What are the responsibilities and job description for the Wastewater Treatment Operator - Senior Operator In Charge BW (SDA) position at King County?
This 3-year Special Duty opportunity is open to current Wastewater Treatment Division Senior Operators, Local SEIU 925 Members.
No external applications are being considered for this recruitment.
Wastewater Treatment Operator - Senior Operator in Charge - Brightwater Treatment Plant
Are you interested in advancing your career, leading a team that is passionate about protecting the environment? If so, the role of Senior Operator in Charge (SOIC) at Brightwater WWTP is the position for you. As an SOIC at Brightwater you will play a critical part in WTD’s efforts in protecting the water quality and public health in the central Puget Sound region. As a Senior Operator in Charge, you will work closely with the shift operation supervisors in the planning, scheduling, and operating of critical infrastructure that will produce high quality treatment to wastewater collected from local sewer agencies. In this role you will gain valuable leadership skills leading a crew and will gain knowledge and exposure to the design and construction processes used for capital projects within the division. The skills and knowledge you gain from this position will help prepare you for future opportunities within WTD.
About the Role
As a Senior Operator in Charge, you will help carry out and facilitate the day-to-day operational tasks at a level 4 regional wastewater treatment plant. Daily tasks of the SOIC will include monitoring, troubleshooting, and controlling wastewater equipment to help prevent the spread of contagious diseases, and protect the environment, waterways, and the communities in Puget Sound. Successful candidates will maintain and strive toward intra-team and cross-team support and cooperation daily. The leadership skills required will help improve communication, support conflict resolution, and assist in coaching and coordination. The SOIC requires a high level of knowledge in the membrane processes, solids and liquids streams, dewatering, digestion, reclaim water and odor control. Candidates will ensure established safety policies, guidelines, regulations, and workplace standards are maintained and followed. SOIC key responsibilities include planning, scheduling, coordinating, directing, monitoring and reviewing a crew’s daily work, assigned treatment process and/or capital projects. Incumbents lead, train and provide technical expertise to operate, monitor and maintain wastewater treatment and odor control equipment, and/or collection and conveyance systems and processes. As a SOIC you will assume full operational responsibilities when the supervisor is unavailable.
Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 1000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment. We enforce regulations to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that services over 2.3 million King County residents. Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.
Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Wastewater Treatment Operator - Senior Operator in Charge, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.
- Perform the duties and responsibilities identified on the Senior Operator and Senior Operator in Charge Classification Specification.
- Ensure the plant operates in compliance with the regulatory requirements issued by the Department of Ecology, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and other regulatory agencies.
- Plan, schedule, coordinate, monitor, and review a crew's daily work. Coordinate multiple workgroups and prepare reports for an assigned system or process.
- Assist the supervisor in the review of logbooks, checklists, and work orders for accuracy and thoroughness. Verify all team member’s assigned tasks and work have been completed.
- Coordinate and provide technical expertise on capital/special projects.
- Serve as a technical resource for assigned areas or systems. Respond to questions from other work crews.
- Identify and work with the supervisor and other staff to purchase supplies and equipment; maintain inventory; ensure purchasing procedures are followed; and provide data for budget forecasting.
- Coordinate on-site responses to unusual occurrences and emergencies.
- Assist supervisor in performance feedback and evaluation of personnel; make recommendations on performance improvement measures.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, including preliminary, primary, secondary, digestion, gas handling systems, membrane systems, odor control, Emerson ovation, sludge handling and plant-wide air, water, electrical and hydraulic support systems.
- Knowledge of reclaimed water distribution system, knowledge of collection systems, including pump stations and miscellaneous structures and of disinfecting methods.
- Knowledge of mechanical and electrical theory, cross connections, and pumps.
- Knowledge of wastewater terminology and process control.
- Knowledge of industrial safety procedures and practices.
- Knowledge of and skill in applying sampling, testing and laboratory procedures.
- Communications skills Basic mathematics, algebra, and computer application skills.
- Skill in reading, recording, and interpreting instrumentation and control gauges and meters.
- Skill in operating basic hand and power tools and specialized equipment.
- Skill in operating complex computer control systems and identifying normal and abnormal operating conditions.
- Skill in the interpretation and application of technical information from plant drawings, operations and maintenance manuals and lab tests.
- Skill in manually starting and stopping equipment, systems, and processes.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining work relationships with diverse occupational groups.
- Ability to work rotating shifts including nights, weekends and holidays if temporarily assigned to shift or during an emergency.
- Ability to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions.
- Ability to regularly lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to work in confined spaces, climb in and out of tanks using ladders, and work around noxious odors, heat and high noise levels.
- Outdoors environment during wet weather, confined space and maybe exposure to hazardous chemicals and noxious odors.
- Regularly exposure to chemicals, noise, confined space, respirator use, and viral contaminants
Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Manages Conflict: Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.
Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
Required Licenses:
- Valid unencumbered Washington State Driver’s License.
- Washington State Group III Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification from the Washington State Department of Ecology or out-of-state equivalency which must be converted to a Washington certification within one year of employment
It Would be Great if You Also Bring:
- 5 years plant experience
- 2 years as a Senior operator
Working Conditions:
- Work Location: Brightwater Treatment Plant - 22505 WA-9, Woodinville, WA 98072. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
- Work Schedule: The treatment plants are operated 24/7. This position works a 4 day/10 hours per day schedule. The schedule will be determined by business needs and candidates must be available to work any and all assigned shift schedules. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
- Union Representation: This position is represented by SEIU Local 925.
Application and Selection Process:
This special duty position is open to all qualified Wastewater Treatment Division Senior Operators. Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.
Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment: (subject to change)
- Interviews: June 3rd, 2026 (tentative)
To apply, submit a:
- Complete Application (Required)
- Resume (Required)
- Cover Letter (Required)
- Responses to the supplemental questions (Required)
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Emiliya Makaryan at emiliya.makaryan@kingcounty.gov.
Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and the WTD Blog.
Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.
Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
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Guided by our" True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.