Chief Operator - Wastewater

Type:

Full Time

Salary/Pay Rate:

$37.63-$49.50 (+$5,000 Sign-On)

Posted Date:

05/26/2026 2:31 PM

Town of Edgartown | Wastewater Department

The Town of Edgartown Wastewater Department seeking applicants:

Chief Operator (Full-time/Year-round) – $37.63-$49.50/hour (+$5,000 Sign-on Incentive)

s are available at edgartown-ma.us or in the Human Resource Office. Please send completed applications to [email protected] or P.O. Box 5130 ATTN: Human Resources, Edgartown, MA 02539. The Town of Edgartown is an equal opportunity employer. Positions are open until filled.

WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT

Facility Manager - Wastewater

DEFINITION

Position is responsible for operation and management of plant operations for compliance with DEP Discharge Permit, daily facility operations including staff supervision. Position provides technical and supervisory work in managing and overseeing the efficient operations of the Wastewater Treatment Facility and Collection System. Responsibilities include performing administrative and supervisory work in directing the activities of the Town’s Wastewater Commission, including customer services and strategic planning

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Complies with DEP Ground Discharge Permit and documents all information for required reporting;

  
  

• Plans, coordinates, and administers the activities of the Wastewater Commission such as but not limited to, short & long term planning, annual reports, annual budgets, purchasing, billing, payrolls, expenditures, capital improvements with other town departments, prepares warrant articles, writes bid specifications, and plans and coordinates training of personnel;

  
  

• Purchases materials for the plant, often researching to find compatible equipment;

  
  

• Responds to permit inquiries, applications, inspections. Guides applicants and contractors through steps of permit. Provides general information on sewering, regulations and policy;

  
  

• Supervises the ongoing preventive and maintenance repairs; develops departmental capital improvement plan;

  
  

• Prepares applications for grants, administers grants received, oversees the departments bidding process, monitors the work of contractors and consultants hired under the Wastewater Commissions jurisdiction and reports findings to them;

  
  

• Attends all Commission meetings; in the absence of support staff will make out agenda and keep minutes at such meetings; keeps Commission informed of ongoing activities and issues which impact operations, and conducts research and presents reports as directed by the Commission;

  
  

• Works on legal issues with Town Counsel which relate to the responsibilities of Wastewater Commission, works with local, state, and federal agencies on projects of concern to the Commission;

  
  

• Ensures the Commission is in compliance with the rules and regulations of State and Federal regulatory agencies that affect the Town;

  
  

• In the absence of the Chief Operator the Manager will perform as acting Chief Operator;

  
  

• Reviews all plans and applications of current and present sewer hookups; performs site inspections of new connections;

  
  

• Attends meetings of other town departments as needed and as determined by the Wastewater Commission.

  
  

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under administrative direction, the incumbent works from policies, goals, and objectives; establishes short-range plans and objectives, departmental performance standards and assumes direct accountability for department results; consults with the supervisor only where clarification, interpretation, or exception to policy may be required or as requested by the supervisor. The incumbent exercises control in the development of departmental policies, goals, objectives and budgets and is expected to resolve all conflicts which arise and coordinate with others as necessary.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

The manager is accountable for the direction and success of programs accomplished through others. Responsible for analyzing program objectives, determining the various departmental work operations needed to achieve them, estimating the financial and staff resources required, allocating the available funds and staff, reporting periodically on the achievement and status of the program objective; and recommending new goals. The incumbent typically formulates or recommends program goals and develops plans for achieving short and long-range objectives; determines organizational structure, operating guidelines and work operations; formulates, prepares and defends budget and manpower requests and accounts for effective use of funds and staff provided; coordinates program efforts within the unit and with other departments; delegates authority to subordinate supervisors and holds them responsible for the performance of their unit's work; reviews work in terms of accomplishment of program objectives and progress reports, approves standards establishing quality and quantity of work; and assists or oversees the personnel function, including or effectively recommending hiring, training, and disciplining of employees.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Duties include primary responsibility for a major functional section of the organization for technical processes, service delivery, and contribution to organizational plans and objectives and fiscal responsibility for the department including buildings, equipment and staffing utilization. Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment could jeopardize department operations or have financial and legal repercussions.

JUDGMENT

Guidelines, which may be in the form of administrative or organizational policies, general principles, legislation or directives that pertain to a specific department or functional area, only provide limited guidance for performing the work. Extensive judgment and ingenuity are required to develop new or adapt existing methods and approaches for accomplishing objectives or to deal with new or unusual requirements within the limits of the guidelines or policies. The incumbent is recognized as the department or functional area's authority in interpreting the guidelines, in determining how they should be applied, and in developing operating policies.

COMPLEXITY

The work consists of employing many different concepts, theories, principles, techniques and practices relating to an administrative field. Assignments typically concern such matters as studying trends in the field for application to the work; assessing services and recommending improvements.

NATURE AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

Relationships are constantly with co-workers, the public, groups and/or individuals such as peers from other organizations, and representatives of professional organizations. The employee serves as a spokesperson or recognized authority of the organization in matters of substance or considerable importance, including departmental practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines. May be required to discuss controversial matters where tact is required to avoid friction and obtain cooperation.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Incumbent has access at the departmental level to a variety of sensitive and confidential information.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

An Associate’s degree or equivalent and four years of related wastewater treatment, supervisory and/or municipal experience required. A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Business Management, or related field is preferred; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Must possess a valid Grade 7 Massachusetts Wastewater Treatment Full Operator’s License. Must possess a valid Massachusetts driver’s license, Massachusetts Collection System and laboratory analyst license desired.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY, AND SKILLS

Knowledge of municipal finance and budget administrations. Knowledge of personnel policies and accepted practices. Knowledge of the principles and practices of wastewater treatment plant and collection system operation. Knowledge of the materials and techniques required for maintenance and repair of wastewater treatment machinery and electronic equipment. Knowledge of state and federal pollution control regulations.

Must have strong organizational, supervisory and financial skills. Must be able to communicate effectively with employees, town, state and federal officials

Must have strong computer, spreadsheet, mathematical and presentation skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Working conditions involve occasional exposure to intermittent machine or related noise or a combination of unpleasant elements such as odors, chemical fumes, dust, smoke, heat, cold, oil, dirt or grease. Includes work under typical shop conditions or outdoor work. Incumbent may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to emergency situations or to attend evening meetings.

PHYSICAL, MOTOR, AND VISUAL SKILLS

Physical Skills

The work involves sitting, standing, walking and stooping. May be required to lift objects such as files, boxes of papers, office supplies, and office equipment weighing up to 30 pounds.

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, using office equipment, including but not limited to telephones, personal computers, handheld technology, and other office equipment.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require routinely reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.