Deadline: November 12, 2026
Applications are available online at Abington Jobs. For additional information please contact Sara Vargo, Human Resources Coordinator, at 267-536-1005. Abington Township is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Department: Wastewater Utilities
Position: Director of Wastewater Utilities
Reports to: Township Manager
Supervises: All Department Personnel
Classification: Full-time FLSA Exempt
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this position is to supervise staff and to perform a variety of complex and technical functions, which allows the Wastewater Utilities Department to provide all property owners with continuous, reliable service while complying with the ordinances and other laws of the Township and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To regulate the various biological, chemical, physical and electrical processes of the wastewater treatment facility’s systems to maintain and ensure that all features of the plant are functioning at their maximum efficiency so that the treated effluent meets all National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), PaDEP, EPA and Delaware River Basin Commission permit requirements. Collection system with pump stations routine and emergency operation, maintenance and capital planning. Flow metering at open channels and pump stations data compilations, summary and report preparation. Supervises and directs the Treatment Plant and Collections System Operators and Maintenance staff to complete routine and project assignments and capital planning along with coordinating emergencies at any time and on any day. Work is performed under general supervision of the Township Manager. Supervision is exercised over the Chief Operator, the Collection System Foreman, and the Facilities Capital Asset Supervisor. All work is completed in accordance with Township of Abington’s ordinances, policies, procedures, practices, and other laws of the Township, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Federal Government.
Tasks: Interacts pleasantly with residents, customers and the general public. The Director is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the operation of the treatment and collection of wastewater and related utility operations; coordinating work with appropriate agencies, department directors and Township Manager; maintaining records and files and preparing reports. Serves as PADEP Operator of Record of the wastewater treatment and collection systems. Supervises personnel; trains, evaluates, organizes, disciplines, hires and fires employees in accordance with Township policies. Plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates activities of all department programs and activities, assigns and directs work of staff; maintains work schedule; approves leave requests and payroll, plans, reviews, initiates and monitors projects with department staff and contractors; interprets reports. The Director identifies problems or inefficiencies; searches causes and remedies; Develops and implements plans to improve operations, ensures, through consultation with department and Township personnel, effective and timely compliance with all government laws and regulations; responds to regulatory directives, prepares and administers the department’s operating and other budgets and monitors expenditures, makes field inspections of projects and operations to ascertain status, in consultation with staff establishes operating policies and procedures; enforces Federal and State safety regulations.
He or she advises and assists staff with complex assignments, prepares and maintains a wide variety of reports and correspondence on department activities as requested, recommends operational and ordinance changes to the Township Manager, receives citizen inquiries or complaints and takes remedial action, attends meetings of the Board of Commissioners; conducts routine reports to administration and implements Township policies, coordinates activities with other Township departments, other municipalities and/or outside consultants.
The Director establishes, oversees, reviews and amends O&M procedures to meet regulatory requirements and improve efficiency. Provides specifications for purchase of equipment, materials and supplies; purchases equipment for major repairs and upgrades; approves all purchases for department, recommends Capital Improvements and performs related tasks as required. Regulates the various biological processes of the wastewater treatment facility’s systems by conducting process control and flow calculations to assess the conditions of biological processes and to make control adjustments; confers with contracted and plant laboratories to obtain data on influent and effluent testing and the characteristics of the various treatment tanks contents. Has the ability to understand instructions; organize and prioritize workload of staff efficiently and effectively. Prepares and enforces all safety protocols and procedures in confined spaces, with moving machinery and roadway work zones. Understands and implements safety procedures related to confined spaces, underground work, electrical work, and traffic control procedures. Obeys all Abington Township employee relationship guidelines and participate in required training programs. Calculate various process control parameters with mathematical formulas and interpret results to make appropriate adjustments in plant processes.
Interacts with all Township department employees, the public, governmental, Township officials and contractors in a courteous and professional manner at all times, and other related duties as necessary to support the Wastewater Utilities Department.
Job Standards (Minimum qualifications needed to perform essential functions):
This is a salaried position, with normal work hours of 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Additional hours may be required to attend meetings or handle emergencies. This is light work requiring the exertion of up to 40 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects; some medium work occasionally requires the exertion of 50 pounds of force. Duties require some climbing, walking, and grasping; vocal communication for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity for color perception, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, use of measuring devices, operation of motor vehicles or equipment, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities. The employee is subject to inside and outside environmental conditions, extreme cold, and extreme heat, and to contaminated material.
Management may ask the employee to perform other job-related duties provided those duties are not illegal or injurious to the employee’s health. Employee will be evaluated in part based upon performance of the tasks listed in this job description and at a minimum, to the standards within this job description. This job description does not list all the duties of the job. Management has the right to revise this job description at any time. The Director shall have the ability to understand instructions; organize and prioritize workload efficiently and effectively. Prepares and enforces all safety protocols and procedures in confined spaces, with moving machinery and roadway work zones.
Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
To perform this position successfully, an individual should have their Operator License with grade B-1 or higher and thorough knowledge of wastewater treatment and collection system operation, hydraulics, biological and sanitary engineering. Thorough knowledge of public utility administration, planning and design; ability to review and analyze plans and specifications for construction of wastewater and sewer facilities; ability to formulate and execute operational policies and procedures; ability to prepare technical reports; ability to direct the activities of a large staff; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Township officials, other public officials, associates, contractors and the general public. Director performs tasks independently and often without direct supervision of each task, although employee will have regular contact with Township Manager and other Management staff. Director must possess knowledge of traffic laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; a demonstrated ability to work for more than one person; possess excellent organizational skills; ability to establish effective working relationships with department personnel, managers, contractors, residents, and the general public. Must be self-motivated with excellent verbal communication skills; ability to work under stressful conditions with frequent interruptions.
High School diploma required; with a science, biology, engineering or chemistry degree preferred with knowledge and general rules of municipal procedures. Director will be designated the Responsible Operator in Charge and must be an appropriately certified operator for the Abington Treatment Plant and must possess a current Pennsylvania Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator’s certificate grade B-1 or higher. Director must continually maintain their operator’s license by taking and passing continuing education courses associated with the wastewater industry and renew their license at the required frequency and not violate ethical standards provided in current Pennsylvania operator regulations. Make mathematical computations. Exercise independent thought and action within the scope of specific assignments. Comprehend and make inferences and conclusions from written materials. Ability to read and understand technical manuals written in English.
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that results in employee achieving the functions of the job satisfactorily, with, as a minimum, the equivalent of graduating from high school. A science, biology, engineering or chemistry knowledge is required. Appropriate wastewater training commensurate with their license. Director must be an appropriately certified operator grade B-1 or higher. A minimum of eight (8) years’ experience in wastewater treatment plant and collection system operations and supervision. Bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering field is preferred.
Location:
Various locations within and outside of Abington Township, including the Abington Township Wastewater Treatment Plant, Collection System and Pumping Stations throughout Abington Township and the adjacent municipalities.