Make your mark where history meets horizon. In Drumheller—home to the world-famous Dinosaur Valley—our breathtaking Badlands backdrop, vibrant recreation culture, and tight-knit community create a place where your leadership truly matters. As the Water Systems Lead, you’ll be a champion for keeping our community running smoothly from the ground up. If you’re ready to lead with passion, innovation, and leave a visible legacy across our valley, we’d love to meet you.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Water System Lead is responsible for the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of the Town’s water treatment and distribution systems. This position provides operational oversight, technical expertise, and day-to-day leadership for the water treatment plant, reservoirs, and distribution network. The role supports regulatory compliance, operational performance, maintenance planning, documentation, emergency response, budget support, and capital planning input. The Water System Lead works in parallel with the Wastewater System Lead to coordinate utility operations.
SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Provides operational leadership for the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of the Town’s water treatment and distribution systems.
- Ensures compliance with applicable federal and provincial legislation, approvals, standards, and guidelines governing waterworks systems.
- Maintains certified operator coverage in accordance with Alberta’s Water & Wastewater Operator Certification Program.
- Develops, maintains, and implements system operations programs, standard operating procedures, and emergency response plans.
- Fulfills supervisory responsibilities under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation, and Code, including safety meetings, inspections, hazard assessments, and incident investigations.
- Oversees day‑to‑day system operations to achieve regulatory compliance, performance targets, and service reliability.
- Monitors system performance and operational data, including SCADA systems, and responds to operational issues and system upsets.
- Coordinates sampling, monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping activities required for regulatory compliance.
- Acts as the primary operational contact during inspections and audits and supports corrective actions as required.
- Leads and coordinates responses to operational incidents, system failures, and emergency events, including required notifications.
- Oversees preventive maintenance planning and supports asset reliability for treatment facilities and related infrastructure.
- Provides technical input into system upgrades, rehabilitation projects, and long‑term capital planning.
- Provides day‑to‑day leadership, mentorship, scheduling support, and performance guidance to operators within the assigned system.
- Works collaboratively with the corresponding Wastewater System Lead and other regional municipal stakeholders to support integrated utility operations.
- Supports continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system performance, safety, and regulatory compliance.
- Performs Wastewater System Lead duties as required to ensure continuity of operations.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Holds a minimum Level II or Level III Water Treatment and/or Water Distribution Certification (Level IV preferred).
- Holds a minimum Level II Wastewater Treatment and Collection Certification.
- Possesses five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience in municipal water treatment and distribution operations.
- Possesses supervisory or lead-hand experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Demonstrates strong understanding of Provincial and Federal wastewater regulations, standards, and operator certification requirements.
- Interprets engineering drawings, operational data, and laboratory results.
- Applies strong communication, organization, and leadership skills in an operational environment.
- Maintains a strong focus on safety and environmental responsibility in day-to-day operations.
- Works in variable environments including offices, plant facilities, and field work.
- Participates in on-call rotation and after-hours emergency response as required.
- Works in confined spaces, elevated areas, and around chemicals using required PPE and safe work procedures.
- Holds a valid Class 5 Driver’s License and can obtain a satisfactory criminal record check and ten (10) year Driver’s Abstract.
Employment Category: Permanent Full-Time
Hours per Week: 40 hours (Monday to Friday)
Compensation: $44.20 / Hour (CUPE Local 135 Plant Operator Lead)
BENEFITS: The Town of Drumheller offers a competitive compensation package that includes salary, vacation, personal leave, extended health and wellness benefits, LAPP pension (effective date of hire), professional development support, and an excellent team environment.
HOW TO APPLY: Please submit your cover letter and resume through the CAREERS section on our website before end of day April 8, 2026.
The Town of Drumheller is an equal opportunity employer and strongly supports diversity in the workplace. All qualified candidates who are authorized to work in Canada are encouraged to apply.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted
Live, work, and thrive in the heart of the Canadian Badlands!
