Austin Water Operations Manager (SCADA, I&C & Electrical Services)

Job Description:

Austin Water Operations Manager (SCADA, I&C & Electrical Services)

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. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, we’re not just keeping up-we’re leading the way with sustainable infrastructure, advanced treatment technology, and environmental innovation.

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:

• Under nominal direction, this position plans, directs, and administers multiple divisions in the operations, maintenance, advanced operational technology, and support services of a water, wastewater, and/or reclaimed program, which includes multiple facilities or programs.
  

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.

• Determines divisional needs; develops, executes, and evaluates strategic short- and long-range plans including three- to five-year forecasting for a variety of projects, programs, and division activities. Reviews, prepares, consolidates, and monitors division-wide budgets.
  
• Coordinates activities within the division; between Austin Water and City departments; and with outside consultants, engineers, associations, regulatory agencies, neighborhood associations, and general public.
  
• Interprets, explains, and ensures compliance with applicable policies, procedures, ordinances, and Federal/State regulations.
  
• Evaluates programs for effectiveness and accomplishment of goals.
  
• Develops/reviews, revises, and approves procedures and specifications for plant, field or laboratory operations, equipment, and technical instrumentation; analytical testing procedures; quality control programs; safety programs; and training programs.
  
• Facilitates, conducts, and attends meetings and represents the division on behalf of the assistant director, department, and City.
  
• Provides technical advice and assistance to internal and external customers.
  
• Applies and interprets principles, practices, and procedures specific to functions such as Civil, Water & Wastewater, and/or Process Control System Engineering, Water
  
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) controls, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), and Advanced Smart Water Infrastructure.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

• Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling and recommendation for dismissal.
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must possess required knowled ge, 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 water and wastewater operational programs.
  
• Knowledge of Local, State, and Federal water, wastewater, and reclaimed water regulations.
  
• Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of safety practices and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
  
• Knowledge fiscal planning and budget preparation.
  
• Skill in oral and written communication.
  
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in using computers and related software.
  
• Skill in planning and organizing.
  
• Skill in analyzing complex data from various sources, synthesizing collected information, and developing sound decisions/recommendations.
  
• Ability to manage projects, develop and execute project timelines, delegate tasks, and evaluate progress from start up to completion of projects.
  
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
  
• Ability to resolve problems or situations that require exercising tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
  
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  
• Ability to make public presentations.
  
• Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility detailed in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a relevant field of study, plus seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience related to the activities of the program area, including three (3) years of experience which were in a supervisory, management, or program management capacity.
  
• Graduation with a Master’s degree from an accredited college may substitute for two (2) years of non-supervisory/management experience.
  
• Experience may substitute for education up to a maximum of four (4) years.
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Program Area Responsibility for Water Treatment, Water Distribution, Wastewater Treatment, and Wastewater Collection: Appropriate Class "A" Water/Wastewater license from TCEQ or State of Texas Professional Engineers license.
  
• Program Area Responsibility for Environmental Engineering and Technical Services: State of Texas Professional Engineering license.
  
• Program Area Responsibility for Advanced Technology and Smart Grid, Supervisory Control and Data, Acquisition, and Operational Support Services: No license required.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experienced State of Texas Master Electrician License within six (6) months of employment.
  
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, must have the ability to obtain a Texas P.E. license within six (6) months of employment.
  
• Experience successfully leading a multidiscipline team in the installation, maintenance, calibration, and optimization of instrumentation, control systems, and electrical infrastructure across water, wastewater, and industrial process control facilities.
  
• Experience with process control and SCADA systems, including experience with Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and/or Remoter Terminal Units (RTUs)
  
• Experience with iFIX, Telvent Oasys, Viejo Designer, Modicon Concept, and Schneider Unity Pro.
  
• Experience with industrial electrical medium voltage (5k-15kv)
  
• Experience with Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
  

Notes to Candidate:

Position Overview:

• We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead multidisciplinary teams responsible for the installation, maintenance, calibration, and optimization of instrumentation, control systems, and electrical infrastructure across water, wastewater, and industrial process control facilities. All functional areas, that include SCADA, Instrumentation & Control, and Electrical will report to this role. This is a high-impact leadership role overseeing mission critical systems that ensure safe, reliable, and compliant operations.
  
  The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise, strong leadership capabilities, and a proven ability to manage complex operations in a highly regulated environment.
  

Pay Range:

• $104,300.00 - $134,000.00 annually
  

Work Locations:

• South First Support Center, 3616 South 1st St., Austin TX, 78704
  
• Waller Creek Center, 625 E. 10th Street, Austin TX, 78701
  

Days & Hours:

• Mon - Fri, 8:00am to 5:00pm or 6:00am to 2:00pm with the ability to telework with minimum 2 days in office. Weekend and night hours as needed to meet business needs and emergency activation.
  

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.
  

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.
  
• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• A résumé is required but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• A cover letter is also required. In the cover letter candidates should describe, in concise detail, their interest in this position and highlight any prior experience that is relevant to this position.
  

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.
  
• If you are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
  

Critical:

• This position has been designated as critical for the City of Austin. Critical positions are necessary and vital and support activities that impact City or department operations. Work can be done while at a designated work site or while working at an alternate work location. Critical employees may be reassigned to another area to provide essential services to support any extraordinary situations or emergency conditions.
  

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 will 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.
  

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.
  

Important Note to Applicants:

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.

Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

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.

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: 2026-02-18