Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Utility Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Utility Supervisor oversees daily operations, maintenance, and workforce coordination for municipal or private utility systems (water, wastewater, stormwater, electric, or gas distribution). This hands-on leadership role combines operational oversight, regulatory compliance, safety management, and crew development to ensure reliable utility service delivery, minimize downtime, and protect public health and infrastructure. Ideal candidates have technical operator certifications, proven supervisory experience, and strong knowledge of SCADA/CMMS/GIS systems.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Utility Technician / Utility Worker
Water/Wastewater Operator (Class II/III)
Maintenance/Municipal Field Technician

Advancement To:

Utilities Manager / Utilities Superintendent
Operations Manager / Plant Superintendent
Director of Public Works or Facilities

Lateral Moves:

Maintenance Supervisor
Fleet or Grounds Supervisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Supervise, schedule, and deploy multi-disciplinary utility crews (distribution, collection, treatment, metering, or electrical) to ensure timely completion of maintenance, repairs, and construction projects while optimizing labor utilization and overtime.
Plan and prioritize daily operations using CMMS and work order systems, ensuring high-priority emergency repairs (main breaks, pump failures, lift station alarms) are responded to promptly and crews are dispatched with proper tools and PPE.
Maintain regulatory compliance by preparing, submitting, and reviewing required reports for federal and state agencies (EPA, state DNR, public utility commissions), tracking sampling schedules, and ensuring permit limits, discharge requirements, and reporting deadlines are met.
Oversee preventive maintenance programs for pumps, valves, mains, lift stations, treatment units, and electrical equipment, establishing preventative schedules, documenting completed tasks, and recommending capital replacements based on lifecycle analysis.
Develop and enforce safety programs and policies in accordance with OSHA, confined space entry, HAZWOPER, lockout/tagout, and company-specific procedures; conduct daily tailgate safety talks and maintain training and incident documentation.
Conduct on‑site inspections and quality control for construction, rehabilitation, and outage response projects; verify contractor work, issue punch lists, and coordinate corrective actions to meet specifications and safety standards.
Lead troubleshooting and fault diagnosis of SCADA alarms, telemetry, pump station performance, and electrical control systems, coordinating with automation technicians and vendors to restore service and minimize downtime.
Manage inventory, materials procurement, and equipment readiness including spare pumps, valves, meters, parts, and shop supplies; implement inventory controls and work with procurement to optimize costs and supplier performance.
Supervise meter reading, replacement, and leak detection programs; coordinate with customer service and billing on meter issues, service turn-ons/turn-offs, and disputed readings.
Provide technical leadership during emergency responses (flooding, main breaks, power outages), including incident command, resource allocation, public notifications, and after-action reporting to improve resilience.
Train, mentor, and evaluate utility staff; conduct performance reviews, identify development plans, facilitate operator certification training, and ensure succession planning for critical roles.
Monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as response times, asset downtime, permit compliance metrics, labor productivity, and work-order backlog; use data to recommend process improvements and cost-saving initiatives.
Coordinate capital improvement projects with engineering, procurement, and finance teams; participate in project planning, scope reviews, scheduling, and field coordination to minimize service disruptions.
Manage crew timekeeping, approvals, vacation scheduling, and ensure accurate payroll submissions; enforce attendance standards while maintaining operational coverage.
Oversee valve exercising, hydrant maintenance, flushing programs, and pipeline rehabilitation to maintain distribution reliability and water quality objectives.
Inspect and manage confined-space entry operations and rescue plans at tanks, vaults, and pump stations, ensuring rescue equipment and certified personnel are available when required.
Administer contracts, service agreements, and vendor performance for specialized repairs, specialty equipment, and large-scale maintenance; evaluate bids and recommend vendor selection.
Lead cross-functional coordination with engineering, public works, stormwater, and environmental staff on interdepartmental projects that affect utility assets or right-of-way.
Maintain asset management records and GIS updates following service activities, repairs, and as-built changes to support accurate mapping and lifecycle planning.
Investigate customer complaints and service disruptions, prepare technical explanations, coordinate field verification, and implement corrective actions to restore service and maintain customer satisfaction.
Ensure proper documentation and chain-of-custody for laboratory samples and treatment plant testing; coordinate with lab staff to interpret results and make operational adjustments.
Implement energy efficiency and cost reduction initiatives for pumping stations and treatment processes (variable frequency drives, efficient scheduling, alternative energy evaluation).
Support budget preparation by providing labor, materials, and equipment forecasts; monitor expenditures and provide variance analysis to senior management.

Secondary Functions

Support the development and continuous improvement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency response plans for utility operations.
Participate in grant application support and reporting for infrastructure improvement funding and resiliency projects.
Represent the utility in public meetings, customer outreach events, and coordination with elected officials to explain outages, planned improvements, or regulatory impacts.
Assist with cross-training initiatives to broaden crew competencies across distribution, treatment, and maintenance functions.
Contribute to technology adoption assessments (CMMS, GIS enhancements, mobile workforce solutions) to improve field-to-office communication and asset visibility.
Provide technical input to planning teams for long-term capital, replacement, and resilience strategies.
Conduct periodic audits of contractor work and in-house projects to ensure compliance with contract terms and safety standards.
Coordinate with environmental compliance staff for permitting, discharge monitoring, and remediation planning as required.
Assist in internal investigations related to safety incidents, near misses, or service failures and drive corrective action implementation.
Participate in monthly leadership meetings to align operational priorities with organizational goals and community service expectations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Water and Wastewater Operations: Demonstrated experience operating and supervising water distribution and wastewater collection/treatment processes; knowledge of treatment unit operations, disinfection, and sampling.
Regulatory Compliance: Familiarity with EPA regulations, NPDES permits, Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, and state-level regulatory reporting.
SCADA/Automation: Experience with SCADA systems, telemetry troubleshooting, alarm management, and basic PLC logic interpretation.
CMMS & Asset Management: Proficient with computerized maintenance management systems (e.g., Cityworks, Maximo) and asset lifecycle tracking.
GIS & Mapping: Ability to read and update GIS layers, interpret as-builts, and coordinate with mapping teams.
Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance: Practical knowledge of pumps, motors, VFDs, valves, actuators, and basic electrical troubleshooting.
Confined Space & Safety Certifications: Understanding of confined-space procedures, lockout/tagout, and OSHA requirements; training or certifications preferred.
Metering & Leak Detection: Experience overseeing meter testing, calibration, replacement programs, and leak detection methodologies.
Budgeting & Cost Control: Ability to prepare budgets, forecast maintenance costs, and track expenditures.
Fleet & Equipment Oversight: Knowledge of equipment maintenance schedules, heavy equipment operation, and procurement of specialty rental equipment.
Computer Proficiency: Comfortable with MS Office, mobile field apps, email and reporting tools.

Soft Skills

Leadership and People Management: Able to coach, motivate, and hold crews accountable while maintaining team morale.
Communication: Clear verbal and written communication with internal teams, contractors, regulators, and the public.
Problem Solving: Analytical approach to diagnosing incidents, root-cause analysis, and implementing effective corrective measures.
Decision Making: Strong situational awareness and ability to prioritize under pressure during emergencies.
Customer Service Orientation: Empathy and responsiveness when addressing customer service issues, outages, and complaints.
Time Management: Efficiently organize schedules, manage competing priorities, and meet regulatory timeframes.
Conflict Resolution: Experience navigating labor/union relations, crew disputes, and contractor disagreements.
Training & Mentoring: Ability to design and deliver effective hands-on training for technical and safety topics.
Adaptability: Comfortable with dynamic work conditions, on-call rotations, and changing regulatory environments.
Attention to Detail: Accurate recordkeeping for permits, sampling, equipment maintenance, and payroll.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; vocational/technical diploma in water/wastewater technology, electrical, or mechanical trades preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Civil Engineering Technology, Water/Wastewater Technology, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Water/Wastewater Technology
Environmental Science / Engineering Technology
Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Technology
Public Administration or Business Management (for supervisory skills)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–10 years in utility operations (distribution, collection, or treatment), with at least 2–4 years in lead or supervisory roles.

Preferred:

5+ years of progressive experience with demonstrated supervisory responsibilities.
Active operator certifications (e.g., Class II/III Distribution or Treatment; Class A/B preferred).
Valid CDL and demonstrated experience driving utility vehicles or equipment.
Experience with municipal utility systems, unionized workforces, and emergency response leadership.