Austin Water Treatment Operations & Maintenance Supervisor - South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant

Job Description:

Austin Water Treatment Operations & Maintenance Supervisor - South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant

Description

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles - Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference : Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits : Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security : Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options : Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness : Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth : Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
• Modern Workspaces : Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration.
  

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

ABOUT AUSTIN WATER:
For over 100 years, Austin Water has been committed to providing safe, reliable, high-quality, and affordable water services to our customers. Today, we serve over 1,000,000 people in the Austin metropolitan area, across more than 548 square miles.

Walnut Creek and South Austin Regional are Austin Water's two wastewater treatment plants. These sites can receive up to 150 million gallons per day of sewage to treat before it is returned to the Colorado River.

More than a billion gallons of this high-quality effluent are reclaimed each year for outdoor irrigation, industrial cooling, manufacturing, and other uses.

Austin Water consistently ranks among the best in the country when it comes to water quality. We also treat, return, and recycle wastewater in ways that protect environmental resources. Austin Water exceeds federal and state requirements for clean water and environmental compliance at our water and wastewater treatment plants.

Job Description:

Purpose:

This position supervises personnel assigned to the operations and maintenance of a water or wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collection, water distribution systems facility, stormwater pumpstation, or remote stormwater facility. This position uses comprehensive technical knowledge of utility operations and exercises judgment in the application of broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods and evaluation criterion for obtaining results.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Monitors, evaluates, and enforces Utility safety practices and procedures and takes corrective action where necessary.
  
• Reviews and prioritizes projects and work activities.
  
• Interprets and reviews compliance with applicable policies and procedures including Federal, State, and Local ordinances and regulations and responds accordingly.
  
• Monitors programs for effectiveness and accomplishment of goals.
  
• Uses automated data systems to schedule activities; and enter, retrieve, track, analyze, and monitor data.
  
• Reviews, analyzes, calculates, and interprets data and determines appropriate course of action.
  
• Sets priorities for work orders and coordinates accomplishment of the work to be performed.
  
• Orders and/or issues a variety of supplies, chemicals, and materials.
  
• Conducts periodic checks of facility equipment.
  
• Acts as liaison to coordinate activities with engineers, inspectors, divisions, and other City departments.
  
• Investigates and responds to citizens' complaints and concerns.
  
• Writes technical specifications and reports.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised: Responsible for the full range of supervisory duties including selection, training, evaluation, counseling and recommendation for dismissal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of operations and maintenance of stormwater pump stations, water and/or wastewater treatment plants, Water Distribution Systems, or Collection Systems.
  
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws.
  
• Knowledge of supervisory techniques and principles.
  
• Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of standard industry safety practices and procedures.
  
• Skill in oral and written communication.
  
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in using computers and related software.
  
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
  
• Ability to obtain knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
  
• Ability to train others.
  
• Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility standards detailed in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program while driving personal and City of Austin vehicles on official business.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant and Collection Systems Facility and Stormwater Facility:

Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in the operations, maintenance, and repair of industrial equipment, including five (5) years of experience which were progressively responsible in water/wastewater treatment plant or wastewater collection systems facility, stormwater pump station or other process control facility, and including one (1) year of experience with lead or supervisory duties.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

Wastewater Treatment Plant:

• Required to stay current in the Respiratory Protection and Confined-Space Entry Programs.
  
• Current Texas Class C Driver License.
  
• May require a Valid Texas Commercial Driver License with endorsements.
  
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations: TCEQ Class B Wastewater License or higher.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Supervisory experience to include hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluation.
  
• Experience in operations and maintenance of an activated sludge wastewater plant, 10MGD or greater.
  
• Experience monitoring chemical feed rates and permit parameters as related to plant budget.
  
• Experience with and understanding of industry standard safety requirements to include hazardous chemicals and/or atmospheres.
  
• Experience reading and understanding engineering specifications and drawings as related to plant rehab and construction.
  
• Experience using Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for work order and asset maintenance history, and basic skill level with MS Office Excel, Word & Outlook.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  

Notes to Candidate:

Benefits:

Working with Austin Water provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more - click HERE for more information. Additionally, this position offers a career progression plan, which provides a unique opportunity to promote without having to go through the competitive process.

South Austin Regional (SAR) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) receives wastewater flow from Austin Water Utility’s sanitary sewer collection system and treats it before returning it to the Colorado River. South Austin Regional is also a key facility in meeting Austin’s reclaimed water needs for non-potable water.

Position Overview:

These Austin Water Treatment Operations & Maintenance Supervisor positions will be responsible for the supervision of the operations staff or maintenance staff (as assigned) and corresponding operations or maintenance tasks of a wastewater treatment plant. Additionally, these positions will act in a supporting role to the other SAR WWTP Supervisors. Duties include but are not limited to, ensuring a safe working environment for all staff; budget management; assisting with planning and design of plant systems; communication and coordination with vendors, contractors, and other Austin Water workgroups.

Pay Range: $31.39 - $39.24 per hour

Position(s) will be filled at the following location:
South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant
13009 Fallwell Lane, Del Valle, TX 78617

Days and Hours:

Monday - Friday; 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Schedules may vary based on business needs.
  
• This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to work during inclement weather and on weekends and holidays, overtime, callback, and on-call may be required based on business necessity.
  

Technical Licensure:

• This position requires a Class B (or higher) Wastewater License from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
  
• If you hold an equivalent license from another state that is eligible for reciprocity from TCEQ, please note that reciprocity is required by the date of hire.
  
• TCEQ may restrict granting an occupational license to individuals with certain criminal convictions. To review TCEQ’s criminal conviction guidelines, go online to TCEQ .
  

Driving Requirement:
This position requires a valid current Texas Class “C” Driver License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin Driver Safety Standards requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.

Confined-Space Entry Requirements:

• Candidates must be able to work in environments which may have hazardous atmospheres, or in confined spaces where there is limited or restricted means for entry and exit, or where the activities of an employee are hindered.
  
• Candidates must be able to qualify for the Utility’s Respiratory Protection Program.
  
• Candidates must be clean shaven to meet the Utility’s Respiratory Protection Program guidelines which requires the use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
  

Physical & Pre-Employment Testing Requirements:

• This position will require that you be able to perform duties with confidence at sites where climbing ladders and working at heights of up to 200 feet and descending into confined spaces up to 100 feet deep with the use of a required SRL body harness that supports weight as designated by work area.
  
• Selected candidate will be required to complete and pass a pre-employment physical exam and a Functional (FC) strength/agility test (with or without accommodations) to be considered for this position. Candidates must be able to qualify for Austin Water’s Respiratory Protection Program.
  

When completing the City of Austin employment application:

• A detailed, complete employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position.
  
  • Provide each job title and accurate employment dates for all jobs included on the application.
    
  • Your work history should include the duties you performed, any supervisory or lead responsibilities, and any equipment and computer software used.
    

• A cover letter is required.
  
• A résumé is required but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Statements such as “see résumé ” will be considered incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• Please include contact information from previous employers.
  

Assessment Requirement:

Applicant skill level in the competency area of Microsoft Excel and Outlook will be assessed, with a required minimum passing score of 70% to be considered for the next step in the recruitment process.

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
  
• And are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
  

Essential Employee:

This has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a City-designated emergency, Essential Employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In such an emergency, Essential Employees may be called back in, may be required to modify their schedule, may be assigned to a City-designated work site, or may be retained on site to assist with operations and recovery.

Secondary Employment:

• All Austin Water employees are prohibited from accepting or engaging in any secondary employment that might conflict or interfere with an employee’s duty and responsibility to the Department.
  
• Austin Water must review all secondary employment.
  
• Employees are required to submit a Secondary Employment Application for review and approval upon being hired with Austin Water, as well as current Austin Water employees considering secondary employment.
  

All Austin Water worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any AW worksite - including construction sites, parking lots, garages or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO APPLICANTS:

Postings close at 12:00 a.m. on the listed End Date. All application steps - including document uploads and final submission - must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on the day prior to the End Date. We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

Please note this posting may close any time after 7 days.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2026-01-21