City of Tampa

This is responsible supervisory and technical work directing municipal water treatment or dam and sludge processing operations.

An employee in this class is responsible for performing a wide variety of assignments involving planning, organizing, directing, and supervising operation and maintenance of municipal advanced water treatment facilities. Work is of considerable difficulty requiring the employee to exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in providing technical guidance and supervision to assure continuous safe and efficient operation of plant facilities. Employee is involved in policy formulation, budget preparation, staffing, and technical training of personnel as well as ensuring that proper safety and laboratory testing procedures and practices are followed. Also involved are personnel management responsibilities. Under direction, the employee exercises direction and supervision over subordinate professional and supervisory personnel. Work is reviewed while in progress and upon completion through observation, conferences, reports submitted, and results obtained.

Water Treatment Operations:

Plans, directs, supervises, and coordinates the continuous, efficient and safe operations at water treatment plants and related facilities; ensures that facilities operate in accordance with design and needs; recommends changes in operations as appropriate; advises consultant engineering firms and municipal engineers regarding process modifications and changes.

Inspects and reviews condition and operation of water treatment plant facilities, drying beds and wells; completes or reviews daily and monthly reports and forms for water production activities.

Directs and coordinates laboratory testing; coordinates test results with regulatory and other outside agencies; initiates chemical and equipment purchases; coordinates and reviews contractor plans and activities.

Dam and Sludge Processing:

Operates dam machinery to open and close floodgates for regulation of water flow and level, and control of aquatic plants; records and maintains log of water elevations, gate openings and rainfall; reports readings of water levels to appropriate municipal, U.S. Weather Bureau and U.S. Geological Survey personnel.

Supervises assigned operating personnel and participates in operation of sludge processing facility, involving belt filter press applications to process sludge, and loading for disposal; operates chemical mixing and feed equipment, sludge pumps and other related machinery involved in processing water plant sludge; performs laboratory tests to determine required amounts of chemicals necessary to process varying sludge compositions and concentrations.

Schedules daily processing and sludge drying operations to maintain proper flow through facilities to prevent overloading conditions; maintains regulation of sludge thickeners and holding tank to control varying inflow of sludge and to maintain facility processing; records and maintains records of sludge quantities processed, solids concentration, quantities and concentrations of filter press solids, and such other data and information required under federal environmental rules and regulations.

Supervises and trains professional, para-professional, and technical personnel; assists in the formulation and implementation of policies and program objectives; conducts studies to develop improved methods and practices for operation; issues administrative and technical directives for the operation of facilities; develops and implements plans including budgetary actions, staffing and technical training for operation of new facilities.

Establishes safety and health policies through coordination with safety officials; ensures that proper safety measures and health standards are adhered to in the operation of facilities; maintains close liaison with state and federal regulatory agencies as appropriate.

Performs related work as required.

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

 Extensive knowledge of: principles, practices, methods and equipment used in water treatment operations; facilities, equipment, and operating practices related to water treatment; federal, state, and municipal rules, regulations, and ordinances pertaining to water treatment and distribution/disposal; developments and information related to treatment and environmental science fields.

Considerable knowledge of: maintenance and repair of equipment used for water treatment operations; occupational hazards and safety precautions related to water treatment operations; management principles, practices, techniques, and methods of organization and administration of water treatment systems; effective supervisory techniques.

Working knowledge of:  methods, materials and techniques used in maintenance and construction work; sludge processing facilities operation.

Ability to: plan, organize, assign, supervise, and inspect work of subordinate technical and non-technical personnel; establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials, employees and the general public; maintain records and prepare clear and concise reports, some of which may be required for local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.

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

Successful candidates must possess a Class “A” certification in water or the ability to obtain within 18 month.  This includes individuals from other states or Florida who possess a minimum of a Class B Drinking Water License OR who have at least eight (8) years of experience in the water treatment industry.

Possession of a valid drivers license may be required.

During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.