Job Specifications

COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ

Under direction, plans, organizes, manages, and coordinates the operation and maintenance of the County's sanitation facilities; directs, through subordinate supervisors, the work of a staff engaged in a wide variety of activities connected with sanitation operations and maintenance; and, performs related work as required.

This single position classification is responsible for managing the County sanitation facilities and for insuring that the sanitation facilities comply with State and Federal laws and regulations related to safety and operation, that subordinate staff are appropriately trained, and that facilities and equipment are properly maintained. This classification differs from the lower level classification of Assistant Public Works Superintendent-Sanitation in that the Sanitation Superintendent has overall responsibility for managing the division while the Assistant Superintendent assists the superintendent in this function. This classification differs from the next higher classification of Assistant Director of Public Works Operations in that the latter is responsible for all Public Works field operations, including roads, sanitation, drainage, equipment and disposal.

Plans, organizes, manages, and coordinates the operation and maintenance of the County's sanitation facilities; through subordinate supervisors, directs the work of crews engaged in the operation, maintenance and repair of wastewater treatment and water treatment plants, pumping stations, wastewater transmission facilities, and wastewater collection systems; reviews policies, guidelines, and legislation to assure that operations comply with State standards for sanitation facilities; reviews and inspects facilities for proper operation and upkeep; diagnoses malfunctioning facilities and determines appropriate corrective action; evaluates division operations and develops new techniques, policies and procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness; determines division priorities and the level of service to be provided by division personnel; coordinates sanitation division activities among the crews in the division, with other agencies and departments, and with other divisions within the department of Public Works; investigates complaints from the public and resolves problems; oversees and maintains personnel, plant and equipment records; submits reports of facility operations to State regulatory agencies and prepares other reports and correspondence as required; represents the division to State agencies, other County Departments, engineering firms, contractors and vendors; responds to emergencies; assists subordinate supervisors in handling operational and technical problems; oversees staff assigned to estimate labor, equipment and material needs; develops and administers the division budget; prepares budgetary and capital improvement reports; prepares recommendations for long range capital improvement programs; evaluates, counsels and disciplines subordinate staff; oversees development of employee on-the-job training, equipment operation training and safety training programs; inputs, accesses and analyzes data using a computer terminal; and, works indoors and outside, in wet and hazardous locations, at heights, such as on ladders, with hazardous chemicals and substances, raw sewage, dangerous gases and high voltage, and around moving objects, high levels of noise and unpleasant odors.

Through knowledge of:

• The methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in the operation, maintenance and repair of wastewater collection, treatment and transmission facilities.
• Safety practices observed in sanitation operations.

Working knowledge of:

• Governmental regulations related to the treatment and distribution of drinking water and the treatment and disposal of domestic wastewater.
• The principles and practices of supervision and training.
• Administrative techniques, including planning and organizing work and evaluating operations.
• Cost estimating and monitoring budgets.

Some knowledge of:

• Budget preparation.
• The principles of hydraulic engineering.
• The roads and geography of the County of Santa Cruz.

• Plan, organize and administer an extensive sanitation maintenance operation.
• Coordinate, direct and evaluate the work of subordinates engaged in a variety of sanitation operation and maintenance activities.
• Evaluate division operations and procedures and develop techniques, policies and procedures to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Diagnose malfunctions in sanitation facilities and determine corrective action.
• Interpret, explain and apply applicable laws, rules and regulations.
• Understand and interpret engineering plans and specifications.
• Estimate equipment, material and labor needs.
• Learn to develop and administer the division budget.
• Oversee and maintain records.
• Prepare work schedules.
• Prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Learn to input, access and analyze data using a computer terminal.
• Lift items weighing up to 90 pounds, such as a sack of cement.
• Perform tasks requiring strength, such as loading equipment onto a truck.
• Drive vehicles, such as a pick-up truck.
• Put on, wear and use a respirator.
• Distinguish colors.
• Hear and distinguish various sounds, such as voices of workers in both noisy and quiet environments and the sounds of operating equipment.

License, Certificate Requirements: Possession of a valid California class C drivers license; possession of a Grade II Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator License and a Grade I Water Treatment Plant Operator License issued by the State of California; and, possession of a Grade II Collection.

System Maintenance Certificate or a Grade II Mechanical Technologist Certificate issued by the California Water Pollution Control Association.

Special Working Conditions: Variable temperatures and weather conditions; confined spaces; heights, such as ladders; high levels of noise; strong, unpleasant odors; exposure to infections which might cause chronic disease or death; exposure to electrical hazards; and, the possibility of experiencing burns, bodily injury, exposure to non-ionizing radiation and contact with toxic substances or chemical irritants.

Other Special Requirements: Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays on an emergency, as-needed basis, ability to report to the work site within thirty minutes of emergency notification.

Any combination of training and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities, is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these would be:

Four years of progressively responsible experience in the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment, water treatment and collection line facilities, which has included two years of experience in a supervisory capacity equivalent to the classification of Sanitation Supervisor in the County of Santa Cruz.

Bargaining Unit: Middle Management EEOC Job Category: 07

Occupational Grouping: 39 Workers' Comp Code: 1160

MSSPEC RFT L1

12/09/93