Town of Bar Harbor - Water Superintendent

Job Title:        Water Superintendent

Department:     Public Works  

Location:    50 Public Works Way, Bar Harbor ME 04609 

GENERAL PURPOSE 

The Water Superintendent is responsible for the overall operation, maintenance and construction activities of the Water Division while ensuring compliance with all Federal, State, and local regulations. The primary responsibility is for maintaining and improving upon the efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of all areas under their direction and control. The Water Superintendent performs varied duties requiring a thorough knowledge of departmental operations and exercises judgment and initiative in completing tasks, particularly in situations not clearly defined by precedent or established procedures. The Water Superintendent is called upon to handle a significant amount of detail, each varying from the other in substance and content, requiring flexibility to adapt to the needs of the Water Division, the direction of the Public Works Director and changing priorities from external influences, such as regulatory inspections and customers.  

SUPERVISION RECEIVED 

This position works under the supervision of the Public Works Director. 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED 

The Water Superintendent supervises the activities and performance of the Water Division’s operations and provides direct or indirect supervision to all staff within the Division. The Water Superintendent carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Town policies and applicable laws.  

1. Interview, applicant selection. 

2. Supervision, scheduling, training and development, performance evaluation, pay increase recommendation, counseling, discipline, and employee termination. 

3. Oversee the safety of assigned staff. Instruct and monitor staff regarding proper operating and maintenance procedures. Comply, and ensure that all staff comply, with all applicable Division safety procedures and OSHA safety regulations.  

4. Process timecards for payroll and track employee time spent in various work duties. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Regular attendance at the workplace is required.  On-call and ability to respond to all Water Division emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

• Responsible for the daily operations of the Water Division.  Plan, schedule, coordinate and direct the operation and maintenance activities of the water treatment, pumping, storage, and distribution systems. Coordinate all staff, contractors, and other resources necessary for successful operation. 

• Develop, implement, and enforce all policies and procedures relating to the operation of the Water Division.  

• Keep abreast of industry trends, developments of new equipment or techniques and any other factors affecting the Division’s operations.  

• Actively ensure the quarterly meter reads are completed and oversee the entire billing process, including late payment and disconnect notices. 

• Actively manage all the sampling and testing requirements for regulatory compliance and report those activities to the Public Works Director. 

• Coordinate Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of Water Division infrastructures. 

• Responsible for all public relations for the Water Division. 

• Direct all customer service activities, such as complaints, collections, service requests, and maintain a log of those complaints. 

• Assist in the development of the Water Division’s budget and oversee the annual operating expenditures. Provide equipment replacement estimates and adjust budget line items to reflect other upcoming expenses. 

• Responsible for the requisition and acquisition of all materials and supplies needed for effective operations; include planning for supply chain shortages. 

• Review and approve all Water Division invoices for the accounts payable process. 

• Review and update Maine Public Utility Commission (PUC) -approved Water Division Terms and Conditions. 

• Prepares annual reports with support from others (PUC, budget). 

• Maintain current knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws and regulations affecting the Water Division’s operations. 

• Ensure the Water Division’s compliance with regulatory agencies, such as PUC, Maine Drinking Water Program (MDWP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA). 

• Prepare, review, and submit all required regulatory reports. 

• Advise the Public Works Director, engineers and other Town officials in matters relating to the Water Division’s activities. Keep all Town staff and boards informed of the Water Division’s operations and activities. 

• Prepare, recommend, develop, and oversee implementation of specific projects to improve the efficiency of the Water Division’s operations.   

• Plan and attend all staff meetings. 

• Perform special projects and related responsibilities as initiated and requested. 

• Perform other related duties as required, directed or as the situation dictates. 

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 

1. Bachelor’s degree in water Treatment, Civil Engineering, or a closely related field, plus five (5) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in water treatment/distribution operation, utility management, public administration, or civil engineering, including supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

2. Valid State of Maine Driver’s License required. 

3. Class III Water Treatment License (Minimum). 

4. Class II Water Distribution License (Minimum). 

5. Additional training may be required, i.e., hazardous materials (HAZMAT) training, confined space training, water treatment training. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

1. Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills; ability to communicate effectively. both verbally and in writing; ability to effectively deal with customers and all members of the public in a courteous and tactful manner; ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with coworkers. 

2. Excellent knowledge of the operations, activities and equipment associated with water treatment, pumping and distribution systems. Ability to operate all required equipment, including GIS mapping equipment, meter reading equipment, pumps, saws, hand tools, generators, and pipe locating and repairing tools. 

3. Excellent planning and organizational skills; ability to work with a high level of detail; ability to manage time and meet deadlines, ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deal effectively with interruptions; ability to identify and analyze complex issues and to develop appropriate recommendations. 

4. Excellent computer skills, including the ability to operate assigned software, including Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software, billing software, Microsoft Office (Word and Excel) and others. 

5. Excellent supervisory skills: ability to oversee and ensure the effectiveness of the work of subordinate personnel. 

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED: 

1. Motorized vehicles. 

2. Facility plant equipment, tools, computer, and standard office equipment.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• Frequently required to walk, sit, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, balance, grasp, pull and reach. Frequently required to lift and move up to 25 pounds and occasionally to lift and move up to 100 pounds.  

• Operation of plant equipment, tools, computer, and standard office equipment requires eye-hand coordination and finger dexterity. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

• Some work is performed in a typical office environment, not subject to extremes of temperature or noise. Some work is performed in water treatment, collection, and distribution plant(s), and in construction environments. Frequently works outside in all weather conditions and extremes. 

• Operates equipment which causes loud noises and high levels of vibrations. Exercises caution when operating heavy equipment or handling toxic chemicals and other materials. Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electric shock and similar hazards. 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents, who become disabled as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis. 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job.  The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. 

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. 

The Town of Bar Harbor is an Equal Opportunity Employer.