Operations Supervisor – Water & Wastewater Systems

Job Description

Operations Team Leader | Aqua

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, with regular visits required to the Western PA divisions, including the State College-DuBois Area. Aqua delivers safe, clean, reliable water and wastewater services, serving approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states as part of Essential Utilities. This role is critical for ensuring operational excellence, safety, and regulatory compliance within water and wastewater systems, directly contributing to the well-being of communities and the protection of natural resources. The position emphasizes leadership, technical expertise, and collaborative problem-solving to maintain essential utility services.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Western PA divisions (State College-DuBois Area)

• Team: Supervises facility operators, seasonal employees, and contractors
• Mission: Owns the supervision of water and wastewater operations, maintenance, and regulatory compliance to ensure safe and reliable services.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Company software, Pennsylvania One Call system, Databases

What You’ll Actually Do
• Team Leadership: Supervise, interview, hire, train, and manage the performance of facility operators, seasonal employees, and contractors, establishing high-performance standards and fostering continuous improvement.
• Operational Oversight: Direct the operations, maintenance, and regulatory compliance of assigned water and wastewater systems, including investigating system upsets and guiding staff responses.
• Safety & Compliance: Implement and enforce Aqua’s safety policies, conduct regular site inspections for compliance, and maintain awareness of all regulations impacting utility operations, recommending necessary adjustments.
• Budget & Resource Management: Manage the operations budget, process invoices and purchase requisitions, monitor materials inventory, and assist the engineering department with capital budget for water and wastewater priorities.
• External Relations: Build and maintain close working partnerships with area public utilities, municipalities, the Pennsylvania DEP, and local fire departments, representing the company in relevant meetings.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Manager level; required experience in water/wastewater utility operations and/or supervisory experience.
• Experience: Must obtain required Pennsylvania DEP Water and Wastewater Operator certifications within four (4) years from date of hire; Valid U.S. driver’s license is required.
• Skills: Working knowledge of water & wastewater infrastructure; Working knowledge of excavation and work zone safety; Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Strong customer service skills; Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively.
• Bonus: An associate or bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, construction management, or a related field.