Salary : $180,377.60 - $218,212.80 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number:
Business Area: 2000 - Public Utilities
Opening Date: 07/10/2026
Closing Date: 7/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

JOB INFORMATION
Wastewater Chief Plant Operator positions will be directly responsible for ensuring that the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, North City and South Bay Water Reclamation Plants, the Metro Biosolids Facility, and contributing pump stations work in concert and achieve the system-wide state permit treatment performance requirements, and other regulatory requirements; serve as Chief Plant Operator over the San Diego Metro Wastewater System including the terminal wastewater treatment plant, satellite plants, and their respective operations and maintenance; provide supervisory, technical, and operational oversight of the City's wastewater treatment system; serve as the single point of contact and Chief Plant Operator on record for regulatory agencies; ensure compliance with regulations; respond to inquiries from the public, industry, regulatory agencies, and news media; supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate positions including Wastewater Treatment Superintendents overseeing the individual wastewater treatment plants and other associated support positions; and perform other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

• Eligible benefited employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Wastewater Chief Plant Operator employees with a valid Grade V Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate are eligible for 7.5% additional pay.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

EXPERIENCE: Three years of full-time experience supervising the operations of a wastewater treatment plant.

NOTE:

• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

CERTIFICATION: Possession of a valid Grade V Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator's Certificate of Competence issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver's License is required at the time of hire.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE:

• Supervisory experience as a certified wastewater operator in a variety of treatment processes, ranging from primary, secondary, recycled water production, biosolids, up to advanced water treatment.
• Possession of a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Sciences, Civil Engineering, Public Administration, or related field.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of a valid Grade V Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator's Certificate of Competence issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: (619) 533-3337; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
01

I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Résumés are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03

If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04

The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05

How many years of full-time experience do you have supervising the operations of a wastewater treatment plant?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

06

Describe your experience supervising the operations of a wastewater treatment plant. Specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent performing the duties and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in this area, write "None."
07

Do you possess a valid Grade V Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certificate issued by the State of California Water Resources Control Board? NOTE: Attach proof of certification to your application.

• Yes
• No

08

Do you possess a bachelor's degree?

• Yes
• No

Required Question