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Water Operator Jobs in Rhode Island (NOW HIRING)

Veolia Environnement SA

Project Leader

Woonsocket, RI · On-site

Company Description Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country's largest private water operator and technology ...

Veolia

Environmental Technician II

Providence, RI · On-site

Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country's largest private water operator and technology provider as well as ...

Veolia Environnement SA

Project Leader

Woonsocket, RI · On-site

Company Description Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country's largest private water operator and technology ...

Veolia

Deputy Leader

Woonsocket, RI · On-site

Company Description Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country's largest private water operator and technology ...

Veolia Environnement SA

Deputy Leader

Woonsocket, RI · On-site

Company Description Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country's largest private water operator and technology ...

Veolia Environnement SA

Deputy Leader

Woonsocket, RI · On-site

Company Description Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country's largest private water operator and technology ...

Veolia

Planning Specialist

West Warwick, RI · On-site

Company Description Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country's largest private water operator and technology ...

Synagro Technologies

Plant Operator

Woonsocket, RI · On-site

$24 - $25/hr

Synagro partners with stakeholders to clean our water, protect our environment and serve our ... This person will also perform various project work which requires safely operating vehicles and a ...

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All JobsWater Operator JobsWater Operator Jobs in Rhode Island

Water Operator information

See Rhode Island salary details

$12

$25

$39

How much do water operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for water operator in Rhode Island is $25.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.24 and $29.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a water operator?

As a water treatment plant operator, also called a water operator, you measure water quality and quantity using computerized equipment. Your job duties include the maintenance and repair of water treatment equipment and water delivery systems. As a water and wastewater treatment plant operator, you collaborate with engineers, chemists, and lab assistants to test water samples to inform your decisions about water treatment systems. Your primary responsibility is to make sure that water is safe for people to drink and use in their daily lives.

What are some common challenges faced by water operators in maintaining treatment plant operations?

Water Operators often encounter challenges such as fluctuating water quality, unexpected equipment malfunctions, and strict regulatory compliance requirements. These professionals must quickly troubleshoot mechanical or chemical issues, adapt to changes in source water conditions, and ensure all processes meet local and federal safety standards. Effective communication with other team members and departments is also essential, as operators frequently coordinate with maintenance staff, engineers, and regulatory agencies to resolve issues and maintain smooth plant operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a water operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Water Operator, you need a solid understanding of water treatment processes, basic chemistry, mechanical aptitude, and typically a state-issued water operator certification. Familiarity with SCADA systems, laboratory testing equipment, and regulatory compliance software is crucial. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication set exceptional operators apart in this field. These skills and qualities are vital to ensure safe, reliable water quality and compliance with public health standards.

What is the difference between Water Operator vs Water Treatment Plant Operator?

AspectWater OperatorWater Treatment Plant Operator
CertificationsWater operator licenses, state-specific certificationsWater treatment operator licenses, state certifications
Work EnvironmentWater distribution systems, pipelines, reservoirsWater treatment facilities, filtration systems
Employer & IndustryMunicipalities, water districts, private water companiesMunicipal water plants, treatment facilities

Both roles require similar certifications and work in water-related environments, often within municipal or private water systems. The main difference is that Water Operators focus more on maintaining water distribution systems, while Water Treatment Plant Operators specialize in operating and maintaining water treatment processes. Understanding these distinctions helps job seekers identify the right career path in the water industry.

How much do water operators make?

Water operators in Michigan typically earn an average annual salary of around $50,000 to $60,000, depending on experience, certifications, and the size of the water system. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced operators with certifications can earn higher wages and additional benefits.

Is being a water operator worth it?

A water operator manages and maintains water treatment and distribution systems, ensuring safe and clean water supply. The job offers stable employment, requires technical skills and certifications, and often involves working outdoors or in water treatment facilities. It can be a rewarding career for those interested in public health and infrastructure maintenance.

What does it take to be a water operator?

A water operator is responsible for operating and maintaining water treatment and distribution systems. Requirements typically include a high school diploma or equivalent, relevant certifications such as a state-issued water treatment operator license, and knowledge of water quality standards, safety procedures, and equipment operation. On-the-job training and technical skills are also important for ensuring safe and efficient water service.
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The top searched job categories for Water Operator jobs in Rhode Island are:

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For Water Operator jobs in RI, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Water Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Water Operator job openings in Rhode Island as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 7% Temporary. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,174 per year, or $25.6 per hour.

Project Leader

Veolia Environnement SA

Woonsocket, RI • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Company Description
Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country's largest private water operator and technology provider as well as hazardous waste and pollution treatment leader. It offers a full spectrum of water, waste, and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. Veolia helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Veolia has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across North America.
Job Description
Position Purpose:
In the role of Project Leader, the successful candidate will lead the planning, execution, and completion of a project, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and timely delivery within budget constraints. Navigate project-specific challenges with resilience and adaptability, proactively addressing obstacles as they arise. Effectively communicate project goals, progress, and challenges to team members and stakeholders, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed. Foster a collaborative team environment by leveraging strong emotional intelligence and building positive relationships within the project team. Develop and implement creative, practical solutions to overcome project-related issues and drive successful outcomes. Ensure that project teams reflect and respect diversity, promoting an inclusive and supportive working environment. Drive project success by keeping a clear focus on achieving defined objectives and delivering high-quality outcomes.
  • Safety: Lead and nurture a safety culture driven by individual behavior and accountability across the assigned project. Ensure proficiency in the applicability, care, and use of all site-specific, facility-required PPE. Maintain plant compliance with OSHA, State, and Veolia Safety and Environmental Programs.
  • Compliance: Lead efforts to ensure compliant execution of the specific contract for the assigned project site, including adherence to established environmental, safety, operating, and emergency response procedures.
  • Reliability: Demonstrate skills and responsibilities related to ensuring dependable project execution, maintaining high-quality standards, and delivering consistent results. Apply ingenuity and initiative to coordinate problem resolution, manage conflicting priorities, and meet deadlines within a team environment. Serve rotational 24-hour emergency on-call as required by the site.
  • People Focused: Exhibit strong leadership and mentoring skills to effectively manage resources (eg.personnel, equipment, materials, facilities, funds, and reputation). Demonstrate effective communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills to motivate all levels of project personnel. Evaluate employee performance, match abilities with job requirements, and capitalize on talents to meet business objectives. Ensure effective communication and execution of business initiatives and progress toward goals by employees.
  • Customer Obsessed: Build and maintain strong customer relationships, understanding customer needs, requirements, and feedback to incorporate into project deliverables. Administer client contracts to ensure compliance, customer satisfaction, and prompt identification and notification of scope changes. Perform baseline client relations duties, including progress reports and special reports preparation and presentation. Participate in client meetings, special award programs, and professionally handle client service issue resolution. Assist with regulatory agency reports and public relations duties as necessary. Performance measured by Net Promoter Score and participation.
  • Cost Effective: Hold responsibility for budget preparation and implementation of cost control measures. Forecast budget, staffing, and equipment needs. Demonstrate proficiency in spreadsheet and database software, optimizing technology and systems used to communicate, manage budgets, streamline processes, and increase efficiency. Maintain full P&L and budgeting ownership for the assigned project.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:
  • Ability to inspire and guide a team towards project goals, providing clear vision and motivation.
  • Focused on empowering team members by fostering an environment of collaboration, accountability, and support.
  • Skilled in mentoring and developing individual team members to enhance their contributions and professional growth.
  • Excellent communication skills to articulate project goals, expectations, and progress to both internal teams and external stakeholders.
  • Strong interpersonal skills for building effective relationships across departments and ensuring alignment with operational objectives.
  • Demonstrates leadership by example, setting high standards for work ethic, professionalism, and accountability.
  • Ability to influence without direct authority, gaining buy-in and cooperation from cross-functional teams or stakeholders
  • Ability to engage with clients, providing regular updates, and ensuring their needs and expectations are addressed throughout the project.
  • Skilled at managing stakeholder expectations and navigating sensitive situations diplomatically.
  • People Management:
    • Foster a positive and inclusive work culture that promotes employee engagement, development, and retention.
    • Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and mentoring to regional personnel.
    • Implement company employee recognition programs and address employee concerns promptly and effectively.
    • Generally, supervise a staff of >10 FTEs.
  • Safety:
    • Champion a culture of safety excellence by implementing and enforcing comprehensive safety protocols, procedures, and best practices across the entire project.
    • Conduct regular safety training programs and promote individual accountability for safe work practices.
    • Monitor and report on project safety performance metrics, including incident rates and near-misses.
    • Promote a culture of safety accountability and individual responsibility.
  • Business Development and Client Relations:
    • Maintain outstanding relationships with current clients.
    • Facilitate opportunities for scope expansions, contract extensions, and renewals.
    • Participate in council meetings for the project and neighboring cities/towns to build relationships with prospective clients.
    • Solicit client feedback and respond to customer needs promptly.
    • Seek customer and sales input to gain an intimate understanding of customer needs, problems, and systems.
    • Improve satisfaction levels by identifying needs and implementing corrective actions.
    • Evaluate and develop new business opportunities.
  • Contract Management:
    • Interpret contracts to define deliverables and fulfill schedules.
    • Conduct routine client meetings, assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress.
    • Ensure customer requirements and deadlines are met.
    • Automate processes where possible and capture historical data for future quotes.
    • Participate in project start-up teams.
  • Procurement:
    • Manage contract MBE/WBE/VBE procurement requirements.
    • Ensure compliance with legal requirements and company policies.
    • Identify and justify capital expenditures partnering directly with the client.
  • Financial Management:
    • Monitor project's financial performance, including:
    • Compliance with cost center budget.
    • Personnel utilization.
    • Pricing.
    • Customer invoicing and collections.
    • Prepare monthly reports in a timely manner.
    • Develop and present annual budgets for project review.
    • Ensure project meets or exceeds financial plans.
    • Forecast monthly budget variances.
    • Ensure timely collection of receivables.
  • Operational Oversight:
    • Manage facilities generally >10 mgd, including several worksites or a single large water/wastewater plant.
    • Generally responsible for revenue less than $10M.
    • Supervise a staff of >10 FTEs.

Work Environment:
  • Spends 60% of time in the operations environment and 40% of time in the office environment at a project site.
  • Attends client meetings (e.g., city council, utility board or internal management).
  • Need to work outside in inclement weather conditions and drive a company vehicle to perform duties.
  • Occasional travel for training or meetings.

Qualifications
Education/Experience/Background:
  • A degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, Project Management, or a related field is strongly preferred but not required.
  • 6 years of leadership experience, 4 of which leading project teams, with a strong emphasis on effective team collaboration and project delivery.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
  • Leadership and Personal Qualities:
    • Outgoing, self-directed, goal-oriented, and creative in identifying opportunities.
    • Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail.
    • High degree of initiative, judgment, and resourcefulness.
    • Ability to find creative solutions to complex problems and manage changing priorities.
    • Demonstrated leadership ability with understanding of HR principles.
  • Financial Management:
    • P&L ownership, budgeting, and cost control for project sites.
    • Proven track record of delivering excellent customer satisfaction.
  • Relationship Management:
    • Build and maintain strong partnerships with customers.
    • Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, listening, and presentation).
    • Ability to handle sensitive communications internally and with all levels of project stakeholders.
  • Compliance and Safety:
    • Commitment to compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
    • Ability to understand and manage safety, environmental, and health requirements.
  • Technical Skills:
    • Facilities and capital equipment management.
    • Problem-solving and solution development.
    • Team building and motivation across all personnel levels.
    • Technical writing and total quality management.
    • Strong PC skills, including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
    • Ability to optimize technology and systems to streamline processes and increase efficiency.

Required Certification/Licenses/Training:
  • Must be able to obtain the certifications as required.

Additional Information
Benefits: Veolia's comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental, vision, life insurance, savings accounts, tuition reimbursement, paid volunteering and more. In addition, employees are also entitled to participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

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