Career Opportunities

Under general supervision and the direction of the Operations and Maintenance Director, the Treatment Plant Manager oversees wastewater treatment processes and treatment plant staff. This position is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the treatment facility, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements. The Treatment Plant Manager plans, coordinates, and supervises the activities of the Treatment Plant team to ensure safe, efficient, reliable treatment of wastewater, return of treated water to the environment, and beneficial reuse of biosolids, biogas, and struvite. The role includes managing budgets, planning for both long-term and immediate operational needs, responding to emergencies, and coordinating work with engineering and contractors. The Treatment Plant Manager ensures adherence to safety protocols and maintains positive community relations. This position directly supervises the Assistant Treatment Plant Manager, Metrogro Operations Supervisor, Automation Systems Supervisor, and provides general oversight to the Treatment Plant department, working closely with the Reliability Process, Ecosystem Services, Collection System, and Maintenance managers to support District-wide operational objectives. This position also provides oversight of process data and reports (to include review of data quality, updating and creating Internal Process Numbers (IPNs), and creating and updating reports. This position will also be expected to provide oversight in working through unusual treatment plant problems, special project evolutions and shutdowns/start-ups, and tackling urgent needs for assistance in the treatment plant.   The successful candidate must demonstrate a growth mindset in navigating a dynamic, mission-driven operation, while remaining committed to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture. The Treatment Plant Manager is a key member of the division leadership team, working closely with the Operations Reliability Manager, Ecosystem Manager, Collection Systems Manager, and the Maintenance Manager. Also serves as a technical expert in support of District projects and programs.

         Success Factors

The successful Treatment Plant Manager must bring the following qualities to the work:

• Agility: Demonstrates the ability to adapt quickly and effectively to changing circumstances, priorities, and environments while maintaining high performance and a positive attitude allowing for a culture of continuous improvement and decision-making that drives results. 
• Integrity: Maintains high ethical standards and confidentiality. Success requires sound judgement in handling sensitive information. 
• Stakeholder Partnerships: Excellence in managing relationships across diverse groups including elected officials, community representatives, regulatory agencies, external business partners, and internal department heads.
• Strategic Leadership: Ability to translate complex government operations into clear strategies that support immediate operational needs and long-term capacity and resilience. Success requires understanding how decisions impact service delivery and community relationships. 
• Team Leadership and Development: Proven ability to lead and develop a diverse team with varying specializations. Success requires fostering collaboration, providing mentorship, and maintaining high performance standards while supporting professional growth. 

Duties
25% — Management & Development of Staff

• Oversee the training and supervision of treatment plant department staff. Work with department staff, oversee their work and monitor their performance. Serve as a mentor and resource to the department and assist them with planning, scheduling, prioritizing, and supervising the work. Provide in-house training when possible and arrange for external training when needed.
• Manage the hiring of new individuals into the treatment plant department.
• Establish performance standards, conduct evaluations, and provide professional development opportunities. 

• Foster a culture of high standards, reliability, pride in work, and customer service. Sets clear departmental expectations and goals and aligns teams to those goals. Train, coach, and manage employees to meet or exceed those goals.
• Foster and develop a collaborative environment promoting knowledge sharing and improvement, with supervisors autonomously managing their teams to reduce emergency work and increase overall efficiency. 
• Oversee succession planning and talent development initiatives within the department. Ensure continuity of operations through developing staff in skill gaps, progressions, cross-training, and knowledge transfer plans with support from HR. Ensure effective staff coordination with external consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and customer communities on treatment plant and metrogro distribution matters.

30% —Managing Treatment Plant Operations

• Manage daily operation and programs of the wastewater treatment plant. Manage treatment plant operations focused on efficient wastewater treatment, biosolids handling, and operational technology (OT).
• Ensure that all provisions of the District’s Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit, air permit, lagoon superfund site, sludge management plan, and biosolids distribution permitting regulatory obligations are being met. Support collection system operations for the District’s collection system pump stations and interceptor system.
• Support regulatory compliance programs including pollution prevention, Yahara WINs, pretreatment, hauled waste, laboratory operations, and environmental monitoring.
• Support maintenance programs for reliable operations of all District assets.
• Oversee treatment plant research focused on efficient wastewater treatment, biosolids handling, beneficial reuse, and operational technology.
• Establish process control operating parameters and set points to maximize operational efficiency and ensure that plant operations are compliant with WPDES permit and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Oversee day-to-day operations and daily/weekly work projects.
• Troubleshoot treatment plant issues and provide engineered solutions as needed.
• Develop written reports, memoranda, and make verbal presentations as needed to support operations activities including treatment plant monitoring reports.
• Lead District teams and in meetings where operations expertise is necessary or desired.  
• Support the District’s reliability centered maintenance (RCM) program including identification of work, coordination of operational impacts with maintenance activities, and review of work for completion.
• Oversee operations data in the District’s Data Acquisition and Reporting Center (DARC), to include regularly reviewing quality of data recorded in DARC, updating and maintaining IPNs, and maintaining and promulgating DARC Operations reports.
• Monitor and evaluate the treatment/operations procedures and recommend improvements.
• Responsible for the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for management and stakeholders. 
• Perform the O&M Supervisor On-Call duties on a rotating basis. 

20% — Manage Long-term and Emergency Operations

• Partner in the preparation and implementation of facility plans and capital improvement projects to ensure the system will maintain long-term and stable operations and compliance with all regulations.  Assist in the development of business case analyses for these projects
• Work with O&M division leadership to have continuous improvement in operation activities including factors like safety, cost consciousness, and efficiency  
• Review and provide input into District infrastructure equipment replacement and improvement projects for the District’s treatment plant during planning, design, and construction phases. 
• Review plans for new facilities and equipment and provide comments on plans and specifications for treatment plant projects. Provide key input to the evaluation for new equipment and equipment specifications.
• Oversee treatment plant department involvement in District planning and design efforts and lead input on technical decision making.

• Develop written reports and memoranda and make verbal presentations as needed to support treatment plant activities.
• Align the treatment plant department on RCM principles and continuous improvement.
• Respond to emergency situations at the treatment plant and pumping stations as needed. In the face of adversity and during emergencies, demonstrate sound decision-making ability that considers employee and public safety, the District’s discharge permit and regulatory requirements, and equipment functionality.
• Ensure adherence to local, state and federal environmental regulations and promptly report incidents  
• Lead adoption of best practices, innovative approaches, and continuous improvement initiatives. 
• Ensure data integrity and system integration across all functions. Establish and monitor key performance indicators and implement improvements. 

• Actively serve in and support the District Incident Command Structure, aid in continuous improvement of this program. Complete FEMA ICS-100 and 200 series training within 6-months of hire, and other related trainings as directed.

10% — Budgeting, Asset and Contract Management

• Lead treatment plant department budget preparation and administration in a fiscally responsible manner; prepare cost estimates for budget items; monitor and control expenditures.

• Prepare contract documents, bid requests, and annual treatment plant department budget requests, and conduct necessary procurement related activities.
• Support and assist with the development of the District’s asset management program and implement asset management strategies and practices that promote reliability and performance.  
• Arrange for and supervise treatment plant department projects performed by contractors.
• Oversee vendor/contract management including vendor qualification, performance evaluation, and relationship management. Ensure contract terms, policies, and procedures support District objectives and properly manage risks. 
• Provide strategic guidance on complex procurements, including capital equipment purchases, professional services contracts, and construction projects. 

5% — Mitigating & Managing Risk  

• Promote and maintain a safe work environment by ensuring that all workgroup members are aware of and adhere to applicable District policies and procedures related to worker safety.
• Support the District’s Health and Safety Leader in ensuring ensure compliance with all occupational safety regulations and promote a culture of safety excellence throughout the department.

• Establish and enforce safety programs and procedures for the treatment plant department. Develop and maintain policies and procedures ensuring safety protocol compliance.

• Monitor and assess risks, implementing mitigation strategies as needed. 

5% — Promoting & Managing External Relations    

• Serve as primary treatment plant department representative to District, Commission, customer communities, and external stakeholders. 
• Build and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies. 
• Address public complaints as requested. 
• Represent the District at conferences, regulatory meetings, and community forums. 

• Remain current on new technologies and developments in the wastewater treatment field including participating in professional organizations and attending meetings/conferences as necessary to ensure that the District remains up to date on issues that may impact plant operations.

5% — Other Duties as Assigned

• Serve occasionally as backup coverage for Director of Operations and Maintenance duties during planned and unplanned absences as required or assigned.
• Complete any and all District required trainings.
• Perform related work and other duties as required. 
• Support the District’s strategic plan.

Required:

• Master’s degree in civil, environmental, chemical engineering, or related field.
• Extensive experience (5+ years) related to operation and/or design of wastewater treatment facilities equipped with anaerobic digestion and biogas handling operations.
• Experience in a leadership role (e.g. supervisor, lead-worker, etc.)
• Possess a valid Wisconsin professional engineer (PE) license.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline (civil, industrial, electrical, mechanical), a hard science (physics, chemistry, biology, geology), or a closely related technical field.
• Valid Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wastewater operator certification, including all applicable subclasses (suspended growth, solids separation, solids treatment, disinfection, and total phosphorus).
• Minimum of 2+ years of supervisory experience, including staff oversight, performance management, and team development.
• Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) credential.
• Experience with state and federal public water or wastewater regulatory requirements.
• Experience with air emissions regulatory requirements.
• Experience using a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
• Experience applying reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) principles

Qualified applicants are required to submit a cover letter and resume in addition to their application.

Work is performed in a combination of environments ranging from a standard office environment to field sites, tunnels, pumping stations, etc. This will require walking, bending, climbing stairs or ladders, and standing.  Must be able to safely use computer equipment for extended periods of time. Requires ability to operate computer keyboard or other office equipment. Requires the ability to read and write words and numbers. Requires the ability to communicate in person, publicly or over the phone. The incumbent may be expected to carry chemicals and other materials that weigh up to 40 pounds occasionally and will have to turn valves while exerting pressure. The noise level varies from quiet to loud.

Work may occasionally require exposure to hazardous conditions and noxious chemicals. Work may require performance of tasks outdoors under varying climactic conditions. Work may occasionally require performance of tasks at elevated levels. Work may occasionally require performance of tasks in confined areas. Additional requirements may be specified depending on the needs of the department and/or tasks required to complete work efforts.

This position is eligible for remote work, consistent with District policy. The expectation is for in-person work except for situational remote work as needed.