Job Descriptions

DESCRIPTION:

Under general direction, the Plant Manager plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates the activities of the Water Treatment Plant including directing all facets of the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant, transmission mains, and ancillary facilities and coordinates activities and water production with the Cities of Turlock and Ceres.

The Plant Manager must reside within 60 miles of the water treatment plant and be able to respond within 90 minutes in case of an emergency. The Plant Manager may identify a designee with the appropriate qualifications when the Plant Manager is unable to respond.

This classification is designed as unrepresented and assigned as Management for labor relations purposes and is considered exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

The Water Treatment Plant Manager receives administrative direction from the Municipal Services Director and exercises direct supervision over assigned plant staff. The incumbent is expected to work with minimal direct supervision, exercising independent judgment and initiate in a number of complex responsible and sensitive areas.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS - Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Plan, organize, and direct domestic water activities including operation and maintenance of the potable water treatment plant, raw water pump station, raw water pipeline, finished water pipelines, and ancillary facilities.
• Coordinate with the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) regarding the infiltration gallery, raw water pump station, raw water pipeline, flow split structure, Ceres Main Canal outlet structure (collectively known as the District Delivery Facilities) and any diversions to the Ceres Main Canal.
• Establish production goals and finished water constituent concentrations in coordination with the Cities, and plan for and coordinate outages in terms of time and duration in recognition of the Cities’ distribution systems.
• Ensure potable water meeting all regulatory requirements is delivered in the required quantities at all times.
• Coordinate plant activities with the Cities and be in regular communication with the Cities’ and TID’s designated Operations and Engineering staff members.
• Develop and implement operational efficiencies while maintaining the highest standard of water quality.
• Ensure all analyzers and monitoring equipment are calibrated and appropriately sending and storing information via a cyber-secure SCADA system.
• Perform studies related to plant and filter rerating including operation of parallel pilot filters. Collate and analyze the data from the studies, prepare reports, and work with the Division of Drinking Water (DDW) toward the goal of rating the plant for higher throughput.
• Assume the duties of chief plant operator as needed in the absence of the Water Operations Supervisor and as defined by the DDW and be available to respond to emergencies.
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
• Develop and implement policies and documents related to operation, maintenance, workplace safety, and work practices. Examples include, but are not limited to, an Operations Plan, Standard Operating Procedures, Injury Illness Prevention Plan, training plans, and employee manual.
• Develop and implement procedures and programs including safety, Emergency Response Plan (ERP), Hazardous Materials Business Plan, process control, purchasing, training, and optimization studies
• Populate and maintain the CMMS system to track equipment condition and maintenance activities.
• Prepare, administer, and implement an annual budget, including establishing and tracking a repair and replacement (R&R) fund compared with short- and long-term projected expenditures. Participate with the Cities to forecast future needs such as staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies. Work closely with the General Manager to develop, administer, and implement a Capital Improvement Plan and budget that aligns with five-year planning by the Cities.
• Recruit for and select staff, coordinate training, perform employee evaluations, implement appropriate improvement plans, as required. Set clear expectations of staff and maintain the highest standards to ensure the plant is operated and maintained in a professional manner and produces the highest quality water.
• Prepare contract documents, negotiate, and select outside vendors, contractors, and consultants in conformance with SRWA purchasing procedures. Contracts include those with chemical and fuel suppliers, service contracts and a state-certified lab.
• Provide oversight on capital improvement projects and major maintenance projects.
• Provide support to the General Manager as a representative for the SRWA to outside agencies and organizations, and community groups.
• Research and prepare technical and administrative reports, and other written documents, including the submittal of all regulatory required reports.
• Prepare PowerPoint presentations and present regularly to the SRWA Board and City Councils, as requested.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with staff, Cities employees, outside agencies, and the public through clear and concise communication.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of water treatment, water transmission, and water storage.
• Principles and practices of certified lab services.
• Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building, and conflict resolution.
• Local, State, and federal rules, regulations, and laws as they relate to the operation.
• Design and construction standards as they relate to water treatment, conveyance, and storage facilities.
• Principles and practices of organizational analysis and management.
• Budgeting principles and procedures.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management.
• Principles and practices of safety procedures and implementation.
• Use of modern office equipment and applicable software.

Ability to:

• Organize and direct all facets of water operations and maintenance including process laboratory testing.
• Analyze budgets and technical reports.
• Know appropriate laws, regulations, codes, and evaluate plant conformance with them. Make adjustments to policies and procedures, when necessary, to maintain conformance.
• Analyze problems, identify, and implement solutions, evaluate effectiveness of solution, and implement further changes if needed to attain goals.
• Understand operations and maintenance problems and serve as a resource to staff to solve problems.
• Read and understand engineering plans and specifications.
• Manage material and service contracts.
• Coordinate and oversee the work of outside vendors, consultants, and contractors.
• Gain cooperation through clear communication and effective leadership.
• Interpret and apply SRWA policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate personnel.
• Operate modern office equipment and software programs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with federal, State, andlocalregulatory agencies.
• Communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing.
• Operate and maintain SCADA systems.
• Read and understand Process Control Narratives, Process Control and Instrument Diagrams (P&ID’s), and other related SCADA architecture documents.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education, training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and ability is as follows:

Education:

Equivalent to an associate’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in business or public administration, engineering, biology, chemistry, resources management, electronics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field at time of appointment.

Incumbent must obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher learning with a major in in business or public administration, engineering, biology, chemistry, resources management, electronics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field within 36 months of appointment.

Experience:

Eight years of increasingly responsible managerial or high-level supervisory experience in the operation and maintenance of a domestic water treatment plant, and operation of a water distribution system similar or greater in size and complexity to the SRWA plant, finished water transmission, and ancillary facilities.

LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATES

License:

Possession of an appropriate, valid Class C California Driver's License at the time of appointment, to be maintained as a condition of continued employment.

Certificate(s):

• Possession of a valid California Water Treatment Operator T-5 Certificate.
• Possession of a valid California Water Distribution Operator D-4 Certificate or ability to obtain within 18 months of appointment to this position and maintain thereafter as a condition of employment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Maintain the following physical abilities: see well enough to read, write and make observations, operate hand and power tools, vehicles and heavy equipment; hear well enough to converse on the radio, telephone and in person; bodily mobility to walk, bend, stand, crouch or climb for extended periods of time, operate assigned equipment and vehicles and perform heavy manual labor for extended periods; ability to tolerate extreme fluctuations in temperature while performing essential functions and be able to lift equipment on a frequent basis 25lbs, and on an occasional basis 50lbs.