Description
Sewerage systems managers coordinate and plan pipe and sewer systems, and supervise sewerage construction and maintenance operations. They supervise wastewater treatment plants and other sewage treatment facilities, and ensure operations are compliant with regulations.
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to sewerage systems manager:
wastewater infrastructure manager
wastewater distribution systems and equipment manager
sewerage control engineer
lead engineer in wastewater infrastructure
sewerage system construction manager
wastewater manager
wastewater infrastructure design lead
water and sewer manager
wastewater network manager
wastewater systems manager
head engineer in wastewater systems
sewerage network manager
water and sewer engineer
sewerage manager
wastewater treatment works manager
Minimum qualifications
Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as sewerage systems manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Sewerage systems manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.
Sewerage systems manager career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to sewerage systems manager.
water treatment plant manager
power plant manager
chemical plant manager
wastewater engineer
metal production manager
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of sewerage systems manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of sewerage systems manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of sewerage systems manager.
Manufacturing processes: The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.
Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of sewerage systems manager.
Manage supplies: Monitor and control the flow of supplies that includes the purchase, storage and movement of the required quality of raw materials, and also work-in-progress inventory. Manage supply chain activities and synchronise supply with demand of production and customer.
Ensure compliance with environmental legislation: Monitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation. Ensure that the processes are compliant with environment regulations and best practices.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Strive for company growth: Develop strategies and plans aiming at achieving a sustained company growth, be the company self-owned or somebody else’s. Strive with actions to increase revenues and positive cash flows.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Create manufacturing guidelines: Draft procedures and guidelines to ensure that government and industry regulations are met by manufacturers in both international and domestic markets.
Define manufacturing quality criteria: Define and describe the criteria by which data quality is measured for manufacturing purposes, such as international standards and manufacturing regulations.
Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
Develop manufacturing policies: Develop policies and procedures applied in manufacturing with the aim of improving competitiveness and capabilities of the industry.
Monitor legislation developments: Monitor changes in rules, policies and legislation, and identify how they may influence the organisation, existing operations, or a specific case or situation.
Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
Adhere to organisational guidelines: Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
Plan health and safety procedures: Set up procedures for maintaining and improving health and safety in the workplace.
Negotiate supplier arrangements: Reach an agreement with the supplier upon technical, quantity, quality, price, conditions, storage, packaging, send-back and other requirements related to the purchasing and delivering process.
Ensure equipment maintenance: Ensure that the equipment required for operations is regularly checked for faults, that routine maintenance tasks are performed, and that repairs are scheduled and performed in the case of damage or flaws.
Supervise sewerage systems construction: Supervise the implementation of correct sewerage system plans and methods during construction, installation, and maintenance of sewerage systems to ensure conformity to the approved plans and safety of operations.
Report on production results: Report on production to the hierarchy. Mention a specified set of parameters, such as amount produced and timing, and any issues or unexpected occurrences.
Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
Follow company standards: Lead and manage according to the organisation’s code of conduct.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of sewerage systems manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Water policies: Have a solid understanding of policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations concerning water.
Pollution legislation: Be familiar with European and National legislation regarding the risk of pollution.
Pollution prevention: The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
Water reuse: Principles of water re-use processes in complex circulation systems.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of sewerage systems manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Inspect pipelines: Walk flow lines to identify damage or leaks; use electronic detection equipment and conduct visual inspections.
Manage water quality testing: Direct the procedures surrounding the testing and quality analysis of water and subsequent purification procedures by managing operations from collection of samples to laboratory testing, managing staff, and ensuring compliance with legislation.
Coordinate sewage sludge handling: Coordinate the treatment and disposal of the semi-solid residues resulting from the wastewater treatment such as energy winning through fermentation, drying and reuse as fertilizer.
Ensure regulatory compliance in pipeline infrastructures: Ensure that the regulations for pipeline operations are met. Ensure pipeline infrastructure compliance with legal mandates, and compliance with regulations governing the transportation of goods via the pipelines.
Supervise waste disposal: Supervise disposal of biological waste and chemical waste according to regulations.
Set management priorities in pipeline networks: Set the priorities for the performance of activities in pipeline networks. Analyse the different issues within the infrastructure, and tackle issues that may significantly affect operations and those that may be costly if left unaddressed.
Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
Mitigate environmental impact of pipeline projects: Strive to mitigate the potential impact that pipelines and the goods transported in them can have on the environment. Invest time and resources into consideration of the environmental effects of the pipeline, the actions that could be taken to protect the environment, and the potential increase in the costs of the project.
Manage water distribution procedures: Ensure the supply systems are maintained and the operations occur efficiently and in compliance with regulations to ensure proper distribution and supply of water from the facility.
Develop sewerage networks: Develop systems and methods of construction and installation of waste water transportation and treatment equipment, which is used to transport waste water from residences and facilities through water treatment facilities, or through other sewerage systems, to ensure proper disposal or reuse. Develop such systems with environmental and sustainability concerns in mind.
Document analysis results: Document on paper or on electronic devices the process and the results of the samples analysis performed.
Monitor automated machines: Continuously check up on the automated machine’s set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
Prepare timelines for pipeline development projects: Prepare timescales and project schedules for implementation of activities and follow up in pipeline development projects. Include in the preparation customer requests, materials required, and specification of the activities to be undertaken.
Coordinate environmental efforts: Organise and integrate all environmental efforts of the company, including pollution control, recycling, waste management, environmental health, conservation and renewable energy.
Report pollution incidents: Examine the extent of the damage and consequences when an incident causes pollution, and report it to the relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.
Assess environmental impact: Monitor environmental impacts and carry out assessments in order to identify and to reduce the organisation’s environmental risks while taking costs into account.
Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
Follow up pipeline integrity management priorities: Perform follow up on priority actions in the pipeline infrastructure, such as complete coverage, service consistency, and facilitation.
Supervise waste water treatments: Supervise waste water treatment according to environmental regulations.
ISCO group and title
1321 – Manufacturing managers
References
- Sewerage systems manager – ESCO