Water Operator III; Distribution

Marana is one of the fastest-growing communities in Southern Arizona, located approximately 20 minutes northwest of downtown Tucson and 75 minutes southeast of Phoenix. The Town makes its decisions based on a Strategic Plan that has five focus areas:
Cherished Heritage, Vibrant Community, Thriving Commerce, Healthy Lifestyles, and Proactive Public Services.

Marana's standards are high. We are an organization of excellence and have developed four Cultural Value Statements that provide the guidelines for how we work together. Our Cultural Values are:
Dedicated Service, Respect, Teamwork, and Engaged Innovation.

The Town of Marana is seeking a Water Operator III to work in the Water Department. This is a full-time position and an exciting opportunity for someone interested in joining a team-oriented atmosphere in the role as lead operator. Position duties will include operation and maintenance of the public water distribution system and performing system repairs and water quality monitoring.

The Town offers a competitive benefits package. To learn more, please visit the Town of Marana Benefits page.

$24.31 - $29.78

• Placement within the expected hiring range is dependent on direct experience, internal equity and/or budget.

$24.31 - $35.25

Monday – Friday; 7:00 am - 3:30 pm

• Assists supervisor with administrative and field support to include staying current on water and safety regulations; will assume responsibility in the absence of the supervisor.
• Leads and assists other water operators in repairing services and water distribution system components including water mains, ARV/PRV, backflow equipment, fire hydrants, valves and water metering equipment.
• Monitors Bluestake, asset management, and safety programs.
• Leads and assists other water operators in scheduling and performing preventative maintenance on water distribution systems and in the installation of water distribution components including water mains, service lines, fire hydrants, meters and valves.
• Provide necessary training to operators in the distribution field duties as well as heavy duty equipment (Backhoe, vacuum excavators, and power tools).

An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience that provides the desired knowledge, skills & abilities to successfully perform essential functions may be considered.

• Must complete a pre-employment physical including a respirator questionnaire and pass a 50-pound lift test.
• Must complete both the Town of Marana background check and a motor vehicle records check.

• High school diploma or GED equivalency plus six months of additional education and/or training.
• Three or more years of experience in the operation and maintenance of water distribution systems or a closely related field.
• Must have ADEQ Grade II Water Distribution System Operator Certification.
• Must have ADEQ Grade III Water Distribution System Operator Certification (or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire date).
• Must have ADEQ Grade I Water Treatment Plant Operator Certification (or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire date).
• Must have Backflow Tester Certification (or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire date).
• Must possess a valid Arizona Driver License.

To be considered for this position, all applicants must complete the Town of Marana application form in its entirety online at  Providing a resume is welcome; however, it will not substitute for completing all required sections of the application. Minimum qualifications will be reviewed and evaluated based solely on the information provided in the application. Incomplete applications or applications lacking the required details may result in disqualification from the hiring process.

Job posting will remain open until a sufficient number of applicants have met the minimum requirements. A first review date of applications will be conducted on 3/10/2026.

To be considered in the initial review, please submit your online application by 11:59 PM on 3/9/2026.

All status updates regarding your application will be sent via email. Please ensure you provide a valid email address and regularly check your inbox, including your junk or spam folders, for important notifications throughout the hiring process.

11555 West Civic Center Drive

Marana, AZ 85653

www.maranaaz.gov

ph  / fx

Human Resources Staff Contact

Nikki Hemphill /  / nhemphill

For technical issues with the NEOGOV site, please contact Customer Support at

The Town of Marana is an equal opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the application/exam process due to a disability, please contact the Human Resources Department prior to any deadlines related to this recruitment process. Please contact the Human Resources Department if you would like this publication in an alternative format.