Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator

Filing Deadline: OPEN UNTIL FILLED

The Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator (Surface Water Treatment Facility) operates on a shift basis, assigned to any of the City's three surface water treatment facilities, which include; a 30 MGD T5 conventional facility, a 4 MGD Trident upflow clarification facility, and a new 56 MGD conventional facility. The new facility is a conventional pretreatment with 3-stage flocculation and sedimentation with plate settlers, ozone, and filtration operational facility, servicing the Southeast population of the City of Fresno.  
 
 The Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator is the advanced level class responsible for performing technically complex work in the operation of surface water treatment facilities. Incumbents exercise considerable independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. 
 
 Duties include, but are not limited to: monitoring plant performance by conducting analyses on samples from various stages in the treatment process; reading gauges, make flow adjustments, and controls reservoir levels using SCADA computers. Positions at this level require demonstrated ability to perform the most advanced functions related to the maintenance and repair of equipment at water treatment/production facilities, such as performing routine and non-routine maintenance on chemical feed equipment, pumps, motors and valves, and troubleshooting equipment as necessary.  
 
 Due to the nature of the work environment the incumbent is required to participate in a medical monitoring program to ensure respiratory fitness for using required respiratory equipment.  
 

Vacancies currently exist in the Water Division of the Department of Public Utilities; however, the eligible list created from this recruitment will be used to fill the current and future vacancies throughout the duration of the list.  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. Should the competitive process be suspended for this recruitment, the eligibility list may be limited to three (3) months.

Depending on shift assignments, incumbents will be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, as part of a regular shift. The surface water treatment facilities operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week using 8-10 hour shifts.

The Requirements

High School Diploma or GED completion; 

AND 

Three years of full-time work experience operating a groundwater or surface water treatment plant that shares equivalent State of California classification with the City of Fresno.

OR 

Three years of full-time work experience in the testing, cleaning, maintenance, inspection, repair, installation, replacement, construction, distribution and operation of water systems.

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid Class "C" California Driver's License. 

Possession at time of appointment and continued maintenance throughout entire term of employment in this class, of a valid Water Treatment Operator Certificate, Grade T3, issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board. Failure to maintain the valid certification shall be cause for termination from this class.

Special Requirements

Depending on assignment area: 1) may be required to obtain and maintain a valid Commercial Class "A" or "B" California Driver's License with appropriate endorsements for entire term of employment. 

Selection Process

The selection process may consist of the following:  

Oral Examination - 100%: A panel of subject matter experts will conduct a job-related Oral Examination which may evaluate each candidate's knowledge of the testing, cleaning, maintenance, inspection, repair, installation, replacement, construction, distribution and operation of water systems. Candidates must achieve a passing score to qualify for the eligible list. 

The Oral Exam date is tentatively schedule for the week of:  TO BE DETERMINED.

HOW TO APPLY 

Please visit www.fresno.gov/jobs to apply. ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS ARE ACCEPTED and must be submitted by midnight on the closing deadline, or they will not be accepted for any reason. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed employment application.  

ALL CORRESPONDENCE regarding this recruitment and exam process will be sent via e-mail. All applicants will acknowledge such understanding when they complete their on-line application. Verify we have your correct e-mail address before you submit your application. It is an applicant's responsibility to check their email frequently to ensure they receive all pertinent communication from the Personnel Services Department on a timely basis.

It is an applicant's responsibility to check their email account and to ensure it is set up to accept emails from the City of Fresno. Dependent upon your settings, notices from the City of Fresno may be directed to the junk mail or spam folders. It is the applicant's responsibility to check these folders as well. 

For other City of Fresno employment opportunities, please view our Careers Homepage. Effective April 1st, 2026, the City of Fresno is transitioning to a new recruitment system, NEOGOV. An account in the new system will be required to apply for the City of Fresno job opportunities after this date. If you have recruitment questions, please call our office at 559-621-6950. Our office is located at 2600 Fresno Street, Room 1030, Fresno, CA 93721.