Lead Wastewater Plant Operator III-IV; Ventura Water

Applications are accepted exclusively through the City of Ventura Career Site:  Submissions through other websites or methods will not be accepted.

Applications and supplemental questions will be accepted until Monday, March 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

• Lead Wastewater Plant Operator III - $93,708.37 - $ Annually DOQ
• Lead Wastewater Plant Operator IV - $98,500.90 - $ Annually DOQ
• Benefits
• Medical Insurance (HMO, PPO options)
• City Paid Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Vacation & Holiday Compensation
• Deferred Compensation
• CalPERS Retirement
• Wellness Program (access to gym facility and fitness classes)
• Tuition Reimbursement & Bilingual Pay

The City of Ventura is hiring an experienced Lead Wastewater Plant Operator III–IV to join Ventura Water’s Wastewater Division.

The Lead Wastewater Plant Operator III–IV works under general supervision as a working lead, overseeing an assigned crew in the operation and maintenance of the City’s domestic wastewater treatment facilities and chemical feed systems, including a 14 MGD tertiary treatment plant. Responsibilities include managing primary, secondary, tertiary and disinfection processes prior to discharge to state receiving waters, landscape irrigation systems, or recreational and wildlife habitat areas.

This position also provides leadership and technical direction to staff, supports training and development, and assists in developing and implementing procedures and process improvements to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant wastewater operations.

This position is flexibly staffed and may be filled at either level, depending on the certifications, qualifications, experience, and demonstrated skills of the incumbent, as well as the staffing needs of the City.

• Serve as a working lead by assigning and directing daily plant operations and maintenance activities
• Lead and assist with operational adjustments, process control changes, and plant performance optimization
• Oversee and perform preventive maintenance, repairs, and equipment adjustments
• Conduct plant control sampling, testing, and wastewater calculations to evaluate system performance
• Maintain accurate operational logs, preventive maintenance records, and required regulatory reports
• Recommend operational improvements and procedural changes to enhance efficiency and compliance
• Support purchasing and inventory of parts, materials, and treatment chemicals
• Use a computerized maintenance management system to generate and track work orders
• Train and mentor plant staff in operational processes, equipment use, safety practices, and recordkeeping
• Assist with budget-related data and act on behalf of the supervisor when assigned
• Incumbent may be required to work stand‑by on a rotational basis and report to work on a callback basis as needed within a designated time frame. Standby assignment is at the discretion of the Division Head.

The ideal candidate is a skilled wastewater treatment professional with experience in plant operations, process control, and regulatory compliance, and will:

• Possess solid technical knowledge of wastewater plant operations
• Have current or prior experience working as a Lead Wastewater Plant Operator III–IV
• Demonstrate effective leadership skills, including the ability to guide, support, and direct others
• Be energetic, organized, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Be a motivated self‑starter with the ability to make logical, sound decisions
• Work effectively independently with minimal supervision as well as in a team environment
• Have flexibility and willingness to work shifts, weekends, and holidays as required

Ventura Water provides drinking water to more than 109,000 people through approximately 32,000 water service connections. This complex water system has more than 391 miles of pipeline, 3 water treatment plants, 23 pump stations and 31 reservoirs. Our community relies on three 100% local water sources - the Ventura River, Lake Casitas, and local groundwater wells, as well as, providing reclaimed water from the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility to two municipal golf courses,…