Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator

Description

PLEASE READ THIS BULLETIN IN ITS ENTIRETY

THE POSITION
This recruitment is being conducted to fill three full-time vacancies. The list established by this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, limited term, and temporary vacancies for up to one year.

Why Join the City of Vallejo Water Department
The City of Vallejo Water Department is staffed by dedicated professionals with deep technical expertise and a strong commitment to public service. Our team values integrity, accountability, and collaboration.
We cultivate a supportive, growth-oriented environment where employees are encouraged to expand their skills, share innovative ideas, and take ownership of their work. With a strong emphasis on training, professional development, and sustainability, this is more than just a workplace—it’s a place where your contributions have a lasting impact and where teamwork drives success.

The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for the position of Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator will have sufficient working knowledge and progressively responsible experience working in a T3 system (or higher) drinking water treatment facility, comparable to Vallejo's surface-water treatment processes.

THE DEPARTMENT
The Vallejo Water Department is a dynamic organization engaged in growth and positive change for the benefit of our customers and community. The Department provides potable water to 121,000 customers through a highly complex system including multiple raw water sources, three treatment plants, a Sludge Dewatering Facility, 600 miles of distribution pipes, 8 pressure zones, 27 pump stations, and 37,000 service connections. Vallejo Water is a Treatment-5/Distribution-5system.  In 2017, Vallejo water services transitioned from a division of Public Works to a standalone Water Department reporting directly to the City Manager. This change gives drinking water-related operations and issues greater visibility and strategic direction for the benefit of rate-payers. The Water Department's strategic goals include: infrastructure reliability, public trust, sustainability, organizational performance, and financial viability.
The Water Department has six Divisions: Water Treatment, Engineering, Distribution, Water Quality, Watershed and Facilities Management, and Administration/Conservation.

THE CITY OF VALLEJO
The City of Vallejo is located in Solano County and has a population of approximately 121,000 residents. Vallejo is a rapidly changing, highly diverse community located midway between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento. It is a friendly, active waterfront community that attracts innovative, hardworking people and takes great pride in its 148-year history and maritime heritage. Residents of Vallejo are situated to take advantage of the best of what the area has to offer. Golf, museums, performing arts, boutique shopping, brewpubs and a wide selection of restaurants are all available in Vallejo. Residents and visitors alike enjoy Vallejo’s delightful historical downtown area, weekly downtown farmer’s market, and beautifully restored Victorian homes and business facades. Vallejo is also home to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, one of America’s only combination wildlife, oceanarium and theme parks.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the advanced journey level classification in the Water Treatment Plant Operator series. Employees in this classification have successfully obtained their Grade T4 and demonstrated their ability to perform and lead others in the full range of responsibilities involved in the operation and maintenance of a serviceable water supply through the City's transmission, distribution facilities, water treatment plants and sludge de-watering facility, without direction. Incumbents function with a high degree of autonomy to apply advanced concepts and expertise in specific areas to resolve issues/problems that are often of a unique nature without precedent and/or structure.  Assignments may include formulating strategies and making recommendations for improved processes and allocation of resources.  This classification is distinguished from Water Treatment Plant Supervisor in that the latter is a first-line supervisory classification responsible for the direct supervision and development of assigned staff, planning, goal implementation, policy development, assisting with budget preparation, as well as managing the day-to-day operations of an assigned treatment plant.

As a condition of continued employment with the City of Vallejo in the classification of Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator, incumbents are required to maintain a Grade T4 Water Treatment Plant Operator certification by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). If incumbent is unable to maintain a Grade T4 Water Treatment Plant Operator certification, employment will be terminated.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direction from Water Treatment Plant Supervisors and supervisory and management staff.
Provides lead direction to Water Treatment Plant Operators and Water Treatment Plant Operator Trainees.

EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

In addition to duties listed in the Water Treatment Plant Operator classification:

• Perform complex or unusual operations that assume a high level of skill and proficiency including the scheduling and performance of start-ups and shutdowns, startup testing of new installations, plant configuration changes, troubleshooting problems, minor equipment maintenance and calibration, collaborate with other staff on process or water quality challenges, treatment equipment testing and filter media surveillance.
• Prepare aliquots, solutions for use in bench-scale process testing, to verify or adjust correct chemical application and achieve optimal processes.
• Check regulatory compliance through thorough observations, assessments and accurate recordings of analytical results.
• Assemble documentation; provide updates and maintain information in plant operating logs and reports; perform and record mathematical calculations related to plant performance and operational control activities.
• Examine and interpret plant operating logs, test results, maintenance work performed, unusual operating conditions and report recommendations to supervisor.
• Dispatch call-out personnel as required as required for emergency situations at all hours; may act in a central communications functional role as follows; receiving, relaying and providing information to and from City personnel or other responder services as required.
• Perform lead operator responsibilities on shifts or as assigned.
• Instruct and monitor work of Operator Trainees and Staff Operators in all facets of plant operations and required maintenance.
• Assist Plant Supervisor with special projects.
• Work cooperatively with other City sections or project teams and make every effort to enhance public relations; lead and conduct general tours of the facilities.
• Participate in  organizational meetings, operator training programs, emergency preparedness training and exercises.
• Assist supervisors in assessing readiness and team performance.
• Provide for safe plant conditions and working environment at all times exercising a routine of attentiveness and proactive responses to plant safety and security matters.
• Observe and participate in shift change turn-overs and ensure information exchanged is accurate and complete.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Working Conditions
Incumbents must be able to perform physical tasks which may include prolonged sitting, standing walking, reaching, twisting, turning, pushing, pulling, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine motor coordination when using a computer keyboard or mobile data terminal. Near vision is required when writing reports and other documents, and far vision is required when in the field. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal service. The need to lift, carry and push tools and supplies weighing up to 55 pounds is also required. The job duties will expose the employee to the outdoors, confined spaces, elevated structures, chemicals, biohazards, high voltage and electronic equipment.  This may include exposure to inclement weather conditions, machinery noise, fumes, dust, and air contaminants. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

The Recruitment & Selection Process
1. Applications are due by 5:00 P.M. on Monday, August 17, 2026. Applicants must submit a completed City of Vallejo online application, including all responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire (Resume/Cover Letter Optional), by the posted deadline in order to be considered.
NOTE: If you have problems creating a user account, obtaining your already created account information, or submitting your online application, please contact governmentjobs.com applicant support directly at 855-524-5627. City of Vallejo staff are unable to assist with these issues.
2. Applications will be screened for overall qualifications the week of August 17, 2026.
3. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their supplemental responses scored by subject matter experts the week of August 24, 2026. The most qualified applicants from the scoring of the supplemental questions will be invited for an Oral Panel Interview.
4. Oral Panel Interviews are tentatively scheduled to take place the week of September 8, 2026. Oral Panel Interviews are weighted at 100% of the candidates’ score. Candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 70%. Those achieving 70% or higher will be placed on the Register of Eligibles (eligible list) and may be considered to fill positions for up to one year.
The City reserves the right to limit the number of candidates to those determined to be best qualified based upon all requested application materials, including training and experience, current resume, and responses to supplemental questions.
5. Candidates placed on the Register of Eligibles (eligible list) will be referred to the department for final interviews based on their performance in the exam. The number of candidates referred for a hiring interview is at the discretion of the hiring department.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS 
The City of Vallejo is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application, assessment or selection process may contact the Human Resources Department to request an accommodation. Please contact Anabela Rivera at (707)645-2620 or send an email to: [email protected] no later than August 17, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

PRIOR TO HIRE
The selected candidate will be required to: 1) Submit to reference checks 2) Submit to and successfully pass a pre-employment background check, including fingerprint check. 3) Successfully complete a job-related pre-placement medical exam.  4) Provide proof of legal right to work in the United States.

Disaster Service Workers - All City of Vallejo ("City") employees are designated Disaster Service Workers ("DSW") by state law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109).  Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all DSW-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Veteran's Preference - Veteran's preference points will be applied in accordance with Civil Service Rule 24. A copy of the DD 214 form must be filed at time of application.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) - The City of Vallejo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Vallejo to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Note: The provisions in this bulletin do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, and any provisions contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

Work for Warriors is a no-cost employment program of the California Military Department for Service Members, Veterans, and military family members. The Veterans Service Coordinator for City of Vallejo is Philip Downs.