Water Quality & Environmental Compliance Supervisor

DESCRIPTION:

West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is a leader in the water industry in water recycling, conservation, water resource management, and youth and adult education. West Basin provides wholesale drinking water and recycled water to eight local retail water agencies including four cities, three private water companies, and one county water agency. The District serves a population of nearly one million residents in 17 cities and unincorporated areas along the coastal corridor of southern Los Angeles County. The District is governed by an elected five-member Board of Directors and is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

West Basin operates the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility and three satellite locations. It is the largest treatment and water purification facility of its type providing nearly 40 million gallons of water each day to over 300 sites. West Basin utilizes various advanced treatment processes to produce five types of “fit-for-purpose” waters used for commercial, industrial, and landscape purposes, including three ultra-pure waters. West Basin utilizes a contract operator to run the facilities.

West Basin owns and operates over 100 miles of recycled water pipelines and supplies recycled water to customers for non-potable use. To expand the use of recycled water, the District assists customers with the process of converting their sites to utilize recycled water. In addition, the District conducts site inspections to ensure compliance with the safe use of recycled water.

West Basin is an equal-opportunity employer, promoting diversity in its recruitment process and programs. The District is committed to customer service and seeks to provide its customers with the most qualified and exceptional professional services through those they employ while offering an excellent benefits package to its employees

THE POSITION:

West Basin is seeking an experienced Water Quality & Environmental Compliance Supervisor who thrives in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment, who is flexible to change, can prioritize and expedite tasks and provide excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.  The Water Quality & Environmental Compliance Supervisor will organize and supervise a staff of professionals focused on the water quality/environmental compliance needs of West Basin, including overseeing various permit compliance and reporting. The desired incumbent will also ensure compliance with permits and regulation with attention to work quality and adherence to established West Basin policies and procedures.

Under general direction, the Water Quality & Environmental Compliance Supervisor will manage and oversee the District’s water quality reporting and compliance programs; track and ensure the contract operators is providing data to the District; obtain complex permits; research, develop and recommend procedures and strategies to ensure compliance with federal and state environmental laws and regulations.  This position will also ensure all reports to local, state and federal regulators are submitted on time in compliance with District operating permits for recycled water; respond to a variety of inquiries, questions, and issues; present to public or Board on occasion; respond to all water quality and compliance issues related to the operation of the recycled water facilities as well as District drinking water programs. 

Key responsibilities are:

·        Provides day-to-day leadership and supervises a diverse multi-disciplinary staff, providing a high performance, customer service-oriented work environment, and ensuing for timely delivery of required reports to local, state and federal regulators.

·        Leads division efforts towards obtaining new permits.

·        Manages program related to the environmental and regulatory requirements affecting District operations.

·        Develops strategies and creative solutions to complex permitting and environmental problems; effectively articulates and implements organizational goals and objectives.

·        Prepares detailed project plans and reports; conducts negotiations with federal, state and local regulators; and communicates sensitive water quality information with external agency representatives.

·        Prepares and delivers clear, well-organized, and interesting presentations to a wide variety of audiences having varying levels of technical knowledge; establishes effective and cooperative working relationships with governmental representatives, member agencies and the public.

·        Assesses environmental issues and determines compliance requirements; oversees large sampling plan with in-house and contract laboratories to comply with recycled water permits.

·        Assesses resource needs, establishes priorities and schedules, and directs staff and consultants to accomplish work requirements.

·        Supervises drinking water programs for purveyors in compliance with Title 22 standards; assists in the development of planning strategies and interpreting and directing compliance with District policies.

·        Plans, organizes, and supervises environmental compliance including hazardous material management, sewer discharge, air quality permitting, etc. related to the operation of recycled water facilities. 

·        Performs environmental regulatory compliance auditing and reporting for the District. Serves as liaison to various regulators, such as the USEPA, State Water Resource Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Air Quality Management District, Department of Public Health, County Environmental Health, Sanitation Districts, Department of Toxic Substance Control, Local Fire Department’s and other federal, state and local environmental regulatory agencies and organizations.

·        Serves as the District liaison during environmental audits and inspections of the District’s operations and coordinates the District’s response to regulatory actions.

·        Review and research federal, state and local laws, statutes, regulations, rules, compliance orders and court decisions relating to environmental protection issues; write interpretations and recommend changes in compliance procedures and policies to comply with environmental regulations; coordinate the development of new operating procedures to maintain compliance.

·        Serves as an expert technical resource on environmental compliance issues; advises management on environmental compliance strategies and arranges for resources to address issues as necessary; responds to plant spills and other emergency situations; and supervises the preparation of all required reports.

·        Supervises and manages staff as well as contract operator’s compliance team for compiling, analyzing and reporting data and information to regulators related to recycled water, desalinated water and drinking water programs.

·        Manages and supervises reporting to state and local regulatory agencies to comply with Title 22 Standards, the National Pollutant Discharge System (NPDES), Industrial Stormwater Programs, Air Emissions Reporting, Hazardous Waste Reporting and Sewer Discharge Reports.

·        Supervises staff responsible for assuring QA/QC of water quality data reports, water quality laboratory contracts, invoicing, and budgets; oversees programs to maintain water quality databases, records, files and other information

·        Serve as a District representative in internal and external interactions related to water quality concerns between District customers and the Metropolitan Water District.

·        Responds to inquiries in a courteous manner; provides information within area of assignment; resolves complaints in an efficient and timely manner.

·        Works with staff to prepare and manage compliance and water quality program budgets.

·        Provides direction, management and supervision of assigned staff responsible for District compliance with water quality and environmental regulation standards.

·        Performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will have:

·        A Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in environmental science, environmental engineering, biology, chemistry, engineering, or a closely related field; AND six (6) years of progressively responsible environmental compliance experience related to water quality, including two years in a program management or supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. A master’s degree in a closely related field is desirable.

·        California certification Grade 1 as treatment or distribution operator within one year of employment required. 

·        Knowledge of advanced principles, theories, methods and techniques of environmental science, water resources management, and environmental protection; experience with laboratories, analysis, and QA/QC of water sampling.

·        Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to areas of assignment, including Clean Water Act and Title 22.

·        Knowledge of administrative principles and methods including goal setting, program development and implementation.

·        Knowledge of principles and practices of environmental compliance program administration, including permitting and reporting requirements.

·        Knowledge of principles and practices of sound business communication.

·        Knowledge of principles, practices and techniques of developing and administering contracts.

·        Knowledge of the District’s water recycling plant functions/operations and associated environmental compliance issues/requirements.

·        Knowledge of conflict resolution; methods and techniques of water treatment and distribution; general laboratory standards; research methods and analysis techniques.

Ability to:

·        Plan, organize and coordinate the environmental compliance activities of a large, complex recycled water treatment and distribution system.

·        Prioritize and execute regulatory deadlines particularly during heavy reporting periods.

·        Understand laboratory functions including analysis of data and methods, analyze and make sound recommendations on complex compliance issues

·        Understand, interpret, explain and apply applicable environmental laws, regulations, policies and procedures related to the production of recycled water.

·        Collaborate effectively with District managers and external stakeholders to gain agreement and cooperation on environmental program provisions.

·        Analyze and resolve complex operational and regulatory problems, present proposals and recommendations clearly and logically in public meetings.

·        Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies and other written materials.

·        Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy guidelines; plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.

·        Work independently in the absence of supervision; exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and confidential issues and situations.

·        Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.

·        Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

·        Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the District Board, management, staff, all levels of representatives of governmental and member agencies, the public and others encountered in the course of work.

·        Occasional after hour/weekend response may be required for urgent compliance matters.

·        Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License, proof of insurance and an acceptable driving record are required at the time of appointment and as a condition of continued employment.  Employee is required to use his or her own vehicle with mileage reimbursed at the standard IRS rate.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

There is one (1) vacancy currently available for this position.  The salary range is $138,534 to $173,167 annually, depending on qualifications. This position is eligible for benefits.

Application deadline: April 03, 2026.  Apply online at:  www.westbasinca.gov.

For questions or additional information, please contact:  West Basin Municipal Water District, Human Resources Department, 17140 S. Avalon Boulevard, Carson, CA 90746, (310) 660-6275.  Email:  hr@westbasinca.gov

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Supplemental Questions:

1.     Briefly describe your experience working in organizations that treat and/or distribute recycled water, drinking water and/or wastewater.

2.     Please describe your experience reporting for the Regional Board, Division of Drinking Water and other regulators you have worked with. What platforms of reporting did you utilize?

3.     Briefly describe your experience supervising compliance work and associated staff.  

4.     Please describe your experience with water quality laboratories, water sampling, and analysis.

5.     Briefly describe your experience with any professional associations, committee participation and public speaking.