The Wastewater Plant Superintendent plans, directs, and manages the overall long-term operation and maintenance of a wastewater treatment plant and related remote facilities. Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations applicable to the facilities, including Clean Water Act, EPA 503 regulations, and COMAR regulations. Prepares and manages multi-million-dollar facility budgets. As a member of WSSC Water leadership, leads company-wide organizational development through business process and organizational culture change to improve the competitive posture of WSSC Water.
Essential Functions
•Responsible and legally accountability for the effective operation, maintenance and management of all aspects of a major water or wastewater treatment plant
•Leads business process and culture change efforts to maintain and enhance the organization’s competitive position in the industry
•Works collaboratively with other members of WSSC Water leadership to accomplish strategic objectives that are organization-wide in scope
•Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of a major wastewater treatment plant, and related remote facilities
•Initiates and participates in long-range planning, engineering, testing, acceptance, and transition to routine operation and maintenance of capital improvement projects, for existing and future treatment plants and remote facilities
•Confers with supervisors and staff, analyzes, evaluates and makes determinations concerning plant operations and maintenance
•Reviews plant operating data to make operational and maintenance decisions which require immediate action
•Approves designs and makes equipment/process modifications; sets priorities for repairs and modifies procedures to adjust for non-operating equipment
•Performs operational review of plans and specifications for new plants, expansions and process modifications
•Prepares and/or approves work schedules for 24×7×365 plant operation
•Develops and/or approves chemical, material, and service contract specifications; maintains chemical supplies and spare parts inventories; schedules replenishments and requisitions tools, equipment and supplies
•Reviews bids, and recommends the awarding of the contracts and administers contracts
•Works with the Planning Division to initiate, review, and negotiate applications for state and federal discharge permits for treatment plants; Monitors facility performances for environmental effects and to ensure compliance with federal, state and local permits and regulations; reports non-compliance situations
•Performs inspections at existing or new plants and/or remote facilities to ensure equipment and processes operate properly and in accordance with specifications, and to correct deficiencies
•Initiates change orders, instructs, directs and advises supervisors as necessary
•Establishes and reviews standard plant operating procedures and manuals within the framework of WSSC Water policies and administration guidelines
•Oversees maintenance of plant records
•Prepares and/or reviews detailed budget documents and transmits the budget proposal with recommendations to the Director of Production
•Develops or evaluates proposals to reduce costs and operate within budget limitations
•Prepares operational and safety reports required of the plant
•Operates a safety program, investigates accidents and completes required reports
•Confers with manufacturer’s representatives to resolve problems and to explore and discuss new products and techniques
•Supervises employees including selecting or recommending selection, training, assigning and evaluating work, counseling, disciplining, and/or termination or recommending termination
•Drives a vehicle to conduct WSSC Water business
Other Functions
Works in concert with the Communications and Community Relations Office to address community and media concerns regarding all managed facilities; • Participates on ad-hoc committees involved in WSSC Water improvement projects; • Participates in regional and/or national water and wastewater professional organizations and committees; • Performs special projects and other related duties, as required.
Work Environment And Physical Demands
Industrial plant work environment.
Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
•Comprehensive knowledge of the contemporary concepts, principles, methods and practices in the field of civil, mechanical, electrical, and process control engineering related to water or wastewater plant and/or remote facility design, operations, and maintenance
•Thorough knowledge of the equipment, processes, materials, and operations and maintenance practices of a modern water or wastewater treatment plant
•Basic knowledge of budgeting and financial management
•Ability to effectively plan and supervise varied maintenance projects
•Ability to perform as a leader/coach in the development of staff
•Ability to direct effectively the work of professional, technical, clerical and labor employees engaged in a variety of activities in plant operations and maintenance
•Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private officials, contractors, representatives of various organizations and agencies employees and the general public
•Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, regarding complex technical and administrative matters
Minimum Education, Experience Requirements
•8+ years’ experience in program areas such as environmental, water and wastewater utility operations and/or maintenance
•3+ years’ management experience that includes employee supervision
OR
•10+ years’ experience in program areas such as environmental, water and wastewater utility operations and/or maintenance
•3+ years’ management experience that includes employee supervision