Environmental Business Operations Manager

Job Overview

Do you enjoy solving environmental challenges to optimize the recycling of 40 million gallons of wastewater each day? Join Fairfax County's award‑winning Wastewater Management Team that protects both public health and the region’s water quality.

Under the direction of the Assistant Division Director of Operations, you will manage daily operational activities in a 67 million‑gallon‑per‑day advanced wastewater treatment plant and provide general administrative support for 48 plant operators working four rotating shifts, in compliance with the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act regulations.

• Assess, recommend, and implement business operations improvements in regulatory documentation, consumables costs, workforce deployment, and treatment process performance.
• Review and approve all facility outages for maintenance and construction.
• Supervise day‑to‑day operations to ensure permit compliance.
• Serve as subject‑matter expert on plant operations and act as Operations Branch Chief when the branch chief is absent.

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, engineering, construction management, or a related field.
• Four years of experience in an environmental, engineering, or construction management program.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Wastewater Treatment – Class I certification.
• Confined Space Training Certificate (within 12 months of hire).

• 8+ years of experience with wastewater utilities or similar environmental regulation entities.
• 8+ years of experience operating Class 1 wastewater treatment processes, including nutrient removal, reclamation, and solids incineration.
• Experience supervising professional and paraprofessional employees, including delegating, coaching, and performance evaluation.
• Experience managing inventory of process chemicals and other operating supplies.
• Coordinating with safety, process engineering, maintenance, and construction teams for maintenance and safety outages.

Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in written form. Must lift/slide up to 90 lbs with assistance, walk, climb, and work in demanding positions for extended periods. Must be physically fit to perform manual labor in various environments and endure extreme weather conditions. Prohibition on entry into confined spaces for individuals weighing 310 lbs or more.

• Defined‑benefit retirement plan
• Medical, life and disability insurance
• Paid leave and tuition reimbursement
• Live Well wellness program and County Benefits Division services

Wastewater Management positions provide uninterrupted sewer service during extreme weather and emergencies. The role is designated as emergency service and requires 24‑hour on‑call availability and potential after‑hours or weekend work during emergencies.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act.