LAKE STEVENS SEWER DISTRICT
JOB DESCRIPTION
$8,250-$10,000 monthly
TITLE:
Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager
JOB SUMMARY:
Directs all functions at the Lake Stevens Sewer District new wastewater treatment plant,
facilitates the closure and decommissioning of the old treatment plant site, and institutes a pretreatment program within the District’s annexed areas. The District’s new Sunnyside Treatment
Plant was commissioned in 2012 using anaerobic digestion and membrane bioreactor (MBR)
technology in its treatment processes. This plant was designed to handle an average monthly
flow of 5 MDG for a population of 45,000 people and is expandable to nearly double this
capacity via future capital investments.
Assists the General Manager with planning, organizing and managing the activities related to
the repair, maintenance and operation of sewer systems; and that such wastewater is collected
and treated in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and guidelines. Ensures
effective and reliable wastewater services are provided to customers throughout the District.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:
This position reports to the General Manager. The Manager directs a staff at the treatment
plant of between 6 and 8 personnel including supporting consultants, service contracts, and
specialized vendors involved in successfully supporting the treatment plant operations,
maintenance, lab testing, and processes.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Operations and Maintenance:
 Creation and delegation of a Treatment Plant operations and maintenance program
according to manufacturer recommendations, the design manuals of the treatment plant,
and the operations/maintenance manuals provided with the 2012 commissioning of the
Sunnyside Treatment plant.
 Facilitates best practices overseeing the plant’s CMMS system.
 Prepares annual budget and ensures compliance with annual budget performance
expectations with the District’s wastewater plant division including staffing, chemical
projects, supplies, parts, and vendor contracts.
Permit Compliance:
 Ensure strict adherence to all general NPDES permit compliance according to State
Regulations and the Department of Ecology applicable permits.
 Produce required applications and submittals for renewal of all permits related to the
operation of the District’s wastewater treatment plant.
Asset Management and Project Management:
 Institute an asset management program at the Treatment plant for all facilities and
components.
Treatment Plant Manager – OCT 2015
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Create an investment plan for capital repair, maintenance, and component replacement
as part of the asset management protocols and in-house maintenance program.
Ensure all capital repairs at the treatment plant have a project management plan which
includes a budget, a timeline, and appropriate contract actions for design and
procurement of materials to provide for minimal disruption of daily plant operations and
such projects are performed within a targeted budget and schedule at reasonable cost.
Personnel Supervision.
 Develop a training and develop program for optimized operation of the wastewater
treatment plant.
 Create and implement a succession management program for the next 10 years of
anticipated turnover within the treatment plant’s division of the District.
 Supervises wastewater operations staff and provides routine procedures to be followed,
establishing work rules, safety requirements and performance standards, and disciplines
and evaluates staff accordingly.
 Determines which functions are best performed via in-house staff versus which functions
are most effectively and efficiently performed by supplementary contracts.
Biosolids Management:
 Ensures weekly biosolids handling contracts are in place and cost effective.
 Determines whether land application sites are the best method of continued biosolids
handling or if composting, in-situ, or Class “A” biosolids facilities are the most
appropriate for the District depending on an economic/regulatory evaluation.
 Completes decommissioning and biosolids clean-up of the former District treatment plant
adjacent to Ebey Slough.
 Create a reuse plan for the former treatment plant site and markets property accordingly.
Process Analysis:
 Oversees process analysis, lab, and operational functions to develop a system for
monitoring the hydraulic capacity of each major component of the treatment plant as well
as the loading capacity of each component of the treatment plant to ensure the
treatment plant is fully capable of sustaining its designed maximum flows and loads.
 Determine the timing of corrective action to any chemical, biological, or hydraulic
imbalances in the treatment plant processes.
 Work with manufacturers, controls vendors, and chemical providers to optimize the
treatment plant’s performance.
 Adjust seasonal operations, testing, and maintenance schedules proactively to anticipate
changing ambient conditions.
 Coordinate regionally and nationally with other municipal or special district treatment
plants to apply lessons-learned and/or prototype emerging applications that have
improved MBR plants elsewhere.
Pre-Treatment:
 Institute and manage a pre-treatment program in the City with area commercial and
industrial businesses as applicable.
 The pre-treatment program will include as a minimum a fat-oils-grease (FOG) program
and industrial user pre-treatment facilities as necessary to ensure protection of the
wastewater treatment plant equipment and processes.
Treatment Plant Manager – OCT 2015
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Conduct a system of required periodic inspections of pre-treatment facilities and develop
codes and fees associated with pre-treatment needs.
Environmental Education:
 Prepares and facilitates a local environmental education program for a variety of
constituents: citizens, schools, colleges, officials, and interns.
 Seeks grant opportunities to use the Sunnyside Treatment Plant for educational and/or
regional benefit.
Management
 Manages all Treatment Plant functions and personnel, operations and maintenance of the
wastewater system to achieve goals with available personnel and within budgeted funds;
plans and organizes workloads and staff assignments, reviews progress and directs
changes in schedules as needed. Prepares performance evaluations, can hire and make
disciplinary measures.
 Administers work rules and performance standards; ensures compliance with all District
policies, regulations, safety, and health standards and all applicable administrative and
operating procedures.
 Recommends and implements policies, standards and procedures for equipment, materials
and installations for the efficient and effective operation and maintenance of sewer,
 Manages the purchases of all vehicles; equipment and materials for maintenance and
operations.
 Prepares and/or participates in bidding and/or negotiation for major purchases to ensure
timeliness and cost effectiveness.
 Assists with the resolution of problems or emergencies related to sewer systems; responds
to sensitive or complex public inquiries or service complaints; represents the District at
various meetings with the public or other agencies.
 Assists General Manager and Senior Accounting Clerk in the preparation of the operations
and maintenance budget.
 Supervises and directs the maintenance and repair of sewer systems throughout the
District; sets priorities and handles emergencies.
 Reviews work sites prior to start of work, checks locates, and meets permit requirements.
 Sets work priorities, monitors work in progress and completed assignments; ensures that
work sites are returned to original condition or better.
 Performs plan review and project observation on developer and District projects.
 Performs other related duties and special projects as required or assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge, Skills and abilities:
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Construction, maintenance and repair of wastewater treatment plants and sewer systems.
Maintenance, repair and control of the District’s facilities and equipment.
Standards, specifications, rules and regulations for Treatment Plant permitting and
compliance.
Telemetry and instrumentation systems.
Treatment Plant process analysis for liquid stream and solid streams.
Safety rules, regulations and procedures.
Construction specifications, regulations and procedures of state, county and local
jurisdictions.
Treatment Plant Manager – OCT 2015
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Thorough knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of
wastewater collection, and treatment systems, including lift stations and treatment plants.
Principles and practices of management and supervision.
Applicable computer and associated software applications including automated controls,
asset management registries, GIS, SCADA, familiarity with Auto CAD, word processing and
data base spreadsheets.
Plan, organize and oversee assigned work programs, including monitoring work schedules,
regulatory requirements, and progress reviews.
Prepare and supervise the accurate preparation and maintenance or reports and records of
departmental activities.
Compiling research and developing recommended solutions to complex problems.
Establishing and maintaining cooperative and effective working relationships.
Communicating effectively verbally and in writing with staff, co-workers, supervisors and the
general public.
Preparing clear and concise written letters, memos and reports.
Managing competing workload priorities and meeting established deadlines.
Working under tight deadlines.
Experience/Education
At least 10 years of direct experience in Wastewater Treatment Plant operations, maintenance,
supervision and management.
Experience:
Five years progressively responsible supervisory experience in the maintenance, repair and
operation of a wastewater collection of a public utility or comparable construction experience.
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in engineering, environmental science, or wastewater
technology; and two year course work in management, business or finance.
Requirements:
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Comprehension of engineering designs and plans
Washington Wastewater Operator Certification Group III
Requires possession of a valid Washington State Drivers License and driving record free of
significant moving violations.
First Aid/CPR Certifications.
Working Conditions:
Duties are performed in the office and in the field. Field work has exposure to extreme weather
conditions for extended periods of time, confined spaces, automobile traffic, moving mechanical
parts, electrical currents, vibrations, and various tools and equipment. Work involves exposure
to live sewer systems, human waste, gases, fumes, loud noise, chemicals and pesticides.
Subject to 24-hour call-out for emergencies, computer/telemetry problems, power outages, etc.
Treatment Plant Manager – OCT 2015
Physical Requirements:
This position typically requires reaching, standing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling,
sitting, lifting, walking, pushing, pulling, carrying, grasping, finger dexterity, hearing, seeing,
talking and repetitive motions.
Heavy Work: Occasionally lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling up carrying, up to 50 pounds.
All applications are to be mailed in or dropped off attention Tonya Christoffersen
No faxed or emailed applications will be accepted.
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The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal
functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of
responsibility, but should not be considered on all-inclusive listing of work requirements.
Individuals may perform other duties as directed including work in other functional areas to
cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.
Treatment Plant Manager – OCT 2015
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS FOR
TREATMENT PLANT MANAGER APPLICANTS
(Answers in no more than 2 written pages total)
1. Describe the three most important Qualities you believe are important to demonstrate as
a Department leader/manager and why?
2. Describe a Wastewater Treatment Process challenge in which you were instrumental in
solving, what role you played, and what benefits were achieved by resolving the issue?
3. What experience do you have in creating an Operations and Maintenance system which
involved establishing employee schedules with related expectations to achieve weekly,
monthly or annual goals?
4. Describe any direct experience you have in writing Wastewater permit applications or
preparing grant applications to State Agencies.
Treatment Plant Manager – OCT 2015