Water Plant Maintenance Manager – (250000PY)

Description

The St. Louis Water Division is seeking a dedicated Water Plant Maintenance Manager to join its Production Group, which oversees the city’s two drinking water treatment plants. This position will be a key part of the team responsible for ensuring the long-term reliability and operational efficiency of all plant assets. The ideal candidate will have a passion for continuous improvement and a strong background in industrial reliability engineering, with a focus on mission-critical infrastructure.

The Production Group oversees two drinking water treatment plants and a network of facilities. These major facilities include river water intake buildings with traveling screen machines, pump stations with horizontal split-case centrifugal pumps driven by 4,160 volt synchronous motors, chemical storage and feed buildings with lime slakers and chemical feed pumps, chlorine handling and feed buildings, clarifier and softening basins with VFD mixers and rakes, mixing basins, sedimentation and settling basins, and rapid sand filtration plants. Additionally, the role will involve work on large diameter conveyances, piping systems, sluice gates, cone valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, and other equipment found at a water treatment plant. The role also includes supporting several pipe and valve vaults with manifolds in the distribution system and remote operated pressure control valve sites throughout the City of St. Louis.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

  • Analyze equipment histories, maintenance records, and performance data to identify "bad actors" and failure trends within the water treatment and distribution systems.
  • Lead Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) for significant equipment failures and develop corrective action plans.
  • Develop, implement, and optimize predictive and preventive maintenance strategies for all plant equipment.
  • Provide technical support and guidance to maintenance and operations teams on troubleshooting long-term issues and improving repair quality.
  • Collaborate with engineering and project teams to incorporate reliability and maintainability into the design and commissioning of new equipment and facility upgrades.
  • Maintain and analyze key reliability metrics such as Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and Mean Time to Repair (MTTR).
  • Provide support during planned maintenance outages (turnarounds) and respond to unexpected emergencies and after-hour call outs.
  • Ensure that maintenance and reliability work is performed in accordance with applicable regulations and best industry practices.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of and hands-on experience with the following types of equipment and systems:
    • Rotating Equipment: Large-scale pumps (horizontal split-case centrifugal pumps), motors (4160 volt synchronous motors), mixers, fans, and traveling screen machines.
    • Fluid & Process Systems: Large diameter conveyances, piping systems, sluice gates, cone valves, ball valves, gate valves, and butterfly valves.
    • Treatment Plant Systems: Clarifier and softening basins, serpentine mixing basins, sedimentation basins, and rapid sand filtration plants.
    • Electrical & Control Systems: Electrical substation, switchgear, MCC, panelboards, battery and DC, PLCs, drives, motors, instrumentation, and lighting.
    • Plant Utility Systems: Boiler systems, natural gas systems, sewer systems, and plant water service lines.
  • Data Utilization: Requires the ability to perform mid to upper-level data analysis including the ability to coordinate, strategize, systemize and correlate, using discretion in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations within an organizational framework. Requires the ability to implement decisions based on such data, and overseeing the execution of these decisions.
  • Human Interaction: Requires the ability to manage and direct a large group of employees, which may include firstline supervisors. Oversees and controls employee discipline, selection and allocation, and planning of human resources.
  • Equipment, Machinery, Tools and Materials Use: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or provide simple but continuous adjustment on equipment, machinery and tools such as a computer, motor vehicle, office machines and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
  • Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information such as time sheets, work orders, codes, technical operating manuals, procedures and non-routine correspondence.
  • Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate decimals, and percentages; perform mathematical operations involving basic algebra, geometry, and trigonometry; requires the ability to interpret descriptive statistics.
  • Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems such as supervision, managing, leading, teaching, directing, planning, coordinating and controlling. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
  • Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the direction, control and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.
  • Environmental Factors: Tasks may risk exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, odors, wetness, humidity, fumes, temperature extremes, machinery, electric currents or traffic hazards.
  • Physical Requirements: Requires the ability to lift, carry, push and pull objects and materials of moderate weight, twelve to twenty pounds, such as lifting items to inspect. Tasks involve the ability to exert moderate but not constant physical effort, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling or crouching in order to perform inspection duties.
  • Sensory Requirements: Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks, such as reviewing work of field crew.

Qualifications

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; plus five years of experience in the repair and maintenance of water processing and distribution equipment which includes at least two years in a supervisory capacity. or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Experience with a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) is required.
  • License: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license while employed by the City of St. Louis. Must possess a valid driver's license at the time of filing application and be able to present it upon request. Please note type of license, number, class and expiration date on the Employment Application. Only qualified applicants who provide proof of a valid driver’s license will be considered for this position.

Scoring Components and Their Weights

  • Experience and Training: 100%

May be Subject to:

  • Background Investigation: Pass/Fail
  • Medical Examination: Pass/Fail

Documentation of Academic Credentials must be Submitted Upon Request

When completing the Employment History and the Educational/Training History sections of the Employment Application, please be as thorough as possible when describing your education, training and experience relating to this position. Applicants will only receive credit for their experience, training and education as shown on the application. Resumes will not be accepted as a substitute to a fully completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Veterans Preference Points

To be eligible for veteran’s preference points, the applicant must submit a copy of their DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty with the Employment Application or upon request. The Director of Personnel may, in their discretion, accept alternate documentation.

City Residence Preference Points

City residents who pass an examination for a position in the classified service and do not receive any other preference will receive a five (5) point preference on a scale of 100 points on the exam. An additional one (1) point shall be added to the passing score of City residents who receive any other preference on a scale of 100 points. City residents must have resided in the City for at least one (1) year at the time of filing their application to be eligible for the preference points.

Accommodations

If assistance with the job application is necessary based on a physical impairment, mental impairment, or otherwise, they should reach out to the Office on the Disabled with contact information. This office will not disclose any information that an applicant or employee has a disability or has discussed possible accommodations without the applicant’s or employee’s prior consent.

Posting Date:

December 2, 2025 2:34 pm