Chief Plant Operator - Wastewater Enterprise - SFPUC (0933) (155603)

Company Description

• Application Opening: Friday, March 28, 2025
• Application Filing Deadline: Friday, May 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PDT)
• Recruitment ID: PBT-0933-155603 / RTF0155602-01076939

Amended on 4/23/2025: The filing deadline has been extended to May 9, 2025 to broaden the qualified candidate pool. Applicants who have already applied to this recruitment do not need to re-apply. 

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

WHO ARE WE? 
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Headquartered in San Francisco, we have 2,300 employees operating across eight counties serving more than 2.7 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area – 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Our Mission: To provide our customers with high quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.

Our Vision: We are an innovative utility leader, recognized for excellent results in service, safety, stewardship, and inclusiveness.

We are an award-winning and industry-leading utilities organization committed to our customers, community interests, and the environment. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at https://www.sfpuc.gov.

We are proud of our infrastructure and programs, but most importantly, we value our highly qualified and dedicated workforce which ensures that this vision becomes a reality. 

To learn more about working at the SFPUC, visit our career site at https://www.sfpuc.gov/about-us/careers-sfpuc.

Job Description

About Wastewater Enterprise
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Wastewater Enterprise (WWE) operates and maintains San Francisco's combined sewer system to protect public health and the environment. These services extend across eight urban watersheds, more than 1,000 miles of pipe, 24 miles of transport and storage facilities and benefit every resident and visitor of San Francisco.

WWE operates three all-weather wastewater treatment plants, one wet-weather facility, 28 pump stations, eight transport/storage facilities, and 34 combined sewer discharge structures to treat an estimated 34.6 billion gallons of wastewater in a typical year.

In addition to treating wastewater, WWE also produces biosolids, a nutrient-rich soil-like product used as a synthetic fertilizer-replacement and soil amendment across the Bay Area.

About the Position
Reporting to the Wastewater Operations Division Manager, this 0933 Manager V position will serve as the Chief Plant Operator (CPO) for one or multiple Class IV and V wastewater and water recycling treatment facilities. The CPO is responsible for directing the operational activities of complex wastewater and water recycling treatment facilities, manages compliance within the limits of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) permits among other regulatory standards, acts as the Legally Responsible Official (LRO) and certifies reports and correspondence, and performs technical and administrative work in connection with these responsibilities.

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to:

1. Supervises, monitors, and evaluates wastewater system operations and maintenance, both physically and through evaluation of operating and laboratory reports, in order to evaluate facilities performance and to determine the need for changes in methods or processes.      
2. Manages and supervises subordinates to improve performance, including providing advice and consultation, and coordinating with other divisions to prevent delays in required actions or to improve programs or services.
3. Plans and supervises special research projects and studies; reviews and evaluates results of such projects and studies and their application to system operations.       
4. Initiates system conversion and alteration proposals and reviews related engineering plans and specifications.
5. Develops, analyzes, and implements procedures, administrative monitoring practices and controls to improve the wastewater system.
6. Participates in the preparation of system budgets and in the maintenance and analysis of records and preparation of operational reports, including directing the allocation of resources to achieve timely outcomes and measurable goals within budget.
7. Prepares and certifies monthly and annua