Job Specification

Purpose :

To lead teams in the collection, operations, maintenance and distribution programs in water and wastewater treatment facilities across the province.

Key Responsibilities :

Team Leadership
Leads the activities of the treatment, maintenance, distribution and collection teams by assigning and monitoring work; resolving unusual problems encountered and referred by staff.
Ensures workplace safety in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and staff adherence to proper procedures, e.g. water treatment chemicals, pumping and other mechanical equipment.
Ensures that staff are properly licensed to perform the operational and maintenance required in each facility; provides initial and recurrent training.
Supports and improves team performance by implementing corporate standards, Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and Occupational Health and Safety programs that meet the Drinking Water Quality Management System requirements.

Technical Support
Recommends and/or implements changes to process to improve operations, maintenance, distribution and collection maintenance systems operations.
Assists with operations, maintenance, distribution and collection systems, including monitoring facility processes, utilizing the in-plant supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and Outpost Security System; troubleshoots operational issues and provides direction to team for corrective action.
Plans and coordinates maintenance projects intended to reduce operating expenses and improve operational efficiencies.
Researches and recommends techniques to carry out maintenance repairs to extend the life span of equipment.

Budget and Procurement
Assists in the development of the annual operational and maintenance budgets and provides recommendations relating to potential operational and maintenance expenditures.
Ensures optimization of staffing and financial resources to effectively maintain the continuity of operations, distribution and collection and maintenance services programs.
Oversees the work of contractors to ensure work is completed efficiently; ensures costs are captured and invoiced to the client.

Knowledge / Skill :

Theories, principles and practices related to the operations, maintenance and administration of water and distribution and wastewater treatment and collection systems and processes to ensure optimum systems operation.

Legislation and regulations governing water and wastewater treatment facilities, such as Safe Drinking Water Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Legislated Drinking Water and Wastewater Operator certification, specific to the classification of each facility, in order to coordinate the day-to-day operations and maintenance programs.

Agency administrative procedures and practices in order to assist with budgeting and operational planning.
Planning and project management skills to ensure effective operational coordination, to oversee special projects, and make operational recommendations.

Analytical and problem-solving skills to resolve operational problems and issues within budgetary constraints and to deal with issues on a day-to-day basis to support long term planning initiatives.
Leadership and supervisory skills to train, direct and assign work projects.

Communication and interpersonal skills to deal effectively with operations staff; prepare reports and recommendations to management, and address and resolve issues and complaints from external sources.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

Influencing and advisory skills to make effective and persuasive recommendations to management on the improvement to the effectiveness and efficiency of facilities.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyzing and problem-solving skills to:
Assess the operations and service delivery of water and wastewater facilities to determine improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency.
Assess emerging technologies/systems/processes to determine their effectiveness.
Conduct internal audits to assess compliance with regulatory and other requirements and to address regulatory issues (e.g. Occupational Health and Safety Act).
Analyze the facilities' operations and their contractual obligations to determine long-term impacts.
Assess operational problems and emergencies (e.g. system failures) to determine repairs and/or improvements and other actions required to resolve the situation.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
Coordinating the effective and efficient day-to-day administration and operation of distribution and collection activities and maintenance services and programs.
Identifying and recommending improvements in effectiveness and efficiency of operations.
Responding to operational problems and emergencies, and identifying major repairs and capital requirements.
Overseeing construction projects for the development or major repair of facilities and plants, including approving expenditures for work completed.
Has latitude to schedule, coordinate and assign projects; identify opportunities for improving effectiveness and efficiency of facilities, and making recommendations and proposals; address regulatory issues that require action, and assess and respond to operational problems and emergencies; assess and determine the completion of work on construction projects and approve contractor invoices; respond to requests for information and to complaints.
Decisions are guided by legislative, regulatory, certification/licensing and Agency requirements for water/wastewater facilities and operations.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

Operational Managers and staff, to exchange information and resolve technical and maintenance problems related to operations, distribution and collection systems.
Municipal clients and the general public to deal with information requests and complaints.
Private contractors, to monitor work and approve expenditures.
Various industry associations, to discuss, obtain and/or exchange information on emerging trends, methods and technologies.

Guidance / Supervision :

Provides team leadership to treatment, maintenance, distribution and collection teams by assigning and monitoring work.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

Occasional unexpected changes in deadlines on short notice, tight time pressures, changing priorities and conflicting demands.

Mental / Sensory :

Occasional requirement to read and analyze complex documents without interruption.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in both a typical office environment and in water/wastewater facilities in a large geographic area. Extensive travel is required with additional irregular working hours needed to complete assignments.