Water Plant Operations Supervisor

ENGIE • Iowa City, IA

29d • $86,000 - $118,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Water Plant Operations Supervisor at the University of Iowa, you will oversee the daily operation of the main drinking water treatment plant, which utilizes surface water as its primary source with supplemental well water available. You will lead the team responsible for delivering safe, reliable, and compliant drinking water to campus customers. Your role includes directing plant activities, ensuring operational readiness, and maintaining alignment with evolving regulatory requirements that govern public water systems. You will guide staff training and development, including the University Intern Development Program for Student Water Plant Operators. You will support safety programs, compliance efforts, and operational documentation while helping to improve automation, controls, and alarming capabilities. You will also contribute to enhancing preventive and predictive maintenance programs, maintain plant cleanliness and appearance, and perform sampling or maintenance tasks when needed to support team workload. You will work closely with the maintenance supervisor to strengthen preventive maintenance planning and execution across the facility. Reporting to the Manager, Water Production your roles and responsibilities include:

Requirements

• Minimum of a High School Diploma/GED with six (6) years of experience in water treatment plant operations. An Associate degree with five (5) years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree with three (3) years of relevant experience.
• Certification as a Grade III Water Treatment Plant Operator in Iowa, or the ability to obtain this certification within one year.
• Minimum of three (3) years' experience in water treatment plant operations, including hands-on work in a surface water treatment plant with a production capacity above 2 MGD.
• Direct experience supervising staff performance and development.
• Practical experience meeting safety and environmental compliance requirements for utility operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sampling and reporting requirements for domestic water plants.
• Knowledge of reverse osmosis system operations and maintenance requirements.
• Knowledge of quantitative laboratory procedures including tests for alkalinity, water hardness, stability index, free and total chlorine, turbidity, color, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, pH, corrosion rates, phosphate, lead, copper, coliform bacteria, heterotrophic bacteria plate counts, and other water testing procedures.
• Knowledge of mathematics including English/Metric system conversion factors and formulas for area, volume, density, dosage, pressure, flow, detention time, chemical feed rates, and solution strength.
• Knowledge of biology, microbiology, and human health including the life cycles, pathogenic characteristics, and water treatment disinfection strategies for algae, bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and other organisms.
• Knowledge of computers, instrumentation, and software systems for process analysis, supervisory control and data acquisition, data processing, and report generation.
• Knowledge of safety programs including confined space entry, falls, forklift, lockout, process safety and risk management, respirator, and chemical right to know.
• Knowledge of Iowa Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations for water treatment, water distribution, wastewater treatment, recreational water use, backflow prevention, and related water systems.
• This role requires attendance at a worksite on a daily basis.
• Must possess a valid U.S. driver's license/clean driving record for use of company vehicles on and off campus.
• Ability to work safely in or with high noise levels, extreme heat, dust, high places, exhaust from purge pumps, chemicals and their fumes, fiberglass insulation, asbestos, welding hazards, cutting tools and high pressure steam, hot condensate, high pressure distribution loop, and high-speed rotating equipment.
• Must be willing and able to comply with all ENGIE ethics and safety policies.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements water treatment methods and technologies to provide water quality meeting all standards.
• Directs Operational activities of Water Plant to achieve water quality and service reliability standards required by campus customers.
• Ensures that data collected from sampling and monitoring efforts are utilized to broadly inform team members for the purpose of determining and tracking the water quantity and quality produced and determining maintenance needs, including development of preventative maintenance schedules.
• Recommends staffing plans to provide enhanced quality and efficiency of service delivery while managing O&M costs.
• Supports full compliance with corporate safety program and promotes safety culture.
• Provides technical review and oversight of capital projects within the Water Plant.
• Interfaces frequently with the ENGIE CAPEX team and the University of Iowa Design and Construction to provide key input to design projects and prepare to provide support to projects when required.
• Maintains compliance, including thorough documentation, with all Safe Drinking Water Act and other environmental regulatory requirements.
• Creates purchase requisitions and receives invoices.
• Orders chemicals and other supplies for water plant and lab operations.
• Responsible for staff development and training, including overseeing the important university intern development program for student Water Plant Operator.
• Implements corporate policies, procedures and directives.
• Carries out other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits package includes options for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance, ESPP, generous paid time off including wellness days, holidays and leave programs
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a company match
• supplemental benefits for full time employees that enhance emotional and physical well-being through all stages of life from family forming to caregiver benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees