Job Description

Are you looking to make a meaningful impact on public health and the environment? Join the MWRA team! We deliver some of the nation's highest-quality drinking water to 3 million residents, restored Boston Harbor, and continue to invest in protecting vital public resources. Be part of a mission-driven organization where your work truly makes a difference in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

Manages and directs the Process Control Department, to include the process engineering, process monitoring/data management, Process Instrumentation and Control System (PICS) support functions and all air, stormwater, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) reporting and compliance. Responsible for providing process support, optimization, and commissioning services to staff within the wastewater treatment section of the Operations Division.

Posting Period: 3/17/2026 to 3/30/2026
Location: Deer Island (Winthrop), MA
Salary: $167,000.00 - $173,850.00 Annually
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:00pm

Key Responsibilities

• Directs the development, management, and implementation of plant-wide and individual area performance and energy optimization programs. Coordinates these activities with other MWRA management staff.
• Manages the evaluation, design, and implementation of control strategy and/or process operating strategy modifications. Directs the detailed design of new processes in response to plant operational needs and/or regulatory changes.
• Directs the development and management of the Process Control current expense budget (CEB). Provides technical assistance/input into the development and tracking of the Operations Division CEB on process consumables (e.g.: chemicals, electricity, etc.).
• Develops the facility and process-related Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project list working with Deer Island senior management.
• Guides Operations staff in the identification and resolution of plant operating deficiencies. Develops plant corrective action plans and their communication to internal and external parties as necessary.
• Serves as the primary technical support for all plant operational issues, including process emergencies. Provides technical support for other departments and for special projects as defined by Senior Management.
• Directs Deer Island turnover and system start-up activities in coordination with the Deputy Director, Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Operations Senior Shift Manager. Identifies, develops and manages the implementation of necessary corrective actions to improve performance of new lant or unit processes.
• Participates in capital project design, construction, and start-up to ensure adherence to standards and effective integration of modified or new PICS controlled processes or facilities into the overall PICS system.
• Serves as the primary Deer Island technical contact to consultants and outside contractors in the review and approval of process/operations-related deliverables.
• Acts as the lead internal Deer Island technical liaison on Authority-wide issues such as energy management and operating cost containment.
• Provides input and guidance on existing and new area-specific reliability centered maintenance (RCM) plans.
• Oversees the procurement of all bulk chemical contracts for Deer Island, the supply, installation and removal of regenerated activated carbon contracts, and other service contracts as instructed by the Deputy Director of Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, including the Oxygen Generation Facility Maintenance Service, Grit & Screenings Hauling and Disposal, Struvite, Sludge, Scum and Grit Removal Services, all PICS support services, and other related contracts.
• Coordinates technical tours with Deer Island's Public Access Coordinator.
• Oversees the activities of the DI Hotline phone and email, ensuring timely response to issues, requests, and questions received from the general public.
• Oversees the routine reporting of treatment plant operational and laboratory data for compliance and process monitoring purposes, treatment plant and Thermal Power Plant emissions compliance reporting, and ensures compliance with the Long Term Care and Custodial Control plan for the Deer Island grit and screening landfill.
• Oversees the Operations Management System (OMS) and related databases, and the electronic reporting systems/software applications, including automated reporting and operations alarming software applications.
• Works with department heads and staff to ensure effective communication and workflow practices between Operations and Maintenance. Identifies issues/problems and creates action plans for resolution.
• Ensures that the training needs for the Process Engineering, PICS, and Process Monitoring groups are identified and met.
• Manages the department in a manner that is consistent with MWRA's goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Provides training as needed to assigned staff. Acts as process trainer to Operations and other plant staff on process control, experimental design/analysis and other wastewater engineering principles and applications.
• Provides routine assistance to support MWRA's and Deer Island's objectives and mission.
• Assists in maintaining harmonious labor relations with staff. Responsible for the application of collective bargaining agreement provisions and established personnel policies. May participate in grievance responses and/or hearings as warranted.
• Evaluates assigned employee performance according to MWRA procedures.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in environmental, civil or chemical engineering is required. Master's degree preferred; and
• At least eight (8) years of experience in the areas of wastewater process control and design with an emphasis on biological treatment unit operations and the full-scale evaluation and troubleshooting of processes typical within the wastewater treatment field;
• including at least four (4) years of managerial or supervisory experience in a technical environment that includes managing various multi-disciplined technical teams and a variety of contracts; or
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Grade 6 Massachusetts Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators license or higher.
• A valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operations License or drivers license from another state.
• Ability to respond to emergency situations 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Provides on-call emergency technical support to Plant Operations staff.
• This position has been designated as essential in instances where the MWRA Executive Director requires essential personnel to report to work such as inclement weather or other emergencies. Position may be eligible for occasional telework.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Proven expertise in the selection, specification, and commissioning of large-scale process equipment including a solid understanding of equipment operating characteristics and their relationship to process performance variables.
• Proven expertise in the areas of experimental design, data analysis, and statistical process control.
• Knowledge of wastewater unit operation design and operation, process control theory, practices and principles.
• Knowledge of equipment energy demand principles, energy production systems and their impacts on plant performance and budgets.
• Working knowledge of wastewater treatment regulatory and permitting procedures to include both routine and non-routine reporting requirements.
• Outstanding computer skills to include proficiency with MS Office software package and statistical data analysis packages.
• Demonstrated organizational, written and verbal communication skills.

Tools and Equipment Used

Office machines as normally associated with the use of multiple-line telephone, personal computer, including word processing and other software, and multi-functional printer (printer, copy, scanner, and fax).

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear, to use hands to feel, handle or operate objects, including office equipment or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk; an occasionally climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, etc.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, distance vision, depth perception, etc.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and occasionally is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and vibration. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock.
The noise level in the work environment is usually loud in field settings, and moderately quiet in office settings.

Supervision Received and Exercised

This position reports to the Deputy Director, Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Exercises close supervision of Senior Program Manager(s), Program Manager(s), and Project Manager(s) within the Process Control Department. Has overall responsibility for all Process Control Staff.

Other Position Information
PCR: 2938514
Division: Operations
Department: Deer Island Director's Office
Union/Grade: Non-Union/Grade 14

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.