Senior Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

About the Department

Step into a key leadership role that keeps essential services running for our community. As a Senior Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, you’ll take on meaningful responsibility guiding operations, supporting staff, and ensuring reliable, compliant treatment processes across the facility. If you’re a dedicated professional with a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade III Certificate and ready to advance your career in a stable, high-impact role, apply now!

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Lead, train, and review staff in daily wastewater treatment operations

- Monitor and control treatment processes using manual, automatic, and programmable systems

- Collect and evaluate samples to ensure regulatory compliance

- Adjust equipment based on readings from meters, gauges, and control devices

- Maintain clean, safe, and efficient plant equipment and facilities

- Perform routine preventive maintenance to support reliable operations

- Document and report shift activities and operational data

- Utilize local networks and distributed control systems to operate and monitor the facility

- Operate related systems including secondary effluent disposal and water reclamation systems

- Perform related duties as assigned

Duties and schedules may vary by assignment, please inquire about specific duties and/or schedules if called upon for an interview. Incumbents may be required to work any shift; overtime, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Explore the job specification for additional position details. 

The current vacancy exists in the Department of Public Utilities, Wastewater Management Division. Immediate and future vacancies will be filled from this eligible list for a period of three (3) months from the date the eligible list is created, with the option of extending that period at the City's discretion. If the examination process is suspended for this recruitment, the eligible list may be limited to three (3) months. 

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that are necessary to safely, effectively, and efficiently perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation. This classification’s physical demands involve heavy work exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally with assistance, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical demands may?be required: balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, manual dexterity, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, lifting, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stopping, talking, visual acuity, walking.

The Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications on or before the posted filing deadline in order to qualify for the examination and does not assure a place on the eligibility list.

Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent GED Completion. 

AND

Possession of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade III Certificate issued by the State Water Resources Control Board. 

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid California Driver's License is required at time of appointment. Candidates considered for hire must provide proof of a valid driver's license and current copy of their driving record. 

The selected eligible candidates certified will be required to successfully pass a department interview and a Department of Justice fingerprint prior to employment with the City of Fresno.

The Selection Process

The examination process may consist of the following:  

Application review - Qualifying Only: Applications which meet the minimum qualifications will be reviewed and a limited number of the most qualified candidates will be invited to the Oral Examination. Selection of the most qualified candidates will be based upon those applications demonstrating the greatest breadth and depth of applicable education, experience, skills and training. Therefore, applicants are urged to submit sufficiently detailed information in their application materials for evaluation. 

Oral Examination -100%: A panel of subject matter experts may conduct a job-related oral interview to evaluate a candidate's knowledge, skills and abilities which may include the following areas: Wastewater Operations, Process Control & Compliance, Equipment Operation & Maintenance, Leadership & Training, Interpersonal Relationships, Data Reporting & Documentation, and/ or other topics related to a candidate's training, experience and qualifications for the position.

Candidates must achieve a passing score to qualify for the eligible list. 
 
 The oral examination is tentatively scheduled for the week of July 13th, 2026.

The City of Fresno reserves the right to amend any phase of the examination process should there be a limited number of applicants or successful candidates.

Veteran’s Preference

If an examination is conducted for a position within the classified service, qualified veterans who pass the examination will have five (5) points added to their final score. Candidates must submit a copy of their DD214 Member 4 form or electronic copy indicating honorable discharge with each application prior to the filing deadline.

Benefits

3% Salary Increase, effective June 15, 2026 Bargaining Unit 1 Non-Supervisory Blue Collar International Union of Operating Engineers, Stationary Engineers Local 39
BENEFIT	DESCRIPTION
HEALTH INSURANCE	The City contributes toward monthly premiums for PPO medical, dental and vision for employee and dependents.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT	IRS 125 Plan for health and dependent care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION	Voluntary 457 plan with Fidelity Investments to increase your retirement savings.
VACATION LEAVE	Accrue 8 - 15 hours per month based on years of service available after 6 months.
SICK LEAVE	8 hours per month, available after 90 days
HOLIDAYS	10 City-observed annual holidays, plus birthday and 2 personal days.
SHORT TERM DISABILITY	Provided through California SDI program
BILINGUAL PREMIUM	$100 per month upon approved certification
SUPPLEMENTAL SICK	40 hours per fiscal year. 80 hours lifetime maximum accrual.
UNIFORM ALLOWANCE	City contracted uniform service, cost shared 50/50 Safety Shoe voucher - $250  Prescription Safety Glasses – Reimbursement of $125
HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENT (HRA)  Eligible retirees can use the remaining Sick Leave balance, in excess of 240 hours, at 80% of hourly rate and other qualified leave balances, tax free, to reimburse health insurance premiums and other qualified medical expenses.
RETIREMENT -City of Fresno Retirement Systems, one of the best funded public systems in the state.  Reciprocity with other public California systems. Vested in Retirement benefits after 5 years of service. City employees do not participate in Social Security.
DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Program):an optional, voluntary program that allows an employee to deposit retirement benefits in a special savings account within the Retirement System while continuing to work for the City of Fresno for up to 10 years.  Participation minimum is age 50 and vested.  Benefits include ownership of accumulated funds, compound interest earnings, and alternative distribution options.
Additional information regarding the City of Fresno benefits is available at  https://www.fresno.gov/personnel/human-resources-support/#tab-1

Please note that the benefits package described above is specific to permanent full-time employees. Employees engaged on a part-time, temporary, limited, or other basis may have different entitlements.

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerCity of FresnoAddress 2600 Fresno St., Personnel Services Department

Fresno, California, 93721 Phone559-621-6950
Website https://www.fresno.gov/