Wastewater Operations Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $121,659.20 - $145,392.00 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: GU-T11935-202607
Business Area: 2000 - Public Utilities
Opening Date: 07/10/2026
Closing Date: 8/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
JOB INFORMATION
See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.
Wastewater Operations Supervisor positions plan, supervise and train subordinates in the operation of various wastewater treatment plants to ensure that treatment standards are met; adjust chemical feeding rates for effective wastewater treatment; coordinate operating schedules of maintenance and operations functions; maintain operating logs; write required reports and keep employee work records; ensure adherence to plant safety procedures; implement training programs for plant operations; establish safety procedures; evaluate the work performance of subordinates; conduct tours of the facilities; and perform other duties as assigned.
NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Wastewater Operations Supervisor employees may be required to work nights, weekends, holidays, Stand-by, and/or unusual shifts to manage 24/7/365 operations for which they may receive 5% additional pay.
• Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Division may implement a rotation policy for its Wastewater Operations Supervisor employees.
• Wastewater Operations Supervisor employees may be required to work overtime on a frequent basis.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.
EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. One year of full-time experience as a Senior Wastewater Plant Operator with the City of San Diego.
2. Two years of full-time experience as a Wastewater Plant Operator with the City of San Diego.
3. Two years of full-time experience as an operator in a wastewater treatment facility.

NOTE:

• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

CERTIFICATION: A valid Grade III or higher Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate issued from the California State Water Resources Control Board.
LICENSE:A valid California Class C Driver License may be required at the time of hire.
NOTE:

• You may be required to provide your own vehicle for which mileage will be reimbursed.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• An Associate's Degree or higher; or an equivalent level Community College certificate program in Wastewater Technology or similar course work.
• Experience leading the work of wastewater treatment staff.
• Experience using a Distributed Control System (DCS) (e.g., Emerson Westinghouse); Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system; Water/Wastewater Information Management System (e.g., Hach WIMS or similar); Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) such as SAP for asset management.
• Computer skills.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of a valid Grade III or higher Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate issued from the California State Water Resources Control Board.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 2 - July 10, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.
Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).
Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.
or review the
01
I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Résumés are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02
Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03
If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04
The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05
How many years of full-time experience do you have as a Senior Wastewater Plant Operator with the City of San Diego?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

06
How many years of full-time experience do you have as a Wastewater Plant Operator with the City of San Diego?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

07
How many years of full-time experience do you have as an operator in a wastewater treatment facility?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

08
Describe your full-time experience as an operator in a wastewater treatment facility. Specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
09
Specify which ONE of the following options do you possess. NOTE: Attach proof of valid certificate to your application.

• A valid Grade III or higher Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate issued from the California State Water Resources Control Board
• An Associate's Degree or higher
• An equivalent level Community College certificate program in Wastewater Technology or similar course work
• None of the above

10
Do you have experience leading the work of wastewater treatment staff?

• Yes
• No

11
Describe your experience leading the work of wastewater treatment staff. Specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
12
In which of the following areas do you have experience?

• Distributed Control Systems (DCS) (e.g., Emerson Westinghouse)
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
• Water/Wastewater Information Management System (e.g., Hach WIMS or similar)
• Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) such as SAP for asset management
• None of the above

13
Describe your experience in the following areas: a. Distributed Control Systems (DCS) (e.g., Emerson Westinghouse); b. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA); c. Water/Wastewater Information Management System (e.g., Hach WIMS or similar); d. Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) such as SAP for asset management. Specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
14
List the computer programs with which you are familiar and indicate your experience level (e.g., limited, moderate, extensive).
Required Question