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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Utility Operations Supervisor

💰 $ - $

OperationsUtilitiesSupervisory

🎯 Role Definition

The Utility Operations Supervisor is a front-line operations leader responsible for planning, directing and optimizing field operations for municipal or investor-owned utility systems (water distribution, wastewater collection, electric distribution or gas). This role supervises multi-disciplinary crews, enforces safety and regulatory compliance, coordinates emergency and outage restoration, manages preventive and corrective maintenance programs, and supports capital projects and asset management initiatives. The Supervisor acts as the key liaison between field staff, engineering, customer service, contractors and regulatory agencies to deliver safe, reliable utility service while controlling costs and improving operational performance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Utility Crew Leader / Lead Operator
  • Senior Distribution/Collection Operator
  • Field Technician / Maintenance Technician

Advancement To:

  • Utilities Operations Manager
  • Director of Utilities / Public Works
  • Asset Management or Capital Projects Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Maintenance Supervisor
  • Construction or Project Supervisor
  • Safety & Compliance Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Supervise, mentor and evaluate multiple field crews responsible for daily operation, maintenance and emergency response across utility systems (e.g., water distribution, wastewater collection, electric or gas distribution); set priorities, assign work orders, and monitor productivity to meet service level and regulatory targets.
  • Develop, schedule and oversee preventive maintenance (PM) and predictive maintenance programs using CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) and industry best practices to reduce downtime, extend asset life and optimize O&M budgets.
  • Lead outage and emergency response operations — coordinate restoration activities, allocate crews and resources, communicate status to stakeholders and ensure safe re-energization or return-to-service procedures consistent with emergency response plans.
  • Ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations (EPA, state water/wastewater codes, DOT, PHMSA, OSHA) by maintaining permits, preparing required regulatory reports, coordinating inspections and implementing corrective actions when necessary.
  • Monitor and operate SCADA, telemetry and remote monitoring systems to detect anomalies, manage alarms, coordinate remote operations and escalate field interventions as required to maintain system stability and safety.
  • Plan, coordinate and inspect new construction, capital projects, and third-party contractor work to ensure adherence to specifications, schedules, safety requirements and quality standards; collaborate with engineering and procurement on design reviews and change orders.
  • Manage inventory, tools and equipment lifecycle — procure materials, track parts usage, maintain spare parts for critical assets, and implement cost controls to minimize stockouts and procurement delays.
  • Prepare, manage and report on operational budgets including labor, materials, contract services and overtime; identify cost-saving opportunities and recommend budget adjustments to senior leadership.
  • Deliver and document comprehensive safety programs, lead daily pre-shift briefings, enforce PPE and confined-space procedures, conduct incident investigations and follow-up corrective actions to achieve and maintain exemplary safety performance.
  • Conduct regular field inspections and condition assessments of pipelines, valves, lift stations, substations, meters and other infrastructure; prioritize repairs, initiate work orders and ensure work meets technical and environmental standards.
  • Recruit, train and develop staff — create training plans for certifications (distribution/operator licenses, CDL, confined space, CPR), maintain training records, and promote cross-training to build a resilient workforce.
  • Oversee meter reading, testing and revenue protection activities; diagnose and resolve complex billing or metering issues in partnership with customer service, ensuring accuracy of usage data and minimizing leakage/revenue loss.
  • Implement and optimize work order workflows in CMMS and mobile field applications; ensure accurate timekeeping, material usage and job closeout documentation for auditability and performance analytics.
  • Coordinate with customer service and communications teams to manage planned outages, service notifications, and community outreach; respond to escalated customer inquiries related to emergency or service interruptions.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data-driven KPIs (SAIDI/SAIFI for electric, leakage, response times, backlog, first-time-fix rates) and apply root cause analysis to recurring operational problems.
  • Maintain and update GIS and asset management records to reflect field changes, as-built conditions, and maintenance histories; ensure accurate mapping for operations planning and emergency response.
  • Manage vendor and contractor relationships — solicit bids, negotiate scopes and prices, monitor contractor performance and ensure compliance with contracts, insurance and safety requirements.
  • Coordinate sample collection, laboratory testing and environmental monitoring for water quality, effluent standards or contaminant response; ensure sampling meets regulatory methods and chain-of-custody requirements.
  • Oversee excavation, trenching and traffic control operations in the field; ensure permits are obtained, public safety is maintained and restoration meets municipal standards.
  • Lead union relations and collective bargaining implementation at the operational level when applicable — manage scheduling, overtime distribution, shift rotations and grievance resolution in accordance with labor agreements.
  • Prepare clear operational reports, incident summaries and executive-level briefings; present operational metrics, budget impacts and capital project status to municipal councils, utility boards or senior management when required.
  • Develop contingency and continuity plans for extreme weather, cyber incidents affecting SCADA, supply chain disruptions and other business continuity threats to preserve critical utility functions.
  • Enforce quality assurance practices and workmanship standards on all field tasks; perform spot checks, audits and post-construction punch lists to guarantee compliance with specifications.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross-functional data requests and provide operational context for analytics teams, including CMMS, SCADA, GIS and reliability datasets to improve forecasting and resource allocation.
  • Contribute to the utility's strategic asset management roadmap by providing field intelligence on lifecycle costs, criticality rankings and replacement priorities.
  • Participate in project planning meetings, budget reviews and construction coordination to ensure operational readiness for commissioning and turnover.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives by piloting new technologies (smart metering, remote sensors, predictive analytics) and documenting field impacts and ROI.
  • Serve as an on-call escalation point for complex field incidents and provide expert guidance to junior supervisors and operators during high-impact events.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Utility operations management across water distribution, wastewater collection, electric distribution or gas systems
  • SCADA and remote telemetry monitoring and basic troubleshooting
  • CMMS (work order management), asset management and preventive maintenance scheduling
  • Regulatory compliance and reporting (EPA, state utility commissions, DOT/PHMSA where applicable)
  • Construction inspection and interpretation of engineering drawings and as-built documentation
  • Safety management: OSHA, confined space entry, lock-out/tag-out, trenching and shoring, PPE enforcement
  • Metering systems and revenue protection techniques (testing, calibration, AMI/AMR familiarity)
  • GIS fundamentals for asset mapping and field updates
  • Budget management, cost control and procurement processes
  • Emergency response and outage restoration coordination
  • Equipment maintenance and troubleshooting for pumps, valves, transformers, compressors and generators
  • Sample collection and laboratory chain-of-custody procedures (for water/wastewater roles)
  • CDL driving and heavy equipment operation (preferred in many openings)
  • Contract administration and vendor performance oversight
  • Microsoft Office suite and experience with mobile field applications

(Collectively these technical skills are commonly listed in utility operations supervisor job postings and are essential for measurable operational performance.)

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership and crew development skills with an emphasis on coaching, accountability and performance management
  • Clear, professional communication for internal teams, public stakeholders and regulatory bodies
  • Sound decision-making under pressure during emergencies and outages
  • Problem-solving with a continuous-improvement mindset and data-informed prioritization
  • Conflict management and labor relations experience when supervising unionized workforces
  • Time management and ability to prioritize competing operational demands
  • Customer-service orientation and community engagement capabilities
  • Attention to detail for compliance, documentation and safety adherence
  • Adaptability to changing operational environments and evolving technologies
  • Project coordination and cross-functional collaboration skills

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent (required)

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or technical certificate in Utility Technology, Environmental Science, Electrical/Mechanical Technology, Construction Management, or related field
  • Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Public Administration or Business (preferred for higher-level supervisory or managerial roles)

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Civil or Environmental Engineering
  • Water/Wastewater Technology
  • Electrical or Mechanical Technology
  • Construction/Contract Management
  • Public Works or Utility Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5–10 years of progressive experience in utility operations, maintenance or construction with at least 2–3 years in a lead or supervisory role.

Preferred:

  • 7+ years in utility operations with demonstrated supervisory experience, experience with SCADA and CMMS, and relevant operator certifications/licensure for the utility type (e.g., Distribution Operator License, Wastewater Operator Certification).

Certifications often requested in real-world postings (recommended): Class A or B CDL, State Operator Licenses (Water Distribution, Wastewater Collection), OSHA 30, Confined Space Entry, CPR/First Aid, NIMS/ICS training for emergency management.

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