Chief Operator, Waste Water Treatment Facility, Grade 3

The Chief Operator, Wastewater Treatment Facility, is responsible for the overall operation, maintenance, regulatory compliance, and day-to-day performance of the City of Vergennes Wastewater Treatment Facility, pump stations, sewer collection system, controls, equipment, and related infrastructure. This position serves as the certified Chief Operator for the City’s wastewater system and is responsible for making process-control decisions that affect treatment quality, permit compliance, discharge performance, public health, and protection of the environment.

The Chief Operator supervises wastewater staff, coordinates maintenance and repair work, oversees sampling and reporting, responds to system emergencies, and works closely with the Public Works Supervisor, City Manager, engineers, contractors, regulators, and other City departments. Our current facility is a Grade III (lagoons). Our new facility, scheduled to be complete in 2028, will be a Grade V (S ).

• Operate, monitor, inspect, and maintain the City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility, pump stations, sewer collection system, controls, equipment, and related infrastructure.
• Serve as the City’s certified Chief Operator and make process-control decisions affecting treatment quality, discharge compliance, plant performance, and system reliability.
• Monitor influent, effluent, sludge handling, treatment processes, flows, alarms, pumps, motors, controls, and other mechanical, electrical, and operational systems.
• Conduct regular inspections of the treatment facility, pump stations, and collection system to identify operational concerns, equipment issues, maintenance needs, and potential compliance problems.
• Adjust treatment processes, equipment, and operating procedures as needed to maintain effective and compliant wastewater treatment.
• Respond to alarms, pump station issues, sewer backups, blockages, overflows, equipment failures, weather-related events, and other emergency or after-hours service calls.

• Ensure compliance with applicable State of Vermont, federal, NPDES/discharge permit, safety, and local requirements.
• Collect samples, oversee laboratory testing, monitor influent and effluent quality, and ensure required sampling is completed accurately and on schedule.
• Prepare, maintain, and submit required operational records, monitoring reports, discharge reports, maintenance logs, inspection records, and other compliance documentation.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable wastewater regulations, permit conditions, reporting requirements, and operational best practices.
• Communicate with state and federal regulatory agencies as appropriate and coordinate inspections, reporting, follow-up actions, and corrective measures.

• Schedule and perform preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, inspections, cleaning, repairs, and replacement of wastewater treatment equipment, pumps, valves, controls, piping, electrical components, and related infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain maintenance schedules for treatment plant equipment, pump stations, collection system components, vehicles, tools, and safety equipment.
• Diagnose mechanical, electrical, process, and system problems and coordinate repairs with staff, contractors, vendors, engineers, or other City departments as needed.
• Maintain tools, supplies, chemicals, parts, equipment, and inventory needed for safe and reliable wastewater system operations.

• Supervise,…