Water Resource Recovery Facility Operator

JOB DESCRIPTION

The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking an innovative Water Resource Recovery Facility Operator (SBP) to help lead operations at one of the Central Coast’s most advanced treatment facilities and support the vital work that sustains our region.

If you are selected for interviews, they will take place in person on Thursday, June 11, 2026, so please hold that date.

About the Facility

San Luis Obispo’s Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) is the industry’s most technically sophisticated operation on the Central Coast – and it’s still evolving. A recently completed upgrade brought state-of-the-art process controls, advanced instrumentation, and integrated data systems to a facility that directly protects the region’s watershed.

About the Work

By joining our team, you will be working at the intersection of science and cutting-edge infrastructure. Our core mission is effective regulatory compliance, and the work requires synthesizing process data from field instruments, conducting laboratory analysis, and making operational decisions that affect water quality for the entire community. Because the facility is newly upgraded, there is meaningful work to do in building a foundation of institutional knowledge to support long-term excellence: developing standard operating procedures and integrating data from various streams into centralized databases.

The Successful Candidate

We are looking for someone who approaches operational challenges thoughtfully: gather data, form a hypothesis, test, refine, repeat. You might be coming from a background in environmental science, chemistry, biology, engineering, or a related technical field – or you may have built equivalent skills through hands-on experience. What matters most is how you think, how you learn, and how well you collaborate. The strongest candidate will be someone who is just as comfortable working with relational databases as they are inspecting a pump. If you’re someone who gets satisfaction from exploring complex systems and leaving them better than you found them, this role is for you.

This is a skills-based-pay position with clear benchmarks for advancement – your compensation grows as your competency and certification do. Candidates are required to obtain their Wastewater Treatment Plan Operator Certification, and the City is committed to supporting your professional development along the way.

If you are interested in learning more about the role and what day-to-day duties may include, please do not hesitate to contact Patrick McGrath, hiring manager, for additional information. [email protected]

JOB SUMMARY:
To perform a variety of responsible and complex operations duties at the City's Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF). Employees in this job class perform a wide variety of operations and maintenance tasks from the semi-skilled and skilled level to journey level. Employees in this classification must be available to work on any assigned shift that may include working nights, holidays and weekends. This job class includes responsibility for the performance of the full range of the classification's tasks and duties, ultimately performing at a journey level of classification. Appointment to a level in this job class is based upon achieving and maintaining a specified level of competence, professionalism and performance as defined through a skills-based-pay rating.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:
This classification is a "Skills Based Pay" advancement series. Employees in this classification who are part of a series shall have the opportunity to advance within the series to the highest working class. Such advancement shall be based on their attainment and demonstrated performance of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities, and/or required certification, and the recommendation of the department head.

SUPERVISION

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Employees in this classification receive direct supervision from the Water Resource Recovery Facility Chief Operator and Water Resource Recovery Facility Supervisor within a framework of standard Utilities Department and City policies and procedures. Incumbents in this classification may work independently while on mandatory standby/callout.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks that may be found in positions of this class.)

• Operates, calibrates and maintains a variety of equipment and instruments used for proper water reclamation treatment including chlorinators, sulfonators, residual analyzers, evaporators, transducers, ORP systems, etc.
• Operates and maintains chemical feed facilities for sodium hypochlorite and sodium bisulfite processes and sludge dewatering system; adjusts and regulates hypochlorite and other chemical feeds.
• Inspects facility to determine the proper functioning of equipment including pumps, valves, filters, clarifiers, etc.
• Conducts periodic readings of meters and gauges and records data; maintains a variety of manual and computerized records; may generate work orders, reports, etc. as necessary.
• Adjusts valves and controls as necessary to maintain proper flow and treatment of wastewater.
• Collects and performs laboratory analyses of wastewater samples and operates lab equipment; reports hazardous discharge to appropriate authority.
• Participates in major process-control decision-making as appropriate to maintain efficient and effective facility operation.
• Makes complex operational adjustments based on laboratory analyses, charts, recorded data, interpretation of gauges and recording devices, and application of appropriate mathematical analysis of facility operating parameters.
• Regulates pressures and flow rates.
• Reads and accurately records information taken from gauges, dials, and other instrumentation.
• Ensures the smooth coordination of operations and maintenance activities between facilities maintenance and operations personnel.
• Performs operational and preventative maintenance on WRRF equipment; troubleshoots, repairs, rebuilds, cleans, lubricates, and adjusts equipment; operates power and hand tools, electric and pneumatic tools, measuring devices and other plant equipment and machinery.
• Maintains a variety of both written and computerized records of operations and maintenance.
• Operates a computerized telemetry system for process monitoring and control.
• Orders and purchases parts, materials, supplies, and equipment for the facility.
• Performs a variety of manual tasks involving the handling of equipment exposed to raw sewage; cleans and maintains clogged pumps, wet wells, sump basins, etc.
• Operates medium to heavy equipment such as a backhoe, flush truck, loader, pump truck, dump truck, crane, etc.
• Responsible for the performance of work in a safe and proper manner of an assigned shift; may conduct safety training for employees; may train new employees in proper and safe work methods and WRRF operations.
• Conducts public tours of the WRRF for public relations and educational purposes.
• Performs complex mathematical calculations to determine plant process requirements and efficiencies.
• Participate in the mandatory standby/callout rotation for the division.
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Water resource recovery facility processes, operations, procedures and hazards including the operation of biofilters, activated sludge, dual media filtration, anaerobic sludge digestion, chlorination and dechlorination processes.
• State and Federal standards and requirements related to water and resource recovery facility operations and maintenance.
• Proper operation, repair, maintenance and adjustment of water resource recovery facility equipment.
• Basic laboratory principles and practices and laboratory analyses used in control of water resource recovery facility unit processes.
• Methods and procedures for the safe and proper handling and use of chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite, sodium bisulfite, ferrous/ferric chloride, sodium hydroxide, polymers, aqueous ammonia and other chemicals used in wastewater treatment.
• Safe work practices.
• General record keeping procedures and systems including database and computer applications.

Ability to:

• Function in a journeyman capacity in the operation of a water resource recovery facility.
• Obtain Grade III WWTPO certificate issued by the SWRCB within six years of appointment.
• Safely and effectively perform complex and skilled operations and maintenance functions related to wastewater treatment plant operations and equipment.
• Be responsible for the operations and maintenance of the facility on assigned shifts.
• Diagnose a variety of operation problems and make complex operational adjustments based on recorded data, lab analyses, and observation.
• Read blue prints and drawings.
• Perform various wastewater physical, chemical and biological laboratory analyses.
• Perform manual labor in an unpleasant and potentially hazardous environment.
• Work any assigned shift.
• Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and other safety equipment as required, and conform to the City's facial hair requirements for use of respiratory equipment.
• Read and interpret gauges and other recording devices reflecting wastewater treatment plant operations.
• Use applicable computer software programs and equipment including a telemetry system to maintain and update logs, records, and charts.
• Conduct and participate in a variety of work and plant safety programs.
• Understand, follow and disseminate both oral and written instructions in an independent manner.
• Accurately perform mathematical calculations.
• Meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform required duties, including annual respiratory capacity physical examination.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of the required duties.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum entry level requirements are a high school graduation or G.E.D., mechanical aptitude, and ability to advance in a challenging, technical field. Higher initial placement in the salary range is negotiable with higher levels of education and/or experience.

Highly desirable traits include:

Work experience as a State Water Resources Control Board certified operator or SWRCB operator /trainee in the actual operation and maintenance of a water resource recovery facility.
Related college-level courses.
Specialized training related to water reclamation (wastewater treatment) such as chemistry, biology and mathematics.
POSSESSION AND MAINTENANCE OF:

• A valid California class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.

THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE A FINAL OFFER IS MADE:

• Pre-employment Physical
• Livescan Fingerprinting (DOJ)