Water Superintendent

The City of Manhattan Beach is actively seeking an experienced Water Superintendent to join our dynamic team in the Water Section of the Public Works Department! We are looking for a collaborative team player with strong communication skills, experience working in a boutique high-service-level community, technical knowledge in the field, and a predisposition to customer service.

The Water Section of the City of Manhattan Beach Public Works Department provides services to ensure that the City’s water supply is of the highest quality and meets all state and federal water quality requirements. In 2025, the City’s new greensand filtration water treatment facility was placed into operation, enhancing the treatment of local groundwater supplies and strengthening overall system reliability. The City’s three water storage facilities have a combined capacity of nearly 10 million gallons. The City’s Water Plant Operators sample water weekly throughout the City and send the samples to an independent laboratory for analysis. Manhattan Beach has maintained an excellent record of providing safe, high-quality water to its residents for over 100 years.

THE POSITION
Under general direction, the Watersuperintendent plans, organizes, and supervises staff and operations of the Water Section, and participates in the installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of the City’s domestic water systems, including production and distribution facilities and equipment; prepares administrative and regulatory reports and leads field operations; monitors and evaluates existing processes for improved operational effectiveness; and performs other related duties as assigned.The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.

• Schedules, coordinates, trains, supervises, and evaluates the work of water operations personnel engaged in water production, water quality maintenance, and distribution work according to the City’s needs and industry best practices
• Organizes and prioritizes service requests related to the maintenance and repair of water mains, fire hydrants, gate valves, check valves, water service lines, water meters, City-owned park drinking fountains, flow meters, motor control centers, pump control valves, flow control valves, pressure sustaining valves, booster/well pumps and motors, chemical systems, water filtration system, water reservoirs, SCADA and other facilities.
• Plans daily and longer term inspection, testing, and maintenance goals; reviews work needs, and establishes daily schedules.
• Estimates material, labor and time requirements for work projects and oversees contract jobs; orders materials and equipment.
• Initiates field inspections; oversees the work of crews to evaluate progress; analyzes and recommends improvements in work methods and operations.
• Oversees Advanced Metering Infrastructure and assigns daily work as requested by the Finance Department.
• Communicates and enforces workplace safety standards in compliance with current state and federal regulations, including training, proper equipment usage, and work site inspections.
• Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve and continuously monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned programs, service delivery methods, and procedures. Assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and identifies and makes recommendations for improvement.
• Manages the city-wide water flushing program, oversees the operations of a Neutral Output Discharge Elimination System (NO-DES), and dead-end flushing program to ensure optimal water quality and system performance.
• Participates in planning and execution of capital improvements projects, including planning, consulting, coordination and inspection with the City’s Engineering Division, contractors, consultants and other parties working on/near water facilities, infrastructures, and rights-of-way.
• Participates in the selection, training, development, and evaluation of staff and recommends appropriate personnel actions. Determines staff training needs, recommends and provides staff development opportunities, certification programs, and relevant training activities.
• Prepares monthly water sampling, production, and distribution reports and assists with the preparation of the Annual Water Quality Report, Water Loss Audit Report, Lead and Copper Rule Report (LCRR) compliance, Electronic Annual Report (eAR); reviews lab analysis report data.
• Investigates problems or complaints reported by Water Operators, departmental representatives, officials, and the general public; administers and responds to inquiries and complaints related to water quality, water service disruptions, high usage readings, and construction and maintenance work.
• Responds to water distribution, production and water quality emergency calls as needed.
• Oversees and monitors the maintenance of city-owned wells, reservoirs, distribution systems, production, and treatment systems, ensuring water quality and associated equipment comply with regulatory standards.
• Participates in the creation, development, and administration of the Division’s budget. Monitors expenditures, recommends budget adjustments, maintains records, and enforces budget control.
• Attends and participates in meetings, professional organizations, and other public events. Stays abreast of new regulations, trends, and innovations in the water field. Recommends and participates in the incorporation of new developments into program areas, as appropriate.
• Develops and implements a workforce succession plan to ensure the retention of institutional knowledge and the development of future leaders within the water section.
• Reviews and updates SCADA operational procedures, ensuring compliance with industry standards and emerging technologies.
• Collaborates with Public Information staff to provide timely and accurate communication regarding water-related service disruptions, planned maintenance, and emergency events.
• Implements and maintains an asset management program to track water system infrastructure, prioritize maintenance, and plan for long-term capital improvements.
• Develops, updates, and implements emergency response plans (ERPs) to ensure preparedness for water system disruptions due to natural disasters, contamination events, or infrastructure failures.
• Prepares for and participates in regulatory inspections, audits, and sanitary surveys, ensuring timely resolution of any identified deficiencies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education/Training/Experience:

• An Associate of Arts degree is preferable. High School graduation or G.E.D. equivalent is required, preferably supplemented by 30 units of college coursework in water quality, treatment, and distribution, and by training and certification in water production and distribution systems.
• Six (6) years of responsible experience in water production and distribution systems is required, including three (3) or more years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements:

• Valid Class C California driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
• Possession of a T2 Water Treatment Operator AND D4 Water Distribution Operator certificates issued by the California Department of Public Health are required at the time of employment.
• The employee must be available for on-call, stand-by, and emergency call service.
• In accordance with California Government Code Section 3100, City of Manhattan Beach employees, in the event of a disaster, are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to protect the health, safety, lives, and property of the people of the State.

Knowledge of:
Federal, State, and County water quality regulations and requirements; operational characteristics of water distribution and production systems and maintenance; construction engineering and maintenance practices related to water systems; SCADA systems; OSHA safety standards related to trenching, confined space, and construction methods for water mains, pipe fittings, meters and water storage, treatment, distribution, and pumping facilities; work planning and organization; budgeting techniques; supervisory principles and practices; methods, materials, machinery and tools used in water production and distribution work; contract administration practices; and customer service practices.

Ability to:
Plan, organize, schedule, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of employees; read and interpret engineering plans, specifications and working drawings; accurately estimate material, equipment and labor costs; demonstrate the safe and efficient operation of water distribution and production equipment; analyze and resolve field maintenance problems; inspect work in the field for conformance with departmental standards; prepare administrative reports and maintain accurate work records; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, contractors, managers, vendors, and general public.
The application filing deadline is Monday, May 25, 2026.

All applicants will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this job announcement. Candidates will be reviewed and only those candidates determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training, and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. Meeting the minimum requirements listed in this job announcement does not guarantee advancement in subsequent phases of the selection process. The selection process may be changed as deemed necessary by the City Human Resources Department.

* A panel interviewis tentativelyscheduledfor June 10, 2026.

If you need special assistance in the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (310) 802-5258.

NOTE: A drug test may be administered as part of the pre-employment medical exam.The provisions of this brochure do not constitute a contract, express or implied, and any provisions contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.