Quality Control Manager – Water Treatment Operations

Location: San Jose, CA

Employment Type: Full-Time

Industry: Water/Wastewater Treatment, Environmental Engineering, Utilities, Industrial Operations

Position Overview

The Quality Control Manager oversees all quality assurance and compliance functions for a high-performance water treatment facility serving the San Jose region. This role ensures that all treatment processes, laboratory testing, documentation, and operational activities meet federal, state, and local regulatory standards. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in water treatment with proactive leadership, continuous improvement mindset, and exceptional attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure treatment operations comply with EPA standards, State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and all applicable local regulations.
• Oversee sampling, laboratory testing, and analysis of water quality to verify compliance with regulatory limits and internal performance targets.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and auditable records, including testing logs, reporting documents, and corrective action documentation.
• Prepare quality reports, compliance submittals, and audit responses for regulatory agencies or internal stakeholders.

Process Monitoring & Improvement

• Monitor performance of treatment processes (clarification, filtration, disinfection, chemical feed systems, etc.) and identify trends or deviations.
• Lead root-cause investigations for quality issues; implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Conduct routine inspections and operational walkthroughs to identify potential risks, safety concerns, or process inefficiencies.
• Recommend and support optimization strategies to improve effluent quality, reduce variability, and ensure consistent operations.

Operational Leadership

• Partner closely with operators, engineers, maintenance teams, and management to ensure quality objectives are integrated into daily operations.
• Oversee operator training related to quality procedures, sampling techniques, safety standards, and documentation protocols.
• Support incident investigations and coordinate responses to any quality-related operational events.

Documentation & SOP Development

• Develop, update, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for treatment processes, sampling, lab analysis, and quality documentation.
• Ensure all staff follow established protocols and maintain high standards of data integrity.
• Lead readiness preparation for audits, inspections, and regulatory visits.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with engineering teams on system upgrades, new equipment commissioning, and process changes to ensure quality impacts are evaluated.
• Work with environmental, safety, and compliance personnel to maintain alignment across the facility.
• Communicate quality performance metrics to leadership teams and provide recommendations for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or related field.
• 3–8+ years of experience in water treatment, wastewater treatment, environmental compliance, or QC/QA roles.
• Strong understanding of water quality parameters, laboratory methods, and regulatory requirements (EPA, SWRCB, CDPH).
• Experience with sampling, chain-of-custody procedures, lab equipment, and data analysis.
• Excellent documentation skills and proficiency with QA/QC software, CMMS, or digital reporting tools.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred

• California Grade T3/T4 Water Treatment Operator certification (highly desirable).
• Experience managing compliance programs for municipal or industrial water treatment plants.
• Familiarity with SCADA systems, chemical feed processes, and plant optimization techniques.
• Experience preparing for regulatory inspections and third-party audits.

Working Conditions

• Primarily onsite at the water treatment facility.
• Routine fieldwork including sampling, inspections, and walking process areas.
• Exposure to chemicals, equipment, and industrial noise levels—proper PPE provided.
• Occasional after-hours or weekend work during audits, incidents, or system events.

Why This Role Matters

The Quality Control Manager ensures that the water treatment facility consistently produces safe, compliant, high-quality water for the San Jose region. Their work protects public health, supports regulatory compliance, and enhances operational excellence across the plant.