Water treatment plant manager

Description

Water treatment plant managers supervise water treatment, storage and distribution in a water plant. They ensure the plant’s operations are compliant with regulation, and supervise staff. They also implement new policies, and oversee equipment maintenance.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to water treatment plant manager:

water facility manager
water treatment manager
water treatment facility manager
water plant treatment manager
water treatment specialist
water treatment plant maintenance manager
drinking water treatment plant manager
manager, water treatment plant
water plant superintendent
water storage plant manager
water distribution plant manager
water treatment engineer
water plant engineer
water treatment plant supervisor

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as water treatment plant 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.

Water treatment plant manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Water treatment plant manager career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to water treatment plant manager.

sewerage systems manager
power plant manager
chemical plant manager
metal production manager
industrial production manager

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of water treatment plant manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of water treatment plant 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 water treatment plant manager.

Manufacturing processes: The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.
Water policies: Have a solid understanding of policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations concerning water.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of water treatment plant 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ensure proper water storage: Ensure that correct procedures are followed and the required equipment is present and functional for the storage of water prior to treatment or distribution.
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.
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 water treatment plant manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Water chemistry analysis: Principles of complex water chemistry.
Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
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 water treatment plant manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

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.
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.
Liaise with local authorities: Maintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.
Supervise waste disposal: Supervise disposal of biological waste and chemical waste according to regulations.
Maintain water treatment equipment: Perform repairs and routine maintenance tasks on equipment used in the purification and treatment processes of water and waste water.
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.
Measure water quality parameters: Quality assure water by taking into consideration various elements, such as temperature.
Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
Develop water supply schedule: Develop timetables and working strategies for the collection, storage, and distribution of water used for water supply to facilities and residences.
Inform on water supply: Inform and advise customers, installers and other company partners in matters of water supply such as distribution, quality, origin, regulations etc.
Develop water purification methods: Develop strategies for the development and use of water purification equipment and plans, by aiding in the design of equipment, planning purification procedures, and identifying the necessary actions and potential risks.
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.
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.
Hire new personnel: Hire new personnel for a company or organisation payroll via a prepared set of procedures. Make staffing decisions and direct selection co-workers.
Supervise laboratory operations: Supervise the staff working in a laboratory, as well as oversee that equipment is functional and maintained, and procedures occur in compliance with regulations and legislation.
Coordinate environmental efforts: Organise and integrate all environmental efforts of the company, including pollution control, recycling, waste management, environmental health, conservation and renewable energy.
Manage water treatment: Treat contaminated water using a variety of techniques such as lagoons and reed beds.
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.
Supervise waste water treatments: Supervise waste water treatment according to environmental regulations.

ISCO group and title

1219 – Business services and administration managers not elsewhere classified

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Water treatment plant manager – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022