Water Operations Supervisor

The Department

The Division of Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M) consists of approximately 160 FTE and is responsible for the development, maintenance and improvements to the University's assets and facilities. FP&M supports the campus' natural and built environment with more than 200 buildings on more than 1,400 acres and is also responsible for the coordinated planning, development and usage of the University's land and facilities. This includes responsibility of land master planning and development, project planning, building design and construction, deferred maintenance and infrastructure (roads, transportation systems, telecommunications, sewer, gas, water, and electric, etc.}, utilities and sustainability. FP&M provides maintenance including Custodial Services, Landscape Services, Building and Mechanical Trades, Fleet Management, and Waster Recycling Management.

Duties And Responsibilities

Water System Operation & Maintenance

• Lead the daily operations, troubleshooting, inspection, and preventive maintenance of the campus potable water distribution and treatment systems, including wells, pumps, storage tanks, and monitoring equipment.
• Coordinate with managers, consultants, contractors, customers, and regulatory agencies to ensure reliable and compliant system operation.
• Use the campus Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to monitor system performance, water supply, and quality.
• Maintain and calibrate SCADA systems, meters, chemical feed systems, and related instrumentation.
• Perform preventive and routine maintenance on centrifugal and turbine pumps, chlorine and nitrate analyzers, and water main shutoff valves.
• Oversee and implement the water main flushing program to ensure dead-end mains maintain required chlorine (Cl₂) residual levels.
• Monitor well sites and reservoirs for proper operation and chemical levels; collect and test water samples; document chlorine residuals, perchlorate, and nitrate levels; and verify analyzer accuracy through field sampling.
• Schedule and coordinate chemical deliveries; order and receive chemicals, materials, and equipment; prepare cost estimates and approve invoices.
• Inspect safety equipment and oversee distribution piping repairs and disinfection, performed by in-house staff or contractors; repair and replace water-related devices as needed.
• Provides support to the Building & Mechanical Services, which includes the cross-connection control program, backflow devices, and the domestic water distribution infrastructure.

Monitoring, Record Keeping, and Reporting

• Monitor and log data for wells, reservoirs, system pressures, daily meter readings, chlorine residuals, and chemical levels
• Maintain detailed records of water system conditions, including broken valves, water leaks, feed pump performance, SCADA/automation logs, chlorine deliveries, and customer complaints.
• Inspect completed work for compliance with applicable specifications, standards, and building/safety codes.
• Update and maintain system drawings, chlorine residual logs, and automation system records.
• Respond to and document customer service issues related to water quality, addressing complaints promptly.
• Regularly communicate pertinent updates and operational insights to management and relevant stakeholders, and manage the coordination of water service shutdowns as necessary.
• Assists with the design of plumbing systems, as-built drawings in various formats including CAD and GIS files as needed, and manual and/or computerized work records, reports and maintenance management systems.

Emergency Response & System Management

• Act as campus representative for planning, construction, and engineering issues.
• Oversee and document any water quality issues, system anomalies, or equipment failures. Respond to alarms, equipment failures, and emergencies, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
• The most difficult and complex aspect of this role is managing the intricately interconnected systems and ensuring the campus water supply meets stringent regulatory standards.
• Coordinate multiple stakeholders, including internal teams, contractors, consultants, and regulatory agencies, to ensure smooth, compliant operations. This involves troubleshooting and resolving issues across various systems such as pumps, water treatment plants, and SCADA technology, while addressing water quality concerns and equipment failures quickly.
• Requires performing mathematical calculations to ensure water quality, supply, and volume using the SCADA automation system, which adds a layer of complexity in monitoring and adjusting system performance. Balancing preventive maintenance, emergency response, and compliance with County, State, and Federal regulations, along with ensuring accurate water quality monitoring, reporting, and emergency preparedness, requires a high level of technical expertise.
• Managing critical infrastructure, responding to crises, and maintaining detailed records further demands problem-solving skills and leadership to provide continuous, safe water service to the campus.

Qualifications

• Valid CA Driver's license with insurance.
• Must have and maintain valid California Department of Public Health operator certificates for Water Treatment Operator Grade T3 and Water Distribution Operator Grade D4, as required by the State Water Resources Control Board.
• Two (2) years’ experiences working with operating a reverse osmosis system, including SCADA systems controlling and monitoring water treatment and distribution systems and associated infrastructure, including two (2) years working as a journeyman level plumber in a Lead capacity; experience working with the Department of Public Health as a water system operator; Backflow Prevention Device Tester Certification, and a Cross-Connection Control Specialist Certification.
• Must have a base knowledge of the operation of water operation SCADA systems, and a thorough knowledge of applicable state and federal health and safety orders and regulations pertaining to the plumbing trade, including the California State Safety Orders of the Division of Industrial Safety, Department of Health Services, and the California Plumbing codes.
• Operating and maintenance of reverse osmosis advance water treatment plant for producing drinking water and distribution systems and all associated infrastructure, supervising plumbing staff, monitoring and making daily operational decisions; working with water operation SCADA systems; comprehension of contractual requirements; assistance in the evaluation of employee and vendor performance; reading and working with drawings and specifications; estimating material and labor cost; and performing complex arithmetic calculations with chemical mixtures and ratios.
• These abilities normally would be acquired through any combination of progressively responsible training and experience which demonstrates achievement journey-level skills equivalent to that acquired through completion of a standard plumber’s apprenticeship program

Preferred Qualifications

• Five (5) years experiences working with operating a reverse osmosis system, including SCADA systems controlling and monitoring water treatment and distribution systems and associated infrastructure
• Must have strong communications skills, both written and oral.
• Must demonstrate strong skills in fostering teamwork and cross-functional collaboration, maintaining a service-oriented and positive attitude.
• Lead by example, effectively manage multiple processes and details, and build strong, productive working relationships.
• Communicate clearly and constructively within team environments, consistently deliver high-quality customer service, and proactively identify issues while recommending effective solutions.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.