Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Environmental Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Environmental Supervisor is a hands-on operations leader responsible for supervising daily water and/or wastewater treatment plant operations, maintaining regulatory compliance, managing staff, coordinating maintenance and capital projects, and optimizing treatment processes to protect public health and the environment. This role requires a blend of technical expertise in biological/chemical treatment processes, strong leadership and communication skills, and a proven track record of meeting permit limits, managing budgets, and responding to emergencies.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Wastewater Treatment Operator II / III
Environmental Technician or Field Technician
Laboratory Technician (water quality testing)

Advancement To:

Water/Wastewater Plant Manager
Director of Environmental Services / Utilities
Operations Manager (Municipal or Industrial Water)

Lateral Moves:

Compliance & Permitting Manager
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
Asset Management / CMMS Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Supervise and coordinate day-to-day operations of wastewater and/or drinking water treatment facilities, including oversight of all treatment processes (primary/secondary treatment, nitrification/denitrification, disinfection, filtration, coagulation, flocculation) to ensure continuous, compliant operation of the plant.
Manage a team of operators, technicians, and maintenance staff — including hiring, training, scheduling, performance evaluations, progressive discipline, and career development — to maintain staffing levels and operational coverage 24/7.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local permits and regulations (including NPDES, SDWA, EPA, state environmental agencies), prepare and submit regulatory reports, and implement corrective actions to address compliance issues and violations.
Oversee the plant laboratory program: establish sampling schedules, verify chain-of-custody procedures, review analytical results (BOD, TSS, NH3-N, DO, pH, chlorine, turbidity), ensure QA/QC protocols, and coordinate with third-party labs when required.
Monitor and optimize process control parameters using SCADA/PLC systems and process modeling to improve effluent quality, reduce chemical usage, and lower energy consumption while maintaining permit compliance.
Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of process upsets, permit excursions, odor complaints, and equipment failures; develop and implement corrective and preventive action plans.
Coordinate preventative and corrective maintenance activities with maintenance teams and contractors, prioritize work orders, and ensure critical equipment (pumps, blowers, clarifiers, chemical feed systems) is maintained for reliability and uptime.
Prepare, manage, and monitor the operations budget and capital project budgets; track expenditures, approve purchase orders, evaluate bids, and make recommendations for capital improvements and process upgrades.
Develop and implement operational standard operating procedures (SOPs), emergency response plans, safety plans, and confined space entry protocols; ensure all staff are trained and compliant with OSHA, HAZWOPER, and confined space regulations.
Oversee sludge and biosolids handling operations including thickening, dewatering, stabilization, hauling, and beneficial reuse/compliance with biosolids regulations and permitting requirements.
Conduct routine inspections of treatment units, pump stations, collection system interfaces, outfalls, and stormwater controls; document findings and expedite repairs to prevent environmental impacts.
Manage chemical inventory and chemical feed systems, ensure safe storage and handling of hazardous chemicals, and optimize chemical dosing to balance treatment performance and cost.
Serve as the operational lead during emergency incidents (bypasses, power outages, severe storms), coordinate with utilities, emergency services, and regulatory agencies, and ensure timely public communication when required.
Oversee contract management and vendor relationships for outsourced services such as sludge hauling, laboratory services, specialty maintenance, instrumentation calibration, and electrical/controls support.
Implement and maintain asset management and CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) strategies to extend asset life, schedule preventative maintenance, and capture lifecycle cost data.
Review process and infrastructure design plans for capital projects, provide operations input during design and construction, and ensure as-built documentation and O&M manuals are delivered and incorporated.
Lead continuous improvement and energy efficiency initiatives, including pilot projects (e.g., advanced nutrient removal, anaerobic digestion, UV disinfection), benchmarking plant performance, and reporting KPIs to senior management.
Maintain accurate operational records, logs, and digital data (SCADA trends, lab results, maintenance records) and prepare clear technical reports, board presentations, and permit renewal documents.
Coordinate and conduct staff training, certification maintenance (state operator licenses), cross-training programs, and safety drills to sustain a highly competent and compliant workforce.
Perform routine environmental monitoring and sampling in the collection system, receiving waters, and at discharge points; interpret data trends and recommend long-term mitigation measures.
Manage industrial pretreatment interactions and enforcement where applicable, review industrial discharge monitoring reports, coordinate inspections, and support permit enforcement when necessary.
Maintain positive public and interagency relations: respond to community inquiries, coordinate with public works, stormwater, and planning departments, and support outreach and education programs.
Ensure GIS and mapping of system assets are accurate and integrated with operational workflows, including pump stations, sewer mains, valves, and meter stations for rapid response and planning.
Oversee laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs where applicable, ensuring the facility meets state-certified lab requirements and maintains documented QA/QC outcomes.
Participate in regional water quality initiatives, collaborate with watershed partners, and represent the utility in regulatory or technical working groups.

Secondary Functions

Support grant applications and funding proposals by providing technical narratives, cost estimates, and operational impact assessments for infrastructure improvement projects.
Assist in development and implementation of water reuse programs, stormwater management strategies, and watershed protection plans to align operations with sustainability goals.
Support IT and control system upgrades, work with vendors and IT teams to implement cybersecurity best practices for SCADA and plant control systems.
Contribute to strategic planning and long-term master plans for utilities by providing operations-based insights, risk assessments, and prioritization of capital investments.
Mentor junior staff and interns on regulatory reporting, sampling techniques, and operational best practices to build bench strength and institutional knowledge.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wastewater and/or drinking water treatment operations: activated sludge, trickling filters, MBR, clarification, filtration, disinfection, and nutrient removal.
Regulatory compliance expertise: NPDES permit management, SDWA, Clean Water Act knowledge, permit reporting (DMR), and incident reporting procedures.
Laboratory and analytical skills: sampling protocols, chain-of-custody, and interpretation of analytes (BOD, TSS, NH3-N, NO3, TP, pH, DO, turbidity, chlorine residuals).
SCADA/PLC operation and troubleshooting, process control optimization, and experience with trending, alarms, and control logic.
Preventive maintenance and CMMS experience (e.g., Maximo, Cityworks, Infor) for work order management, asset tracking, and lifecycle planning.
Chemical feed systems and dosing control, including chemical safety, storage, and inventory management.
Project management and capital project oversight: scope development, RFP/RFQ evaluation, construction oversight, and commissioning.
Safety and regulatory certifications: OSHA 10/30, HAZWOPER (24/40-hour preferred), confined space entry, CPR/First Aid.
Laboratory accreditation and QA/QC procedures; familiarity with standard methods for water and wastewater analysis.
GIS and basic mapping skills for asset identification and operational planning.
Budget development and financial management skills specific to operations and utilities.
Familiarity with biosolids management, sludge processing, hauling contracts, and beneficial reuse regulations.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and team development skills with proven ability to mentor, motivate, and manage multi-disciplinary operations staff.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for regulatory reporting, interagency coordination, and public-facing communications.
Analytical problem-solving and data-driven decision-making capabilities; comfortable working with operational metrics and KPIs.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance emergency response, routine operations, and strategic initiatives.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for managing vendor contracts, union interfaces, and interdepartmental coordination.
Attention to detail and commitment to accurate recordkeeping and documentation.
Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, emergency-prone operational environments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED with relevant trade certifications; OR
Associate degree (AA/AS) in Environmental Technology, Water/Wastewater Technology, or related technical field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree (BS/BA) in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, or related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science
Civil or Environmental Engineering
Biology / Microbiology / Chemistry
Water/Wastewater Technology / Environmental Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10 years of progressive experience in water or wastewater operations, including at least 2–4 years in a lead or supervisory role.

Preferred: 7+ years of operations experience with demonstrable supervisory responsibility, hands-on process control experience, and a proven record of managing compliance, budgets, and capital projects. Municipal utility experience and state operator certification (Grade II/III or higher depending on jurisdiction) strongly preferred.