Water Operations Specialist

Overview

Rivers need water, and we need YOU! Eagle River Water & Sanitation District (ERWSD) is seeking a Water Operations Specialist to serve as a technical leader and subject-matter expert. This role is designed for an experienced water treatment professional who desires to provide advanced technical support, analysis, and coordination across treatment operations, regulatory programs, and capital projects.

At Eagle River Water & Sanitation District, the work you do matters. We operate a complex, water and wastewater system in the heart of Colorado’s Vail Valley, serving mountain communities across challenging terrain and significant elevation changes. Our teams manage diverse treatment technologies, critical infrastructure, and essential public services that protect public health and the environment.

• Technical Expertise & Treatment Optimization: Serve as a technical resource for water treatment facilities by monitoring and evaluating treatment performance using engineering studies, operational logs and trends, field and laboratory data, and system analytics, and by conducting jar tests and pilot studies to optimize chemical dosing, membrane life expectancy, filter performance, corrosion control, TOC removal, chlorine demand, and overall treatment efficiency.
• Regulatory & Program Support: Support regulatory compliance and optimization programs through data analysis, accurate recordkeeping, technical documentation, and report writing, including participation in the Partnership for Safe Water program and continuous improvement efforts.
• Capital Projects & System Improvements: Provide technical support for the design, construction, startup, commissioning, and operational transition of capital improvement projects by collecting, analyzing, and reporting data, coordinating project phasing, managing compliance risk, maintaining service continuity, and representing Water Operations during construction and project-related activities.
• Distribution System Technical Support: Provide technical analysis and coordination for the water distribution system, including evaluating flow control strategies and system performance, and serving as a technical liaison between Water Operations and other operational groups for repairs, projects, and routine operations.
• Operational Support: Support Water Operations supervisory programs as assigned, serve as a backup Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) as needed, and participate in the supervisor on-call rotation to provide decision-making authority during after-hours operational emergencies or water quality events.

• Minimum of two years of technical experience in water treatment or a closely related field.
• State of Colorado Certified Water Professional Water A and Water Distribution III licenses. Support will be provided to obtain required licensure within the first two years of employment if not already held.
• Familiarity with policies, procedures, rules, and regulations pertaining to water treatment and distribution system operation (e.g., Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, Colorado Regulation 100, and all Rules within Colorado Regulation 11).
• Demonstrated ability to analyze treatment processes, interpret operational and laboratory data, and apply findings to support system performance improvements.
• Proven technical writing skills, including preparation of technical memoranda, process evaluations, and regulatory or program reports.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly, both orally and in writing.
• Experience using Excel for data analysis, formulas, charts, graphs, and historian or reporting queries.
• Valid driver’s license required and ability to meet ERWSD insurability standards.
• Experience supporting capital improvement projects, pilot studies, or system optimization initiatives.

This role will be scheduled to work 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Must be willing to work overtime, holidays, and weekends as necessary. Must be willing to work on-call shifts in a seven-day rotation.

The range for this position is $93,174 - $131,691. Starting range depends on qualifications but generally falls within the minimum and midpoint of the pay range.

ERWSD invests in employee well-being with a comprehensive benefits package:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays: 13.5 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave: 4 weeks of paid leave for new parents
• Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Recreation benefit of up to $800 annually for participating in wellness activities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Gym Discounts & Pro-Deals
• 414(h) and
  457(b) Retirement Plan:
  Optional pre-tax or Roth contributions
• Smart Dollar Financial Wellness Program
• Tuition Reimbursement:
  Up to $3,000 annually for job-related college coursework
• Housing Assistance:
  Monthly housing stipend of $522, employee housing (pending availability), and down payment assistance programs
• Loan Programs for Ski Passes,…