Senior Operator - Regional Water Quality Control Plant (Multiple Positions)

Salary : $126,256.00 - $154,440.00 Annually
Location : Water Quality Control Plant, 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, CA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Public Works Department
Opening Date: 09/15/2026
Closing Date: 10/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Under general direction of the Shift Supervisor, Senior Operators direct and participate in the daily operation and routine maintenance of the RWQCP on an assigned shift. Senior Operators provide lead direction, technical guidance, mentoring, and on-the-job training to other Operators, while exercising sound judgment and advanced operational expertise to support safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations. This classification is distinguished from the Operator II level by the assignment of lead responsibilities and from the Supervisor level by its focus on operational leadership rather than full supervisory and management responsibilities.
The ideal candidate will possess strong technical knowledge, leadership skills, sound judgment, and the ability to work effectively with others, along with the following:

• In-depth knowledge of wastewater treatment plant processes, equipment, and digital control systems, including SCADA and PLC systems.
• Experience operating and monitoring advanced treatment processes, including Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR), membrane treatment systems, and Reverse Osmosis (RO).
• Ability to provide lead direction, training, and technical guidance to wastewater treatment operators.
• Knowledge of applicable safety rules, codes, regulations, and safe practices for the handling of hazardous gases and chemicals.
• Knowledge of wastewater sampling, routine process control testing, and wastewater treatment principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate plant conditions, provide direction, and work effectively with others.

Apply Today!
Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click

Benefits: The City offers a fantastic benefits package including:

• Professional development: Tuition reimbursement, leadership training, and career growth opportunities
• Education benefits: Potential enrollment for dependents in the Palo Alto Unified School District (pilot program, subject to change)
• Childcare support: $10,000 in childcare subsidies (pilot program, subject to change)
• Commute benefits: Incentives for walking, biking and taking transit to work. The City of Palo Alto participates in the Clipper Bay Pass program (Employee Cost: $5 per month).
• Defined-Benefit Retirement Plan: with competitive pension benefits

This position is represented by Service Employee International Union position (SEIU).
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Inspects equipment, analyzing operational or mechanical problems, and implements emergency corrective repair or adjustive actions.
• Ensures compliance with Federal, State, and local quality standards. Interprets data from laboratory analyses and implements process control strategies to ensure optimum process performance.
• Responsible for maintaining adequate chemical and supplies inventories,
• Assists shift supervisor in developing and implementing training programs for lower level Operators.
• Responds to chlorine and sulphur dioxide chemical leaks as a member of the lead response team.
• Provides technical guidance to Trainees and Operators; monitors work to assure timely and efficient completion; serve as acting supervisor in the absence of the shift supervisor.

To review full job description, click

Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade; and,
• Possession of a Grade III Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator's certificate issued by the State Water Resources Control Board.
• Three years experience in a related field.
• Possession of a valid California Driver's license.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to work shifts, on-call, weekends and holidays as assigned or as required.
• Will be required to meet Division of Clean Water Programs continuing education credits to maintain required certification.
• Must be able to hear and perform emergency response duties in a level A full-body protection suit and S.C.B.A. weighing 32 pounds and must maintain a face seal while using the self-contained breathing equipment.

Supplemental Information
The Selection Process:

• Recruitment status notifications will be sent via email or text (please enroll in text alerts when applying).
• Updates can also be found on your governmentjobs.com account.
• Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process, and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
• The screening process for this position may include a virtual recorded interview, panel interviews, and/or skills assessment preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
• This posting may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Technical Support:

For technical issues applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at(855) 524-5627between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking
01

Do you possess a valid Grade III Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board?

• Yes
• No

02

List the water/wastewater treatment plants where you have worked and identify the treatment processes used at each facility. (200 words maximum)
03

Describe your experience operating Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR), membrane treatment systems, and Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems. Include the facility name and length of experience with each process. (200 words maximum)
04

Describe your experience providing lead direction, training, or technical guidance to wastewater treatment operators, including any experience serving as an acting supervisor. (200 words maximum)
Required Question