (TN); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading utility company in Tennessee is seeking a Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Lead Operator to oversee operations and manage staff at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. This pivotal role requires a certified professional with a solid background in water quality management, excellent supervisory skills, and the ability to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Candidates must be current employees of the City of Clarksville Gas and Water for at least six months.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience as a Water/Wastewater Plant Operator IV.
• Valid driver's license required.
• Possession of appropriate certifications.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and mentors staff, conducting performance evaluations.
• Ensures compliance with EPA and state regulations.
• Operates SCADA systems and prepares operational reports.

Skills

Supervisory principles

Project management principles

Communication skills

Recordkeeping techniques

Education

High school graduate or equivalent

Grade IV Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification

Grade II Distribution Certification

Job description

Description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

This is the first of six levels in the Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator series. The Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Lead Operator, under the direct supervision of the Assistant Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager, oversees Water/Wastewater treatment operators who perform necessary operational and laboratory duties focusing on treatment quality and quantity utilizing all necessary available tools to ensure water quality exceeds standards set by federal, state, and local government agencies. The Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Lead Operator supervises processes and equipment necessary for facility operation including dewatering processes. This position is under the general direction of the Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager (operator in direct charge of the facility) who reviews and approves all reports for regulatory reporting purposes. The Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Lead Operator is held personally responsible for knowing and properly following all EPA and State of Tennessee rules and regulations pertaining to the Water Treatment Plant and Water Distribution System or Wastewater Treatment Plant and is responsible for all work performed by subordinates.

***PLEASE NOTE: THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO CURRENT CITY OF CLARKSVILLE GAS AND WATER EMPLOYEES ONLY. YOU MUST BE EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF CLARKSVILLE GAS AND WATER FOR AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS TO APPLY AND BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. APPLICATIONS NOT MEETING THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.***

***PLEASE NOTE: THIS VACANCY IS LOCATED AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. THIS POSITION WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGH 6/13/2025 OR UNTIL FILLED.***

Example of Duties

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Supervises/mentors staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.

2. Recognizes plant status and is able to troubleshoot and perform corrective actions of plant operations to ensure water quality meets or exceeds the standards of EPA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; under the direction of management; formulates, initiates, and/or recommends new or improved practices and policies; develops plans and procedures to ensure efficient plant operation; recommends plant improvements and additions; ensures that all repair work and system operations are within applicable codes and up to local, State, and Federal regulations.

3. Operates Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems; views and prints related reports; performs plant calculations for chemical dosages, chemical usage, flow rates, detention time, chlorine CT values, and all other calculations necessary for the operations of the treatment facility; prepares, reviews, and approves a variety of operational records, reports, and plans.

4. Responds to customer calls regarding water quality concerns including taste, odor, color, pressure, and potential leaks from underground utility lines, and overflowing tanks; and relay messages to the proper departments for inspection and repair.

5. Works safely observing all OSHA, federal, state, and city regulations. Reports any accidents immediately to supervisor(s).

6. Oversees the handling of hazardous and toxic chemicals and materials.

7. Reviews and approves purchase of supplies and materials.

8. Performs the duties of the Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Assistant Manager in his/her absence.

9. Performs other work as required.

Typical Qualifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Education and Experience

• High school graduate or equivalent.

• Two (2) years of experience as aWater/Wastewater Plant Operator IV.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the job's essential duties.

Licensing and Certifications Requirements

• Possession of a valid driver's license.

• Grade IV Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification (respective to the assigned area).

• Grade II Distribution (respective to the assigned area).

Supplemental Information

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS REQUIRED

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Supervisory principles.

• Principles, practices, methods, and procedures in assigned area of responsibility.

• Project management principles.

• Recordkeeping techniques.

• Basic purchasing principles.

• Computers and related software applications.

• State and Federal regulations relative to Water/Wastewater treatment.

• Maps, drawings, blueprints, manufacturer's data, gauges, etc.

• Geometry, algebra, hydraulics, biology and chemistry.

• Budgeting process and the use of a budget.

Skill in:

• Monitoring and evaluating employees.

• Prioritizing and assigning work.

• Implementing standards, goals, processes, and procedures.

• Applying policies, procedures, and regulations.

• Preparing, reviewing, and maintaining operational records and reports.

• Using a computer and related software applications.

• Communication, and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with subordinates, coworkers, supervisors, the public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.

• Performing calculations for chemical feed rates, pump efficiency, volume, and concentrations, computing flow rates, ratios, percent, detention times, and CT values.

• Common sense understanding to carry out detailed, but involved written or oral instructions.

• Solving problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

• Training and supervising personnel.

• Multitasking.

• Creating and maintaining well-written and understandable records.

• Directing and disciplining personnel.

• Exercising good judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions.

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relations with other employees and the general public.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

The work is sedentary work which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination sound.

• Mental Acuity: Making rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.

• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.

• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

• Visual ability 1: sufficient to perform an activity like preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.

• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or move from one work site to another.