Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator

in acknowledging the ten day posting requirement referenced in fresno municipal code section 3-239, the personnel department has posted this announcement for the closing of this open till filled recruitment.

the senior water treatment plant operator recruitment will be closed effective midnight, june 13, 2026.

the senior water treatment plant operator (surface water treatment facility) operates on a shift basis, assigned to any of the city's three surface water treatment facilities, which include a 30 mgd t5 conventional facility, a 4 mgd trident upflow clarification facility, and a new 56 mgd conventional facility. The new facility is a conventional pretreatment with 3-stage flocculation and sedimentation with plate settlers, ozone, and filtration operational facility, servicing the southeast population of the city of fresno.

the senior water treatment plant operator is the advanced level class responsible for performing technically complex work in the operation of surface water treatment facilities. Incumbents exercise considerable independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods.

duties include, but are not limited to: monitoring plant performance by conducting analyses on samples from various stages in the treatment process; reading gauges, making flow adjustments, and controlling reservoir levels using scada computers. Positions at this level require demonstrated ability to perform the most advanced functions related to the maintenance and repair of equipment at water treatment/production facilities, such as performing routine and non‑routine maintenance on chemical feed equipment, pumps, motors, and valves, and troubleshooting equipment as necessary.

due to the nature of the work environment, the incumbent is required to participate in a medical monitoring program to ensure respiratory fitness for using required respiratory equipment.

vacancies currently exist in the water division of the department of public utilities; however, the eligible list created from this recruitment will be used to fill the current and future vacancies throughout the duration of the list. Immediate and future vacancies will be filled from this eligible list for a period of three (3) months from the date the eligible list is created, with the option of extending that period at the city’s discretion.

Should the competitive process be suspended for this recruitment, the eligibility list may be limited to three (3) months.

depending on shift assignments, incumbents will be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as part of a regular shift. The surface water treatment facilities operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week using 8-10 hour shifts.

• high school diploma or ged completion.
• three years of full-time work experience operating a groundwater or surface water treatment plant that shares equivalent state of california classification with the city of fresno.
• three years of full-time work experience in the testing, cleaning, maintenance, inspection, repair, installation, replacement, construction, distribution and operation of water systems.
• possession and continued maintenance of a valid class "c" california driver's license.
• possession at time of appointment and continued maintenance throughout the entire term of employment of a valid water treatment operator certificate, grade t3, issued by the california state water resources control board.

• may require obtaining and maintaining a valid commercial class "a" or "b" california driver's license with appropriate endorsements for the entire term of employment (depending on assignment area).

• oral examination - 100%: a panel of subject matter experts will conduct a job‑related oral examination that evaluates each candidate’s knowledge of the testing, cleaning, maintenance, inspection, repair, installation, replacement, construction, distribution and operation of water systems. Candidates must achieve a passing score to qualify for the eligible list.
• oral exam date is tentatively scheduled for the week of: tbd.

• qualified veterans who pass the examination may obtain five additional points.
• veterans applying for veteran’s preference are required to submit a copy of their dd214 with their application during the specified filing period. Evidence must be presented to indicate that the candidate was discharged honorably from military service.
• veterans, including city employees, must resubmit proof of honorable service for every examination for which veteran’s preference credit is requested.