Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Program Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Program Supervisor is responsible for supervising and improving municipal or utility water programs — including operations, maintenance, regulatory reporting, sampling, capital projects, budgeting, and community engagement. Acting as the subject matter expert for water quality and treatment processes, the supervisor ensures compliance with federal and state regulations (Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act), oversees certified operator staff, manages emergency response for water quality incidents, and coordinates capital and preventative maintenance programs to maximize asset life and public health protection.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Water/Wastewater Operator (Class III/IV)
Water Quality Specialist / Environmental Technician
Maintenance or Field Crew Supervisor (Utilities)

Advancement To:

Utilities Manager / Water Operations Manager
Director of Water Resources or Public Works
Environmental Programs Manager / Water Quality Director

Lateral Moves:

Wastewater Program Supervisor
Regulatory Compliance Manager
Asset Management or Capital Projects Supervisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead, coach, and supervise a team of water and wastewater operators, technicians, laboratory staff, and contractors; set performance expectations, conduct performance reviews, and implement training plans to maintain certified operator staffing and continuous professional development.
Oversee daily operations of water treatment plants and/or distribution and collection systems, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient treatment processes and adherence to established operational parameters and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Ensure full regulatory compliance with federal, state, and local water quality regulations (e.g., SDWA, NPDES, state drinking water rules); prepare, review, and submit timely and accurate compliance reports, Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs), and Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs).
Manage and validate water quality monitoring and sampling programs, including sample collection schedules, chain-of-custody, laboratory quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), data review, and interpretation of analytical results for contaminants, pathogens, and process indicators.
Direct the operation and optimization of treatment processes (coagulation, flocculation, filtration, disinfection, biological treatment, nutrient removal), identify process upsets, recommend corrective actions, and lead root cause analyses and continuous improvement initiatives.
Oversee SCADA, automation, and telemetry systems for real-time monitoring and control of process parameters; coordinate with IT/SCADA specialists to maintain alarms, trending, cybersecurity best practices, and system reliability.
Develop, administer, and monitor program budgets including operating, maintenance, and capital project budgets; control expenditures, prepare financial forecasts, and recommend cost-effective strategies to extend asset life.
Prioritize and manage capital improvement projects and rehabilitation work for treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, and distribution networks; collaborate with engineering, contractors, and funding agencies to deliver projects on scope, schedule, and budget.
Implement, maintain, and improve preventive maintenance programs and asset management practices using CMMS/GIS tools; schedule inspections, track work orders, and optimize lifecycle plans for critical infrastructure.
Maintain and update emergency response plans and continuity-of-operations procedures for water quality incidents, natural disasters, and contamination events; lead incident command or coordinate with emergency services during incidents.
Ensure workplace safety and regulatory compliance by enforcing safety policies, conducting regular safety inspections, facilitating confined space, lockout/tagout, and HAZMAT training, and maintaining OSHA and state safety records.
Manage contracts for laboratory services, chemical suppliers, construction, and maintenance vendors; develop scopes of work, perform contract oversight, approve invoices, and ensure contractor compliance with technical and safety requirements.
Lead cross-division coordination with planning, public works, finance, and customer service to address infrastructure needs, developer connections, system expansions, and service interruption communications.
Serve as the primary liaison with state agencies, EPA regional offices, health departments, and local elected officials for inspections, permitting, enforcement actions, and regulatory guidance; prepare and present program updates and technical briefings.
Develop and deliver community outreach, public notification, and education programs related to water quality, boil water notices, lead/copper compliance, conservation, and source protection; draft clear public notifications and maintain positive customer relations.
Oversee laboratory operations and technical staff where applicable: approve analytical methods, maintain certifications, ensure QA/QC programs meet state laboratory accreditation and regulatory standards.
Conduct performance monitoring and data trending to identify operational inefficiencies, emerging contaminants, or permit excursions; prepare technical summaries, dashboards, and management-level reports to inform decision-making.
Coordinate sampling and monitoring for cross-connection control and backflow prevention programs; review test results, maintain device inventories, and enforce compliance with local ordinances.
Manage inventory of treatment chemicals, spare parts, and equipment; negotiate supply contracts, forecast chemical usage, and ensure proper storage and handling to avoid service disruptions.
Supervise field operations for mains flushing, leak detection, valve exercising, hydrant maintenance, and meter testing to maintain distribution system integrity and minimize non-revenue water.
Provide technical input to risk assessments, watershed/source water protection plans, and vulnerability assessments; recommend mitigation measures and integrate findings into capital and operational planning.
Maintain operator certification tracking, ensure staff meet continuing education requirements, and support staff in obtaining and renewing state required licenses and operator grades.

Secondary Functions

Support data management and reporting initiatives by ensuring data integrity in CMMS, SCADA historians, and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
Participate in the development and implementation of asset management and resilience strategies that align with climate adaptation and sustainability goals.
Assist procurement and grant-writing teams by providing technical scope, cost estimates, and project justification for state and federal funding opportunities.
Coordinate exploratory pilot testing for new treatment technologies, process upgrades, and optimization studies; document results and recommend scalable implementations.
Provide backup coverage for 24/7 on-call rotations, participate in emergency overtime responses, and ensure seamless shift handovers and documentation.
Mentor junior staff and interns, facilitate on-the-job training modules, and recommend career development plans to build internal bench strength.
Support cross-functional analytics projects by supplying water program subject-matter expertise, validating datasets, and contributing to KPI definition and reporting.
Evaluate and recommend new instrumentation, process control upgrades, and laboratory equipment acquisitions to modernize operations and improve data quality.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Drinking water treatment processes and distribution system operations (coagulation, filtration, disinfection, corrosion control, residual management).
Wastewater treatment processes where applicable (activated sludge, clarification, biological nutrient removal, solids handling).
Regulatory knowledge: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Clean Water Act (NPDES), state drinking water and wastewater regulations, permitting and reporting requirements.
Certified Operator experience: familiarity with state operator certification programs, grading, and recertification processes.
Water quality sampling and laboratory QA/QC, LIMS oversight, and understanding of analytical methods (e.g., coliform, DBPs, metals, nutrients).
SCADA/HMI systems operation and troubleshooting, telemetry, PLC basics, and alarm management.
Asset management and CMMS proficiency (e.g., Maximo, Cartegraph, Cityworks) including work order lifecycle and preventive maintenance scheduling.
GIS for mapping distribution assets, hydrants, valves, and service areas; ability to interpret spatial data for planning and operations.
Project and construction management skills: reading plans, contract oversight, capital project administration, and construction inspection.
Budget development and financial management for operations and capital programs, including grant budget compliance.
Emergency response planning, incident command, and public notification procedures for boil water notices and contamination events.
Data analysis and reporting: ability to synthesize monitoring data, create dashboards, and prepare technical and regulatory reports.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and team development skills with experience coaching operators and leading cross-functional teams.
Clear, professional communication skills for technical briefings, public outreach, and regulatory interactions.
Problem-solving and analytical mindset with the ability to lead root-cause analyses and operational optimization.
Customer service orientation and diplomacy for community relations and stakeholder management.
Organizational and time-management skills to balance field operations, regulatory deadlines, and project demands.
Decision-making under pressure and comfort with on-call responsibilities and emergency response.
Continuous improvement mindset and adaptability to new technologies and evolving regulations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate degree in Water Technology, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering Technology, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Public Administration, or related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science / Engineering
Water Resource Management
Public Works or Utility Management
Chemistry / Microbiology (for lab oversight)
Civil Engineering Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5–10+ years of progressively responsible experience in water or wastewater operations, including at least 2–4 years in a supervisory or lead role.

Preferred:

Experience managing municipal water or wastewater programs, demonstrated success with regulatory compliance, operator certification, SCADA/CMMS systems, capital project delivery, and staff development. Prior experience in budget administration, grant-funded projects, and community outreach is highly desirable.