Chief Operator- Wastewater Treatment

Nature of Work

Are you interested in leading a dynamic team, and are you passionate about actively helping to protect our air quality and the health of Bellingham Bay? If so, you might be interested in the position of Chief Operator – Wastewater in the Plants Division of the Public Works Department of the City of Bellingham.

As Chief Operator – Wastewater, you will play a critical role in the City’s efforts to protect public health and water quality in Bellingham Bay.

The Chief Operator - Wastewater Treatment is responsible for supervision and direction of primary, advanced secondary, solids handling, plants processes, industrial pretreatment program and control systems, and is responsible for recommending budgets, standards, and technical systems to ensure continuous and proper operation of the wastewater treatment plant. Error or negligence in supervision or performance could jeopardize wastewater facilities and put public health at risk; result in loss of life, property, financial resources, and equipment; and violate water quality, air, and other standards. Works under federal, regional, and Washington State regulations and procedures for wastewater treatment as well as City and departmental policies and procedures.

Salary And Benefits

The current full salary range for this position is $8,770/month - $10,625/month. Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy.

The City places new employees within the published salary range based on qualifications and professional experience as listed on the application material, in accordance with City policy. Candidates who exceed the minimum experience requirements shall be given credit for advanced step placement at the rate of one additional pay step for each two full years of directly related or equivalent professional experience beyond the minimum requirements. Candidates who meet minimum qualifications or have experience that is not directly related or in a lower-level position will be placed at step one in the salary range. For positions that require a bachelor’s degree, one additional step may be granted for applicants with a master’s degree in a related field when the master’s degree is not required to meet minimum qualifications.

For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours of sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match
  
  

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Essential Functions Of The Job

• Plans, organizes and directs the day-to-day operation of the wastewater treatment plant. Schedules work activities and personnel, and arranges for chemicals, supplies and equipment as needed. Determines service levels and establishes operating criteria for operators. Reviews operation and recommends facility improvements.
• Jointly responsible for supervision of Plant Operators with the Chief Operator - Water Treatment, including recommending employee hiring, training, supervision, evaluations, disciplinary actions, vacation scheduling, etc., of plant personnel. Provides training for skills development, safety and working with hazardous materials.
• Oversees lab data and operation to ensure proper function of the treatment plant processes. Coordinates wastewater and solids handling operations with maintenance and laboratory activities to minimize operational conflicts and optimize process control.
• Oversees, with support from the Water Quality Technical Supervisor, monthly data provided to US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington State Department of Ecology, and regional air pollution authority to demonstrate compliance with plant permit and discharge requirements. Holds signatory responsibilities on submittal of compliance reports.
• Produces reports in order to inform annual budget needs for the section; includes researching information for capital expenditures, and performing cost analyses for items such as energy costs, solids handling processes, odor control, and plant upkeep and maintenance.
• Develops and implements policies and procedures for proper operations of wastewater primary, secondary, and solids handling facilities.
• Supports the Industrial Pretreatment Program in the capacity of determining impacts to the treatment plant. Trains and coordinates with City staff to ensure the Industrial Pretreatment Ordinance is administered correctly through proper operational evaluation, sampling, laboratory analysis, and data management.
• Compiles operational data and makes performance decisions to optimize treatment plant and solids handling equipment performance for the protection of public health, the environment, and to maintain compliance with the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts.
• Prepares reports and planning documents and performs other administrative duties in accordance with City and departmental policies and procedures and state and federal wastewater quality regulations.
• Implements asset management strategies and utilizes computerized systems such as maintenance management, warehouse inventory, geographic information, and archive systems to schedule, assign, track and record work requests and monitor program accomplishments; maintains records on assets and services; accesses maps and drawings of City infrastructure; responds to customer requests; and identifies improvements to the plants asset management program.
• Assists the Superintendent of Plants on capital projects for plants and other facilities which may include serving as project manager as assigned. Provides operating data to engineers, reviews construction documents, or recommends changes appropriate to operations. Oversees the work of vendors and consultants. Also works with engineers and other personnel as needed on capital improvement plans.
  
  

Physical ability to perform essential functions of the job, including:

• Frequent sitting, walking, climbing, bending, twisting, stooping;
• Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs.;
• Physical mobility to make on-site inspections/visitations of work sites at all facilities;
• Adequate vision to read computer screens and printed documents;
• Adequate hearing to effectively hear voice radio and crew communications, roadway traffic and alarms in a noisy environment.
  
  

Working Environment

Work is performed primarily in an office setting in an industrial plant, providing directions to crew, making on-site inspections or troubleshooting, etc. May require working outdoors in all weather conditions. The treatment plants are high risk environments which require special safety precautions, i.e. working near heavy operating equipment, toxic or volatile chemicals, noxious gases, and with exposure to raw sewage. Employees may be required to wear protective clothing such as coveralls, rain gear, masks, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields and use respirator and self-contained breathing apparatus when appropriate.

Experience and Training

• Two years vocational or college coursework in technical areas such as environmental science, civil engineering, and/or computer technology.
• Four years of experience required in wastewater-related plant operations industry involving automated systems and advanced unit processes associated with secondary treatment. Must include two years of supervisory experience with responsibility for leadership, scheduling, training and skills development.
• Experience with full responsibility for plant operations preferred.
• Familiarity with computer technology required.
• A combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered
  
  

Necessary Special Requirements

• Must have or be able to obtain a Washington State Department of Ecology certification as a Group IV Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator within one year of employment.
• Note: Substitutions for education and training requirements are available as outlined in Washington Administrative Code 173.230.061, 10/23/87.
• Valid Washington State driver's license and a good driving record. A three-year driving abstract must be submitted at the time of hire.
• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions and local background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
  

Selection Process

• You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**
  
  

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

Interviews for the most qualified candidates are tentatively scheduled for May 19, 2026. Invitations to participate in the Interview process will be sent via e-mail on or around May 7, 2026.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity

The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40 ), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.
  
  

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section for additional information.

This position is represented by the Teamsters 231 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Teamsters 231 labor agreement.

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website for more information on PERS.

01

Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.

Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No
  
  

02

Do you have or are you willing to obtain a Washington State drivers license and provide a 3-year driving history prior to hire?

• Yes
• No
  
  

03

Do you have two years vocational or college coursework in technical areas such as environmental science, civil engineering, and/or computer technology?

• Yes
• No
  
  

04

Do you have four years of experience required in wastewater-related plant operations industry involving automated systems and advanced unit processes associated with secondary treatment. Must include two years of supervisory experience with responsibility for leadership, scheduling, training and skills development. How We Count Work Experience: Your experience must be equal to full-time paid work. If you worked part-time, we’ll calculate your experience based on the total number of hours you worked in a year. For example, if you worked 10 hours per week for 12 months, that equals 3 months of full-time experience (10 hrs x 52 weeks= 520 hrs/173.33 full time hrs per month = 3 months).

• Yes
• No
  
  

05

Do you have familiarity with computer technology?

• Yes
• No
  
  

06

Do you have experience with full responsibility for plant operations (Note: this is preferred not required).

• Yes
• No
  
  

07

If you do not meet the listed requirements, describe in detail how you meet a combination of relevant education and experience that provides you with the required knowledge, skill and ability to be considered for the position.

08

Do you have or are you willing to obtain a Washington State Department of Ecology certification as a Group IV Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator within one year of employment (Note: Substitutions for education and training requirements are available as outlined in Washington Administrative Code 173.230.061, 10/23/87).

• Yes
• No
  
  

09

Briefly detail your experience leading plant operations in the safe treatment of sewage waste, including industrial pretreatment program experience.

10

Please describe your experience leading a diverse team of operators, ensuring they perform their duties effectively to ensure the plant consistently meets or exceeds discharge permit requirements. Include details about the size of the facility and whether it was a 24/7 operation.

• Required Question