Career Opportunities

Supervise and operate the City’s water and wastewater utilities, including treatment plant, distribution, and collection systems. Lead staff, manage maintenance, budgets, and capital projects, and ensure full regulatory compliance. Responsible for supervising, administering, operating, and maintaining the City of River Falls’ Water and Wastewater Utilities, including water supply, treatment, storage, distribution, metering, wastewater treatment, collection systems, lift stations, and wastewater treatment plant operations.

Responsible for supervising, administering, operating, and maintaining the City of River Falls’ Water and Wastewater Utilities, including water supply, treatment, storage, distribution, metering, wastewater treatment, collection systems, lift stations, and wastewater treatment plant operations.

Oversees all aspects of operations for:

• The Water Utility, including water supply, treatment, storage, distribution, on-site laboratory, and metering.
• The River Falls Wastewater Utility, including the wastewater treatment plant, collection systems, lift stations, permitting and compliance.

The utilities serve customers within the corporate boundaries of the City of River Falls. Coordinates and directs water and wastewater utility staff and ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements, including implementation and reporting to governing agencies. Works under the general supervision of the Utility Director while exercising considerable judgment and discretion in achieving departmental objectives.

 

Essential Job Functions

Management and Administration

• Manages the operations and staff of the Water and Wastewater Utilities efficiently and cost-effectively while maintaining positive working relationships with city staff, officials, and the public.
• Coordinates administrative and technical services with other City departments, officials, and consulting engineers.
• Supervises maintenance, repairs, and preventative maintenance for all water and wastewater facilities to ensure reliable and compliant operations.
• Maintains required documentation for plant operations, equipment, lift stations, and regulatory compliance, and submits all required reports in a timely manner.
• Ensures water and wastewater operators maintain all required certifications and keeps certification records current.

Planning, Budgeting, and Capital Projects

• Assists in the development of the annual water and wastewater utility operational budgets and works with the Utility Director to maintain adequate rates and revenues to support operations and required fund contributions.
• With City Engineering Department assistance, plans, budgets, supervises, and coordinates all water and wastewater construction and major maintenance projects, and provides input into long-range capital improvement planning. Works with the Utility Director to identify and pursue grant funding opportunities and assists with grant and funding negotiations.
• Makes recommendations to the Utility Director and Utility Advisory Board to improve facilities, infrastructure, and utility operations.

Operations and Compliance

• Ensures the wastewater collection system and treatment facility are maintained in sound operating condition through supervision of routine, preventative, and emergency maintenance activities in compliance with Wisconsin DNR permits and standards.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and oversees implementation of operational standards and procedures.
• Ensure all work is performed to high safety standards that meet or exceed all Federal, State, and local requirements.

Meetings and Professional Development

• Attends Public Utility Advisory Board and City Council meetings as required.
• Represents the City at local, regional, and state meetings, seminars, and technical conferences related to water and wastewater operations.

The examples of work are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

 

• Demonstrated commitment to promoting, modeling, and upholding a strong safety-first culture.
• Comprehensive knowledge of water utility and wastewater treatment plant operations, maintenance practices, and public utility administration.
• Thorough knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations.
• Strong working knowledge of pumps, controls, and specialized equipment; and of electricity, plumbing, chemistry, biology, and laboratory procedures related to water and wastewater treatment.
• Proficiency with computer systems, automated utility operating systems, and GIS/ARC mapping systems.
• Must understand City policy, strategy, and culture and use that information to self-motivate and self-start on process improvement and other projects
• Establishes and maintains good working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, other City personnel, and the public
• Understands local government purchasing policy, billing, payroll, work order, and asset management systems and processes

 

Qualifications & Working Conditions

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum

• Must possess and maintain the required levels of certification as established by the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources both as a Waterworks Operator and as a Wastewater Plant Operator or equivalent certifications from another state with eligibility for reciprocity in Wisconsin.  
• Certified in Water and Wastewater.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience
• Valid driver's license

Preferred

• Associate’s degree in wastewater treatment and/or water treatment or a Bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering, biology, chemistry, or related field
• 6+ years of experience as a certified wastewater treatment operator and/or as a certified water operator
• Valid Class “B” Commercial Drivers’ License 

WORKING CONDITIONS
We strive to provide a supportive and inclusive work environment, including office setup, equipment, and facilities. Flexible work hours including some evening hours as needed. 

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor settings, in all weather conditions
• Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, and to talk or hear
• Required to sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, extreme cold, and extreme heat
• Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.