Water Treatment Plant Operations Specialist

An employee in this class is responsible for performing a wide variety of assignments involving planning, organizing, and providing expertise for the operation and maintenance of all aspects of municipal advanced water treatment and distribution facilities. Work is of considerable difficulty requiring the employee to exercise initiative and independent judgment in providing technical guidance to assure continuous safe and efficient operation of plant facilities including training, coaching and providing feedback to lower level or less experienced operators. Employee is involved in policy formulation, budget preparation, recruitment, and technical training of personnel as well as ensuring proper safety and water quality testing procedures and practices are being followed. Under general supervision, employee receives instructions orally and in writing with work reviewed while in progress and upon completion through observation of work performed, oral and written reports, and results obtained.

Reviews and advises with the development of designs, specifications, and products; recommends changes to management and implements in-plant processes; performs operability reviews of process, technology and operations; investigates new control strategies and assists engineers and vendors with developing new technologies; attends all pre-bid, pre-construction and design meetings for plant expansions and rehab projects; provides vital input in design and revision phases.

Monitors, reviews and validates work processes for quality control assurance; works with outside vendors on chemicals and process equipment; writes standard and conditional operating procedures; monitors productivity and plant operational processes and water inventory; assists in the training, assessment and development of operators; audits procedure effectiveness

Assists teams with prioritizing emergency and planned maintenance based on plant needs; develops detailed plans for plant isolations, shutdowns and start-ups for maintenance needs.

Trouble-shoots complex problems and performs highly skilled operational tasks; gathers and interprets historical data from Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), and other sources; performs, analyzes, compiles, retrieves and compares laboratory and field test results for quality control; identifies recurring and complex problems and recommends and implements solutions; recognizes and identifies trends in operational processes; troubleshoots and corrects operational and process control problems; performs failure and root cause analysis; monitors chemical usage; reviews process control trends on SCADA.

Leads in the input on annual operating budget forecasts, chemical contracts, chemical trials, and ordering of chemicals; provides teams with operational and capital improvement budget needs on an annual basis.

Maintains and reviews technical reports, records and library; retrieves and updates records; conducts research utilizing a wide variety of sources; reads prints, schematics and one line diagrams; recommends corrective action; writes reports to leadership using Access, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Prepares and certifies state and local regulatory reports; drafts written explanation to regulatory agencies for permit non-compliance issues after appropriate investigation and troubleshooting; implements measures to prevent re-occurrences.

Performs related work as required.  

Intermediate knowledge of: available technology; job related safety practices, including electrical safety; general contract provisions; CMMS.

Comprehensive knowledge of: modern theories, principles and practices of operations as applied to various types of water treatment

Advanced knowledge of: SCADA; equipment interface; drinking water processes; plant operations; drinking water standard operation procedures; utility interfaces; principles of operation and flow paths; auxiliary plant processes; new technologies and products.

Intermediate ability to: perform failure and root cause analysis; conduct research utilizing a wide variety of resources.

Advanced ability to: train, evaluate and assess the performance of drinking water treatment operators and technicians; perform, analyze, compile, retrieve and compare laboratory and field test results; gather and interpret historical data from SCADA, CMMS, and other sources; troubleshoot and correct operational, procedural and process control problems; recognize and identify trends in operational processes; review and analyze chemical usage trends on SCADA; locate and identify valve and piping; utilize written and verbal communication in an effective manner.

Intermediate skill in: use of computers (Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint); interpersonal relations, including coordination with warehouse, contractors and vendors.

Advanced skill in: communications; procedure technical writing; reading prints and drawings including one line diagrams.

Desirable: construction knowledge; knowledge of AutoCAD.

Accountabilities: monthly report to Leadership that would include information on operating procedures and work practices reviewed, audited, written or modified; completes all troubleshooting, high skilled tasks requested by management; provides solutions to problems that work and are agreed upon with related parties.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences or related field with major course work in chemistry, bacteriology, sanitary engineering and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in managing water treatment facilities and processes; or an associate’s degree in natural sciences or related field with major course work in chemistry, bacteriology, sanitary engineering and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in managing water treatment facilities and processes.

Possession of a valid Florida driver’s license.

Possession of a class "A" State of Florida Drinking Water Operations license.

Evaluation of education and experience.

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