Water Quality Control Plant Manager of Maintenance Operations

Are you a dynamic leader and water treatment professional looking for your next career step into a cutting edge organization?

Do you have the hands-on experience and mechanical knowledge to be respected as a technical leader and not just an administrative manager?

Are you a collaborative team player who practices servant leadership, supports the success of others, and holds employees accountable to clear expectations and performance standards?

The City of Palo Alto and the Regional Water Quality Control Plant are seeking a Manager of Maintenance Operations to direct and coordinate the continuous operation of the plant and supervise a team of 7 mechanics. This position is fully on-site working either a traditional 5/40 shift or a Tuesday - Friday 4/10 shift. The position reports to the Assistant Plant Manager. The successful candidate will receive an excellent benefit package including a defined benefit pension plan.

The Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, industrial, environmental, or reliability engineering; maintenance or asset management; wastewater technology; or a closely related field. (Candidates without this degree may substitute additional years of field experience on a 1 year: 1 year basis.)

• Seven or more years of progressively responsible maintenance or reliability experience in a wastewater treatment plant, water utility, power plant, manufacturing facility, or other continuously operating industrial environment.

• At least three years of experience supervising multidisciplinary maintenance personnel, preferably including mechanics, electricians, and instrumentation and controls technicians.

• Strong working knowledge of wastewater-treatment equipment, including pumps, blowers, mixers, valves, chemical-feed systems, solids-handling equipment, HVAC systems, standby generators, electrical distribution equipment, VFDs, instrumentation, PLCs, and SCADA systems.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs, including equipment criticality assessments, condition monitoring, root-cause analysis, failure analysis, and reliability-centered maintenance.

• Significant experience using SAP or a comparable CMMS/EAM system to manage asset hierarchies, work orders, preventive-maintenance schedules, labor and material costs, equipment history, inventory, maintenance backlogs, and performance metrics.

• Experience planning major equipment shutdowns and coordinating maintenance activities without jeopardizing continuous plant operation, regulatory compliance, treatment performance, or employee safety.

• Thorough knowledge of Cal/OSHA requirements and industrial safety practices, including lockout/tagout, confined-space entry, electrical and arc-flash safety, fall protection, hazardous chemicals, contractor safety, and emergency response.

• Experience reviewing capital-project designs for maintainability, accessibility, redundancy, standardization, lifecycle cost, and operational reliability, as well as supporting commissioning and start-up.

• Experience managing contractors, consultants, service agreements, RFPs, equipment procurements, maintenance budgets, inventory, and emergency repairs within a municipal or similarly regulated environment.

• Ability to establish meaningful maintenance metrics, including preventive-maintenance completion, schedule compliance, equipment availability, repeat failures, emergency work, backlog age, labor utilization, and maintenance costs.

• Proven ability to lead employees through change, establish accountability, address performance concerns, develop training and succession plans, and build cooperation among Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Laboratory, IT, and administrative personnel.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical problems, risks, resource needs, and recommendations to plant leadership, employees, contractors, partner agencies, and other City departments.

• Ability and willingness to respond to plant emergencies and provide management support outside normal working hours.

• Possession of a valid California driver’s license.

Preferred Certifications

• CWEA Mechanical Technologist or Electrical and Instrumentation Technologist certification.

• WECA Electrician Certification

Click here for a full job description and benefits list.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early as the posting may close anytime after September 7th.
Round 1 interviews are expected to take place the week of September 21st
Round 2 interviews are expected to take place the week of October 5th
Estimated start date: November 2, 2026

Essential Duties:

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supervises staff to include: prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations.
• Manages maintenance operations section activities and participates in the monitoring, operating, servicing, troubleshooting, and maintenance of applicable equipment and tools to ensure proper operations, which includes: analyzing and reviewing work processes; scheduling maintenance; interpreting raw data; monitoring activities for compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards; ordering supplies and inventory; and/or, performing other related duties.
• Manages the operations of the traffic control, street cleaning, storm drains, and/or streets sections.
• Develops processes and procedures for management reporting.
• Develops and facilitates employee safety training and monitors safety compliance in the performance of work activities.
• Conducts citywide street maintenance inspections to identify potential hazards to the public and documents irregularities requiring action.
• Operates, inspects, maintains, and repairs storm pumping stations and associated underground pipelines.
• Serves as a liaison with employees and external organizations; represents the City at a variety of meetings, public events, training sessions, on committees, and/or other related events.
• Participates in coordinating the exchange of information within the organization, with external agencies, and with the public.
• Ensures compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
• Prepares, reviews, interprets, and analyzes a variety of information, data, and reports; and makes recommendations and presentations based on findings.
• Monitors and maintains division inventory; and orders required supplies, materials, and equipment to ensure efficient operations.
• Coordinates initiatives for the enhancement and improvement of service, program, and/or project delivery.
• Assists in developing and administering the division budget; and approves expenditures within established guidelines.
• Investigates complaints received from internal divisions, the City Council, residents, business owners, and/or other interested parties.
• Assists in developing and maintaining short and long-term strategic planning processes in assigned area of responsibility.
• Updates and maintains operating, procedural, and/or maintenance manuals and related files.
• Manages the coordination and facilitation of training on safety and/or other applicable issues.
• Participates in/on a variety of meetings, committees, and/or other applicable groups in order to receive and convey information.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Minimum Qualifications:

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge and skills, which would typically be acquired through:

Bachelor's degree in a related field and five years of directly related experience
(Candidates not possessing a bachelor's degree may substitute additional years of work experience on a year for year basis)
Two years of supervisory experience

Preferred Certifications

• CWEA Mechanical Technologist or Electrical and Instrumentation Technologist certification.

• WECA Electrician Certification

Licensing Requirements:Based upon area of assignment, some positions may require:

• Valid California Driver's License.

Supplemental Information:

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.