Wastewater Plant Manager

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we're delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you're looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: (Primary Duties and Responsibilities)

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Supervisor in charge of all Central Division wastewater collection systems, lift stations. and treatment facilities, along with all associated equipment. Responsible for ensuring the timely repair, maintenance and management of assets and operations via an electronic work order management system.
• Responsible for attaining established Department objectives, including established performance metrics. This includes the training and developing of Wastewater Department employees with an understanding of, and compliance with, Aqua policies, procedures, and practices.
• Serves as the Responsible Operator In Charge (ROIC) for all Central Division Wastewater Department NPDES systems and other jurisdictions as required within established operations. Responsible for compliance with all IEPA and EPA regulatory requirements related to the Department operations.
• Administration of all non-union employee relations including staffing, labor relations, compliance with personnel policies and programs, staff development and personnel reviews. Also responsible for employee personal development, interviewing, hiring, training, rewarding, counseling, and employee discipline as necessary.
• Responsible for timely management and reconciliation of accounts payable expenditures to all vendors providing support to the Department's activities; responsible for management of materials, chemicals, equipment, fleet procurement, and inventory control/reconciliation. Also responsible for preparation of purchase requisitions and monitoring open purchase orders.
• Responsible for identifying, developing, and managing capital expenditures within the Wastewater Department. Coordinates with internal and external engineering, operational and compliance staff to ensure capital expenditures are in accordance with established budgets and operational plans. Responsible for fulfilling all duties of Project Manager on Wastewater Department capital projects.
• Manages the procurement, accountability and charge-out of inventory items in support of the Department. Ensures needed materials and chemicals are on hand for daily work and that invoices are reconciled in a timely fashion.
• Supervises others who perform NPDES and process analyses in wastewater treatment as needed.
• Supervises all wastewater employees at the division level including operator trainee/ operators, maintenance, laboratory, and team lead personnel.
• Prepares, reviews, and submits regulatory agency required reporting and monitoring, with oversight by the Area Manager and Compliance Manager.
• Responsible for maintaining compliance with sampling schedules and parameter limits for wastewater quality.
• Evaluates new treatment processes through pilot studies and develops capital projects or process changes to implement improvements in quality or efficiency of operation.
• Receives and investigates customer back up or sanitary overflow complaints and formulates appropriate responses.
• Manages overall operational ready status of plant and collection system equipment including computerized control systems and monitoring sensors.
• Oversight of department safety programs, safety leadership and training of employees. Utilize and support Aqua safety program and policies in conjunction with State Safety Specialist including but not limited to process safety, Chemical Hygiene Plan, Risk Management Plan, Lock Out/Tag Out and Confined Space Program.
• Performs all other duties assigned.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL OR REGISTRATION QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, environmental engineering, or engineering is preferred but not required.An advanced degree is advantageous.
• Must have 10 years of experience in the industry with 5 years in a supervisory role. Previous experience should also include work with computer control systems and programming, environmental chemistry and laboratory procedures, computational skills to calculate chemical dosages and determine calibration of chemical feed systems, basic mechanical skills to maintain large pumps, drives, motors, piping systems, chemical feeders and storage tanks, knowledge of electrical power distribution and control systems.
• Must be advanced in Microsoft Office (Email, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Creative problem-solving skills, strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize and resolve issues in a fast-paced environment preferred.
• Ability to think analytically and logically with strong attention to detail.
• Must possess the ability to motivate oneself and others to accomplish required tasks, and the ability to work with and motivate people of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with public officials, staff, and management.
• Ability to establish meaningful, timely and attainable goals and effectively coordinate multiple projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to effectively conduct business with internal and external customers and represent the company.
• Must be available for emergencies or consultation 24/7 and respond when necessary.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS:

• Class 1 Illinois Public Wastewater Operator's Certificate is required but will consider candidates with the ability to obtain a Class 1 certificate within the specified experience requirement.
• Candidate must possess a valid U.S. driver's license.

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io).
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.