Wastewater Chief Plant Operator

JOB INFORMATION

See NOTE(S) below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Wastewater Chief Plant Operator positions will be directly responsible for ensuring that the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, North City and South Bay Water Reclamation Plants, the Metro Biosolids Facility, and contributing pump stations work in concert and achieve the system-wide state permit treatment performance requirements, and other regulatory requirements; serve as Chief Plant Operator over the San Diego Metro Wastewater System including the terminal wastewater treatment plant, satellite plants, and their respective operations and maintenance; provide supervisory, technical, and operational oversight of the City’s wastewater treatment system; serve as the single point of contact and Chief Plant Operator on record for regulatory agencies; ensure compliance with regulations; respond to inquiries from the public, industry, regulatory agencies, and news media; supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate positions including Wastewater Treatment Superintendents overseeing the individual wastewater treatment plants and other associated support positions; and perform other duties as assigned.

• The following wage increase is scheduled to take effect for Wastewater Chief Plant Operator: 5% effective 7/1/2025.
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Wastewater Chief Plant Operator employees with valid Grade V Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate are eligible for 7.5% additional pay.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

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

EXPERIENCE: Three years of full-time experience supervising the operations of a wastewater treatment plant.

NOTE:

• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

• Supervisory experience as a certified wastewater operator in a variety of treatment processes ranging from primary, secondary, recycled water production, biosolids, up to advanced water treatment.
• Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Sciences, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, or related field.

• Proof of a valid Grade V Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator's Certificate of Competence issued by the State of California Water Resources Control Board.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

SCREENING PROCESS

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.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION