Job Details

West County Wastewater is looking for an effective leader and motivator of people and processes who can utilize and develop the talents of staff to carry out the operations and maintenance initiatives and goals of the Water Quality and Resource Recovery Department (WQ&RR).

The Operations and Maintenance Manager (O&M Manager) position was created to enhance and improve the coordination of work between WCW's operations and maintenance divisions. Two O&M positions are allocated to WQ&RR, one of which is vacant. The O&M Managers share responsibility for overseeing operations and maintenance, working collaboratively to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of services in support of the department's operational priorities. We seek to fill this vacancy with someone who is experienced, innovative, collaborative, solutions-oriented, and knowledgeable in the principles and practices of wastewater operations and maintenance, and local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations related to the wastewater industry.

Among the most critical abilities for this position are highly developed interpersonal skills, which involve effectively managing and developing personnel while enhancing interactions with other WCW employees work groups and other stakeholders where necessary. The ideal candidate will exhibit exceptional interpersonal skills and cultural awareness, including the ability to communicate transparently, directly, and constructively and empower staff to do the same.

The O&M Manager receives general guidance and direction from the Director of Water Quality and Resource Recovery and provides direct supervision to operations and maintenance supervisory staff and indirect supervision to other operations and maintenance staff.

In 2026, WCW will complete the large treatment plant upgrade in its more than 100 year history. Process and equipment start-up and commissioning experience is a plus.

We are looking for someone who:

• Inspires others toward a common vision and fosters trust and ethics;
• Accept responsibility for their own and their team's performance, aligning organizational objectives with the employees' skills, competency requirements, development plans, and the delivery of results;
• Communicates effectively with others, establishes and maintains strong relationships to achieve common goals, is collaborative and a team player;
• Responds effectively to multiple demands, ambiguity, shifting of priorities, emerging situations, and rapid change; while encouraging cooperation, collaboration, and partnership;
• Goes the extra mile to provide exceptional service to both internal and external customers;
• Possesses strong problem-solving and decision-making skills. Thinks creatively and recommends options and solutions;
• Takes action to evaluate, establish, and maintain safety and training standards for employees and others.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Planning, managing, and overseeing a variety of projects and programs, and providing direction and oversight to the maintenance and operations divisions;
• Identifying and implementing solutions to operational problems;
• Managing the scheduling of continuing work programs and special projects of recycled water, wastewater treatment and resource recovery, sewer lift stations, and facility maintenance and repair activities.
• Interpreting, explaining, and applying regulations, policies, and procedures;
• Preparing clear and accurate reports, correspondence, policies, and other written materials.
• Effectively communicating and managing frequently changing priorities

A few reasons you might love this job:

• Your work will have a direct impact on the agency's ability to provide important public services;
• You will be managing a highly skilled and knowledgeable team;
• You will manage complex projects that require attention to detail, time management skills, and the ability to stay focused and organized.
• You will have the opportunity to work with your fellow O&M Manager to define and memorialize the somewhat differing roles and responsibilities of the two positions for example - one may have more operations oversight and the other a focus on plant maintenance more clearly. A high level work plan outlining and memorializing these responsibilities and distinctions should be considered.
• WCW is in the process (in the next 3-18 months) of completing, starting up, and commissioning components of the largest treatment plant upgrade and construction project in its 103-year history. This Clean and Green Project (C&G) is mainly focused on improving the reliability of the solids treatment train and includes new rotary drum thickeners, new digesters and associated equipment, new methane flare, new electrical cogeneration system (2 engines), centrifuges, Gryphon belt dryer (will produce Class A Biosolids), energy savings components (roughly .8 mW Solar Generating Facility) in addition to other improvements.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will be responsible for managing a division and overseeing personnel conflicts that may arise;
• You will often have competing demands and shifting priorities;
• Your staff will have varying levels of experience, and some may require more support and guidance to be successful;
• You will be presented with multiple communication styles and will be expected to adapt accordingly.
• There will be a lot of new processes being implemented with the plant upgrades that will require equipment start-up and commissioning.

Competencies Required:

• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new ways to do business
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Informing: Proactively obtaining and sharing information
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Visionary Leadership: Taking a long-term view and building a shared vision with others; acting as a catalyst for organizational change
• Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on-time, on budget, and achieve their objectives
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Leveraging Technology: Applying technology for improvements in organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Essential Duties:

The following list of duties is intended only to describe the various types of work that may be performed and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties. The omission of a specific duty statement does not exclude it from the position if the work is consistent with the classification concept or is similar or closely related to another duty statement.

• Develops, directs, and implements the goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for each division;
• Establishes and revises each division's operational and maintenance programs and priorities;
• Prepares, administers, and is responsible for each division's budget, forecasts additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies, and administers the approved budget;
• Plans, organizes, administers, reviews, and evaluates the work of first-line supervisory, professional, technical, administrative, and operations and maintenance staff directly and through subordinate levels of supervision;
• Identifies opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures, identifies resource needs, and reviews with appropriate management staff. Implements improvements;
• Provides staff assistance to the Director of Water Quality and Resource Recovery, participates on various staff committees, and prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence. Supervises the preparation and maintenance of related reports, records, and files and ensures the proper documentation of activities;
• Coordinates assigned maintenance activities with those of other WCW divisions, contractors, outside agencies, and organizations;
• Serve as technical advisor to division personnel on difficult or unusual problems;
• Review and evaluate various types of operational and treatment plant process data, including but not limited to daily logs, records, and trends. Report and address any operational anomalies or inefficiencies
• Develops recommendations for long-term service plans, associated time schedules, and implementation strategies. Recommends short-term objectives and prepares budget requests describing, quantifying, and otherwise justifying funding requests for personnel, services and supplies, routine operating capital equipment, facility needs, and special division projects;
• Prepares and presents regular and special reports, information, and recommendations to the Director of Water Quality and Resource Recovery, General Manager, staff, and the Board of Directors on work program status. Monitors operating and reporting status of divisional regulatory compliance activities, budget, service contract, registration and renewal of control systems, and service activity levels;
• Coordinates divisional activities and resources in cooperation with other agencies during responses to emergency or disastrous events;
• Makes employment recommendations and directs the training and evaluation of employees. Formally evaluates the performance of employees with a direct reporting relationship. Makes recommendations for formal commendation, discipline, and discharge actions involving division personnel;
• Responds to inquiries from the public, customers, local officials, outside agencies, community organizations, and industry counterparts. Prepares analyses, reports, and recommendations;
• Assumes responsibility for covering the work assignments of other managers or supervisors during short absences. Participates in the activities of professional recycled water and wastewater treatment and resource recovery system maintenance and repair organizations on behalf of WCW.;
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Any combination of training and experience that demonstrates that a person has obtained the required knowledge and is able to perform the required work (with reasonable accommodation, if needed) will be considered. A person with the following combined training and experience would typically qualify to compete in a selection process:

Experience: Seven (7) years of experience operating and maintaining a wastewater treatment plant, with at least four (4) years of supervisory experience which include performance management duties.

Education: Associate's Degree (or equivalent work experience, training, and education) in environmental science, management, maintenance, chemistry, public administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college.

Required License or Certificate:

Possession and maintenance of one or more of the following certifications are required:

For a candidate selected who does not hold the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTO) Grade IV certificate, the last bullet directly below applies. A combination of CWEA (Grade III as noted below) and SWRCB WWTO certification will be considered in lieu of the Grade IV requirement as outlined in the 4th bullet below:

• Mechanical Technologist Grade III certificate issued by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA).
• Electrical/Instrumentation Technologist Grade III certificate issued by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA).
• Grade IV California Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certificate issued by the State of California Water Resources Control Board.
• Electrical/Instrumentation Technologist Grade IV certification must be obtained before the completion of the probationary period.

Must possess a valid California Driver's License. The incumbent must meet all provisions of WCW's Driving Policy as a condition of continued employment.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience Managing Wet Weather Operations: Understanding the operational and maintenance impacts to the treatment plant of high flow events
• Experience with Regulatory Report Writing: Self-monitoring or other reports to Regulatory Agencies for example
• Experience managing contracts

WORK ENVIRONMENT- PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

An employee in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The following describes typical environmental and physical demands:

• Work is performed in a standard office environment with exposure to cold, heat, outdoor space, and heights;
• Work requires sitting for long periods of time, climbing stairs and ladders while observing work in tanks, basins, and trenches, and on scaffolding, catwalks and ladders;
• Work requires safe lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or moving objects weighing up to 35 lbs;
• Hands are utilized for repetitive actions involving fine dexterity;
• Work requires the safe operation of an automobile;
• Work involves the regular use of safety precautions, methods, and apparatus to minimize and withstand exposure to chemicals, dust, mechanical and electrical hazards, noise, vibration, domestic waste, confined workspaces, and wastewater.

Applying for this Position:
Applicants interested in the Operations and Maintenance Manager position must apply at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wcwd by February 16, 2026

This recruitment requires a cover letter and resume with the application.

Selection Process:

1. Application Filing and Evaluation: Applicants must complete a supplemental questionnaire at the time of application; applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.
2. Oral Interview: Conducted by a Qualifications Appraisal Panel, which will evaluate candidates in job-related areas.

Tentative Test Dates:
Structured Oral Interview: February 24, 2026
Internal Interview: March 5, 2026
Hiring Interview: March 11, 2026

WCW is not responsible for the failure of internet forms or email transmission in submitting applications. Candidates who may require special assistance in any phase of the application or selection process should advise Human Resources at hr@wcwd.org.

Disaster Service Worker
All West County Wastewater employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the WCW requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity
It is the policy of West County Wastewater to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.