Career Opportunities

Under the general supervision and direction of the Treatment Plant Manager, the Process Engineering Supervisor oversees day-to-day wastewater treatment process operations and the process engineering work group. This position is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements. The Process Engineering Supervisor plans, coordinates, and supervises the activities of the process engineering work group 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 providing technical expertise for wastewater treatment process operations and future planning and design efforts. This position also guides planning for long-term and immediate operational needs, responds to emergencies, and coordinates work with the Division of Engineering and Planning and contractors. The Process Engineering Supervisor ensures adherence to safety protocols and directly supervises the process engineering work group which consists of process engineers (Research and Regulatory focuses) and a process specialist.

This position also provides oversight of process data and reports including 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 Process Engineering Supervisor is a key member of the Treatment Plant department, working closely with the Treatment Plant Manager, Operator Supervisor, Automation Systems Supervisor, and Metrogro Supervisor. This position will also work closely with supervisors and managers across the Operations and Maintenance division and project engineers in the Engineering department. 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 successful Process Engineering Supervisor will have the following qualities:

• 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. 
• 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. 
• Technically-skilled and detail-oriented: Has the ability to identify problems, research and analyze information, develop and present recommendations, and provide solutions.  Skilled at generating and utilizing complex information for technical analysis and decision-making.
• Critical Thinker: Digs into questions and problems. Looks for omissions, errors, and misinterpretations in the work. Habitually asks a variety of questions and uses a variety of thinking techniques. Sees new perspectives and new ways forward. Helps others think critically.
• Collaborative: Builds healthy, productive working relationships and thrives in a team environment. Supports staff to achieve success.

Job Duties
35% - Supervision of Treatment Plant Operations

• Supervise daily process operations of the wastewater treatment plant.
• Troubleshoot treatment plant issues and provide engineered solutions as needed.
• 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 in other departments including pollution prevention, Yahara WINs, pretreatment, hauled waste, laboratory operations, and environmental monitoring.
• Support maintenance programs for reliable operations of all District assets.
• Supervise 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.
• Supervise 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.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in 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.
• Act as a subject matter expert for operations data and serve as “Data Steward” for Operations data in the District’s Data Acquisition and Reporting Center (DARC), to include regular reviewing quality of data recorded in DARC, updating and maintaining IPNs, and maintaining and promulgating DARC Operations reports.
• Supervise process engineering work group documentation, SOPs, and training materials.
• Supervise and lead regulatory responsibilities and reporting requirements such as WPDES reporting, air permit reporting, stormwater permitting, CMOM, CMAR, and Superfund site reporting.
• Perform the O&M Supervisor On-Call duties on a rotating basis or as needed. 

30% - Participation within the Long-term and Emergency Operations

• Participate 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 
• 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.
• Act as key subject matter expert for treatment plant department involvement in District planning and design efforts and support input on technical decision making.
• Develop written reports and memoranda and make verbal presentations as needed to support treatment plant activities.
• Be a leader in the treatment plant department on RCM principles and continuous improvement.
• As needed, respond to emergency situations at the treatment plant and pumping stations. 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.

15% - Supervision and Development of Staff

• Oversee the training and supervision of process engineering work group staff. Work with group staff, oversee their work and monitor their performance. Serve as a mentor and resource to the work group and assist them with planning, scheduling, prioritizing, and supervising the work. Provide or arrange for in-house training when possible and arrange for external training when needed.
• Participate in the hiring of new individuals into the process engineering work group.
• 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 work group 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. 

5% - Management of Budgeting, Asset and Contracts

• Support treatment plant department budget preparation and administration in a fiscally responsible manner
• Prepare and assist with 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 for operational area.
• Vendor/contract management including vendor qualification, performance evaluation, and relationship management. Ensure contract terms, policies, and procedures support District objectives and properly manage risks. 

5% — Mitigating and Managing Risk

• Promote and maintain a safe work environment by ensuring that all operations are aware of and follow 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.

5% — Promoting and Managing External Relationships

• Build and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies. 
• 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.
• Manage and support regulatory reporting requirements.

5% — Miscellaneous Support of Department & Other Duties as Assigned

• Serve occasionally as backup coverage for Treatment Plant Manager duties during planned and unplanned absences as required or assigned.
• Pursue additional learning opportunities to improve technical skills, networking, and professional development. This includes—but is not limited to—conferences and training events (such as seminars, webinars, etc.)
• Build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders through clear communication, collaboration, and responsive engagement.
• Perform related work and other duties as required.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline (civil, industrial, electrical, mechanical, etc.)
• 4+ years of engineering experience related to design and/or operation of wastewater treatment facilities equipped with anaerobic digestion and biogas handling operations.
• Experience in a leadership role (e.g. supervisor, lead-worker, etc.) including staff oversight, performance management, and/or team development.
• Possess a valid Wisconsin professional engineer (PE) license.

Preferred:

• Valid Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wastewater operator certification, including all applicable subclasses (suspended growth, solids separation, solids treatment, disinfection, and total phosphorus).
• 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).

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, standing.  Must be able to safely use computer equipment for extended periods of time. Requires sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate computer keyboard or other office equipment. Requires visual acuity to read and write words and numbers.  Requires speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate in person, publicly or over the phone.  Must be able to lift to 40 pounds occasionally.  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 needs of 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.