Description

The Water Operations Manager leads the safe, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective operation of Forest Lawn's water utility systems across all facilities. The role manages assigned employees and contractors; establishes priorities, work plans, performance expectations, and service standards; and ensures appropriate staffing, training, accountability, and succession planning. As an advanced-level technical professional and people leader, the role assesses system conditions; directs and participates in preventive and corrective maintenance; troubleshoots mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control, distribution, and treatment-related equipment; and develops system improvements that promote long-term reliability and sustainability. The position exercises sound technical and managerial judgment, maintains accurate documentation, manages budgets and resources, enforces applicable safety and industry standards, collaborates with Architecture & Engineering, Park Operations, and other stakeholders, and oversees contractors from scope development through completion. The role also participates in an on-call rotation and leads emergency response efforts to restore service and minimize operational disruption.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and manage water operations staff. Plan, assign, direct, and evaluate the work of assigned employees; establish priorities, schedules, service expectations, and performance standards; monitor workload and productivity; provide coaching and timely feedback; recognize effective performance; and address performance or conduct concerns in partnership with Human Resources and senior leadership.
• Manage staffing and employee development. Participate in workforce planning, recruitment, selection, onboarding, and retention; identify training and certification needs; provide technical and leadership development opportunities; cross-train staff; support succession planning; and maintain adequate coverage for routine operations, planned work, and emergency response.
• Establish team accountability and communication. Conduct regular staff meetings and one-on-one discussions; communicate operational priorities, project status, policy and procedure changes, and organizational expectations; maintain clear records of assignments and follow-up actions; and promote collaboration, professionalism, and responsive customer service.
• Manage departmental resources and financial performance. Develop and administer assigned operating and capital budgets; forecast labor, equipment, material, and contractor needs; review expenditures and variances; approve purchases and invoices within delegated authority; identify cost-saving opportunities; and allocate resources in alignment with operational risk, service priorities, and organizational objectives.
• Provide management oversight for safety, compliance, and emergency readiness. Ensure employees and contractors receive required training, follow established procedures, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and maintain applicable licenses and certifications; investigate incidents and operational failures; implement corrective actions; and direct staff and contractor response during water system emergencies.
• Operate, maintain, and improve water systems. Specify, install, operate, inspect, test, troubleshoot, calibrate, program, repair, and replace water system equipment and components, including pumps, motors, distribution lines, valves, storage facilities, meters, backflow devices, control panels, variable-frequency drives, instrumentation, piping, and related appurtenances.
• Perform preventive and corrective maintenance. Establish and execute maintenance activities, exercise equipment not covered by service agreements, diagnose operational issues affecting treatment, pumping, storage, and distribution systems, and implement approved solutions that support reliable water service.
• Inspect and assess system performance. Conduct routine and special inspections of potable water, recycled water, groundwater, pump stations, reservoirs, pressure zones, and distribution systems; verify site conditions; identify safety hazards, deficiencies, failure risks, regulatory concerns, and inefficiencies; and assess the remaining useful life of facilities and equipment.
• Develop maintenance and capital recommendations. Document observed conditions; prioritize maintenance, repair, upgrade, and replacement needs based on operational risk, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and system compatibility; and support repair-versus-replacement decisions and asset management planning.
• Manage SCADA and control systems. Inspect, monitor, troubleshoot, and fine-tune SCADA, PLC, telemetry, and VFD equipment, wiring, programming, alerts, displays, data logs, reports, and central computer configurations; audit PLC logic; recommend and implement approved hardware, software, firmware, programming, and control-logic changes; and coordinate operational adjustments based on system data.
• Implement approved system enhancements. Procure and install approved transducers, radios, submeters, isolation valves, and other components; support SCADA integration; update control philosophies and logic narratives; and maintain appropriate data access for authorized users.
• Plan and support water system projects. Review engineering designs, construction specifications, drawings, records, work orders, scopes of work, contractor submittals, programming narratives, and proposed equipment selections for technical suitability, compatibility, regulatory compliance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop and monitor project budgets and schedules. Prepare cost estimates, projected savings, return-on-investment analyses, bids, schedules, and supporting documentation; evaluate in-house and outsourced delivery options; and recommend execution strategies that best meet operational and financial objectives.
• Coordinate and oversee contractor work. Diagnose service needs; develop or refine work orders and scopes; obtain and evaluate proposals; coordinate design, installation, maintenance, controls, and system-integration activities; monitor field execution; inspect completed work; verify general conformance with approved requirements and industry standards; and recommend corrective or remedial action when necessary.
• Manage service agreements. Administer assigned preventive-maintenance and service agreements, coordinate vendor activities, verify completion and acceptance of work, and ensure equipment excluded from agreements receives appropriate maintenance.
• Maintain system records and documentation. Record maintenance and operational activities; create field notes and diagrams; establish infrastructure naming conventions; assist with mapping as-built distribution systems; and support development of CAD drawings, exhibits, operating procedures, and records for pressure zones, valves, pumping, storage, distribution, and control components.
• Develop operating and maintenance standards. Collaborate with staff to establish and update standard operating procedures, shutdown and modified-operation procedures, component maintenance schedules, and technical guidance that support safe and consistent system operations.
• Support water conservation and accountability. Participate in annual water audits, perform leak detection and repair, reconcile water supply with water use, evaluate pressure zones and distribution lines, and recommend locations for submeters and isolation valves.
• Promote safe and compliant work practices. Take preventive measures, enforce applicable safety requirements, use sound technical judgment, and verify that employee and contractor activities comply with applicable regulations, approved specifications, and industry standards.
• Collaborate across functions. Coordinate with Park Operations, Architecture & Engineering, other departments, and third-party contractors on estimates, schedules, bids, documentation, construction, inspections, technical requirements, operational issues, and water system projects.
• Provide technical leadership and knowledge transfer. Provide technical input, field support, operational guidance, basic system training, and mentorship to staff; contribute to the preservation and sharing of institutional knowledge; and serve as a team member or technical lead in support of reliable water operations.
• Respond to operational needs. Provide technical support, coordinate and execute approved operational changes, and perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate's degree or trade school training specializing in water distribution system operations and maintenance.
• Minimum of twenty years cumulative experience in water system operations, preferably at municipal water utilities.
• Valid California Driver's License, including state required levels of active auto insurance.
• SWRCB Water Distribution Operator D3 certification required.
• SWRCB Water Treatment Operator T3 certification is preferred.
• Industry experience working with mechanical and electrical systems, preferably within a municipal water utility. Extensive water utility experience and a current California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Distribution Operator D3 certification are required. Water treatment experience and a current SWRCB Water Treatment Operator T3 certification are preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of water system operations, methods, materials, equipment, safety practices, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated proficiency in installing, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining water distribution systems, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, and related wiring and instrumentation.
• Demonstrated leadership experience directing, coaching, and developing employees; setting clear performance expectations; holding team members accountable; and fostering a collaborative, respectful, safety-focused, and service-oriented work environment.
• Ability to lead through operational challenges and organizational change, exercise sound and impartial judgment, resolve conflict constructively, communicate decisions clearly, and maintain composure and accountability during emergencies and other high-pressure situations.
• Proven ability to build effective partnerships, influence stakeholders, delegate appropriately, prioritize resources, and align team performance and operational decisions with departmental and organizational goals.
• Strong organizational, verbal and written communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in office and field environments.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to independently diagnose operating issues, troubleshoot equipment, determine appropriate corrective action, and complete repairs that support the prompt restoration of water service.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities, and adapt to changing operational needs.
• Ability to travel to multiple locations around Southern California.

Competitive Benefits

Forest Lawn takes pride in offering an excellent benefits package to our employees, which taken as a whole, leads our industry and is competitive with the benefits in just about any other industry.

Click here to learn more about our benefit offerings.

Drug Testing Policy

Prior to beginning employment, all job applicants who receive a job offer will be required to voluntarily submit to a drug screening test conducted by a laboratory designated by Forest Lawn. The drug screening method is a hair collection test that will detect the use of illegal drugs within the past 90 days. A positive drug test may result in the withdrawal of the job offer.