JOB TITLE: River Road Wastewater Treatment Superintendent

JOB CLASS NUMBER: ADM345

PAY GRADE: 21

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

BUSINESS UNIT NAME: Water Utilities

REPORTS TO: Director of Utilities - Operations

SUPERVISORY WORK: Supervises

SUMMARY

This position is responsible for the overall leadership, operation, and performance of the River Road Wastewater Treatment Plant, including supervision of plant staff and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. The Superintendent manages daily operations of a complex, aging facility while prioritizing safety, reliability, and process efficiency. This position operates within a high-demand regulatory and infrastructure environment, requiring strong leadership in maintaining compliance while advancing critical rehabilitation and expansion initiatives.

In addition to plant operations, this position plays a key role in the long-term sustainability of the system by coordinating with internal and external teams on major capital initiatives. This includes active participation in the planning, design, and implementation of plant rehabilitation efforts and future plant expansion projects. The Superintendent provides operational insight, technical input, and coordination to support project teams, ensuring that improvements and new infrastructure align with operational needs and regulatory expectations.

Safety is primary value at the City of Amarillo: We expect every employee: to 1) Strictly follow safety policies, rules, and safe work methods. 2) Promptly correct or report safety hazards or unsafe conditions. Immediately report injuries for prompt diagnosis and treatment. 3) Make regular suggestions for safety process improvements to support continuous safety improvement.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Regulatory Compliance & Oversight

  • Manages wastewater effluent and sludge disposal meeting all Federal, State and City regulations in a continuous effort to meet or surpass effluent quality criteria.

  • Analyzes and reviews operational and production data in a continuous effort to train and advise operations personnel with a common goal to improve effluent quality.

  • Oversees plant laboratory, assuring all tests and procedures are by approved methods, are accurate and performed by qualified personnel.

  • Oversees sludge and effluent disposal as pertinent to the plant, assuring all applicable regulations and customer needs are met.

  • Prepares plant records and reports, assuring all are current, complete, accurate and on schedule.

  • Assists the Director of Utilities Office in the review of permit applications (new, amended, renewal, etc.).

  • Maintain Risk Management Program and Emergency Response Plan documentation and training routines.

  • Complies with all reporting requirements for the City, state and federal governments including but not limited to Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) for effluent and stormwater runoff, Biosolids Annual Programs, Whole Effluent Toxicity Programs, and Unauthorized Discharge Notifications Reporting.

  • Ensures accuracy and timely submission of all regulatory reporting, including Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) and related compliance documentation.

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  • Professional Development

    • Manages the employee safety program for the department including planning, evaluating, training, accident follow-up, reporting and implementation of City and departmental policies and procedures.

    • Assist the Director of Utilities Office in the developments and review of policies and procedures for the department. Trains staff accordingly to ensure consistent implementation.

    • Optimize and improve the utilization of asset management across the plant as both a tracking and planning tool.

    • Directs and plans for measurable staff development through scheduled onsite and offsite training opportunities with a goal of continuous development in staff licensing, asset management utilization, safety and risk management skills, laboratory technology training, mechanical skill, and instrumentation optimization.

    • Develops a high-performing operations team capable of managing complex and evolving treatment challenges.

    • Ensures staff readiness for both current operations and future system expansion.

  • Project Planning and Oversight

    • Prepares, implements and manages the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the department including infrastructure replacement and schedules; operations, operation and maintenance funding, capital funding, and personnel needs.

    • Consistently utilizes asset management resources to oversee plant equipment and site maintenance, assuring proper operation, maintenance and repair of all plant equipment.  

    • Coordinates with engineering consultants, contractors, and internal teams on plant rehabilitation and expansion projects

    • Provides critical operational input into design, constructability, and phasing of capital improvements.

    • Supports project teams by identifying operational risks, shutdown constraints, and system impacts.

    • Ensures new and rehabilitated infrastructure aligns with long-term operational needs.

  • Administrative

    • Supervises employees, including the hiring, evaluation, discipline, training, handling of issues and corrective action plans and termination of employees for the departments; prepares performance evaluations for all direct reports and reviews all performance evaluations prepared by subordinates.

    • Prepares and manages the annual fiscal year operating and Capital Improvement budgets for the department.

    • Accounts for the inventory and City property assigned to the department and oversees the annual inventory.

    • Plans and supervises purchases within the department according to City policies.

  • • Approves purchases, including those made by credit cards, payment vouchers and requisition, and payroll for the departments.

  • Complete weekly updates with staff and keep upper management informed of projects and emergencies.

  • Enforces all City personnel rules, policies and procedures.

  • Answers complaints, questions and comments from the public via phone, email or letter.

  • Interfaces with other City departments as necessary.

  • Handles or oversees the handling of all department communications.

  • Assists Utilities Division for emergency tasks as required.

  • Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Requires a Texas Class A Wastewater Operator License and minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in wastewater treatment operations, including supervisory or leadership experience in a complex treatment facility. A Valid Driver’s License is required. Experience with plant rehabilitation, capital improvement projects, or facility expansions is strongly preferred. A bachelor’s degree in biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Engineering is a preferred qualification.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to operate computers for data entry and word processing.

• Ability to use small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.

• Ability to operate highly technical computer applications, such as GIS or CAD.

• Ability to supervise employees using or repairing heavy or complex machinery.

• Ability to create plans for and guide implementation of major construction projects.

• Ability to learn new software and improve processes with existing software.

ADA PROFILE

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is required to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  The employee must also walk, balance, climb, crawl, crouch, kneel, stand, stoop, sit, hear, feel, finger, grasp, reach, handle, pull, push, speak, see, and talk. Also requires the ability to make rational decisions and perform repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee works in a dynamic environment that requires being sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs.  The employee handles crisis situations that require major decisions involving people, resources, and property.

The City of Amarillo is an Equal Opportunity employer and encourages applications from eligible and qualified persons regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information or protected veteran status, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law.

The City of Amarillo provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case by case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 806-378-4294.