Wastewater Treatment Operator - Senior Operator in Charge - B-Crew, South Treatment Plant
King County
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Posted: April 6, 2026 (0 days ago)
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Wastewater Treatment Operator - Senior Operator in Charge - D-Crew, South Treatment Plant
King County
DNRP-Natural Resources & Parks
Location
Seattle, Washington, 98104
Salary
$63.15 - $63.15
per hour
Type
Full-Time
More Utilities & Public Works jobs →Closes
April 21, 2026
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This job involves leading a team of operators at a wastewater treatment plant in Seattle, where you'll oversee daily tasks like monitoring equipment, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring safe, effective treatment of wastewater to protect public health and the environment.
It's a three-year leadership role that helps build skills for future advancement in the field.
A good fit would be an experienced wastewater operator who enjoys team leadership, problem-solving, and working in a collaborative environment focused on environmental protection.
Key Requirements
- Current Senior Operator in Wastewater Treatment Division or Local SEIU 925 Member
- Experience operating, monitoring, and maintaining wastewater treatment equipment and processes
- Strong leadership skills to plan, schedule, coordinate, and direct a crew's daily work
- Ability to train and provide technical expertise to team members
- Knowledge of safety policies, regulations, and workplace standards
- Capability to assume full operational responsibilities in the absence of a supervisor
- Commitment to equity, racial, and social justice principles in all work aspects
Full Job Description
This 3-year Special Duty opportunity is open to current Wastewater Treatment Division Senior Operators, Local SEIU 925 Members.
Wastewater Treatment Operator - Senior Operator in Charge - D-Crew, South Treatment Plant
Are you interested in advancing your career, leading a team that is passionate about protecting the environment?
If so, the role of Senior Operator in Charge (SOIC) at South Plant WWTP is the position for you.
As a SOIC on D Crew you will play a critical part in WTD’s efforts in protecting the water quality and public health in the central Puget Sound region.
As a Senior Operator in Charge, you will work closely with the shift operation supervisors in the planning, scheduling, and operating of critical infrastructure that will produce high quality treatment to wastewater collected from local sewer agencies.
In this role you will gain valuable leadership skills leading a crew and will gain knowledge and exposure to the design and construction processes used for capital projects within the division.
The skills and knowledge you gain from this position will help prepare you for future opportunities within WTD.
About the Role
As a Senior Operator in Charge, you will help carry out and facilitate the day-to-day operational tasks at a level 4 regional wastewater treatment plant.
Daily tasks of the shift crew you will lead include monitoring, troubleshooting, and controlling wastewater equipment to help prevent the spread of contagious diseases, and protect the environment, waterways, and the communities in Puget Sound.
Successful candidates will ensure established safety policies, guidelines, regulations, and workplace standards are maintained and followed.
SOIC key responsibilities include planning, scheduling, coordinating, directing, monitoring and reviewing a crew’s daily work, assigned treatment process and/or capital projects.
Incumbents lead, train and provide technical expertise to operate, monitor and maintain wastewater treatment and odor control equipment, and/or collection and conveyance systems and processes.
As a SOIC you will assume full operational responsibilities when the supervisor is unavailable.
About the Team
The South Plant operations team is a highly collaborative team that prides itself on communications, dedicated staff, and solution-minded work.
The O&M facilities are currently undergoing major capital improvements expected to continue over the next 10 years.
The candidate will be a part of a flexible and dynamic team responsible for providing expertise and support to maintain continuous effective wastewater operations.
King County's wastewater operations staff provides the expertise and dedication required to operate and maintain wastewater treatment and collection facilities to ensure protection of the environment and the health of all King County communities.
Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world.
Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees.
As a Wastewater Treatment Operator - Senior Operator in Charge, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work.
Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.
Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities.
Requirements
What You Will Be Doing:
- Perform the duties and responsibilities identified on the Senior Operator and Senior Operator in Charge Classification Specification
- Ensure the plant operates in compliance with the regulatory requirements issued by the Department of Ecology, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and other regulatory agencies.
- Plan, schedule, coordinate, monitor, and review a crew's daily work. Coordinate multiple workgroups and prepare reports for an assigned system or process.
- Assist the supervisor in the review of logbooks, checklists, and work orders for accuracy and thoroughness. Verify all team member’s assigned tasks and work have been completed.
- Coordinate and provide technical expertise on capital/special projects.
- Serve as a technical resource for assigned areas or systems. Respond to questions from other work crews.
- Identify and work with the supervisor and other staff to purchase supplies and equipment; maintain inventory; ensure purchasing procedures are followed; and provide data for budget forecasting.
- Coordinate on-site responses to unusual occurrences and emergencies.
- Assist supervisor in performance feedback and evaluation of personnel; make recommendations on performance improvement measures.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Qualifications You Bring:
- Advance level experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting preliminary wastewater treatment equipment and processes.
- Advance level experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting primary wastewater treatment equipment and processes.
- Advance level experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting secondary wastewater treatment equipment and processes.
- Advance level experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting solids handling equipment and processes.
- Advance level experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting gas system equipment and process.
- Experience serving as a technical resource.
- Skill in facilitating short-term workload planning, training and performance management.
- Ability to work rotating shifts including nights, weekends and holidays if temporarily assigned to shift or during an emergency
- Ability to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions.
- Ability to regularly lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to work in confined spaces, climb in and out of tanks using ladders, and work around noxious odors, heat and high noise levels.
Workplace Exposures:
- Outdoors environment during wet weather, confined space and maybe exposure to hazardous chemicals and noxious odors.
- Regularly exposure to chemicals, noise, confined space, respirator use, and viral contaminants
Competencies you bring:
Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Manages Conflict: Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.
Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
Manages Ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
Required Licenses:
- Valid unencumbered Washington State Driver’s License.
- Washington State Group III Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification from the Washington State Department of Ecology or out-of-state equivalency which must be converted to a Washington certification within one year of employment
- CPR and first aid certification.
It Would be Great if You Also Bring:
- 5 years plant experience
- 2 years as a Senior operator
Additional Information
Working Conditions:
- Work Location: South Treatment Plant -1200 Monster Rd SW, Renton, WA 98057. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
- Union Representation: This position is represented by SEIU Local 925.
Work Schedule: Shift operations work two 11.7-hour day shifts followed by two 11.7-hour night shifts, followed by four days off. This position is overtime eligible.
This position requires the ability to work all shift schedules and to report to work during adverse and inclement weather conditions and be on a rotating call list.
This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
Application and Selection Process:We welcome internal applications from qualified Wastewater Treatment Division Senior Operators.
Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.
Anticipated Timeline for this recruitment: (subject to change)
- Interviews:
To apply, submit a:
- Complete Application (Required)
- Resume (Required)
- Cover Letter (Required)
- Responses to the supplemental questions (Required)
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Emiliya Makaryan at emiliya.makaryan@kingcounty.gov.
Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and the WTD Blog.Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website, explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Keeping King County Green News.
Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference?
Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce.
To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity.
Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards.
We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.
Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.To Apply If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.
If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
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