Network Operation Manager

Role Purpose

The Network Operation Manager is responsible for the day-to-day technical management of the water distribution network and related pumping facilities, ensuring stable and sustainable water supply and the broader technical team defines and implements the short-term CAPEX plan and the 25-year master plan.

This role is the operational focal point on the distribution side: translating the high-level technical roadmap, and the O&M / Technical Service Agreement into concrete daily actions in the field.

Responsibilities

Network Operations & Service Continuity

• Ensure continuity of supply
  - Organize and supervise daily operations of the distribution network and pumping stations, with 24-hour coverage by operators.
  - Manage normal and high-risk situations (e.g., high turbidity events, power failures, equipment outages, pipe bursts incidents, customer complaint incidents) to maintain service as far as possible.
• Implement the technical roadmap
  - Apply decisions on priorities: immediate stabilization vs. preparation of CAPEX works.
• Monitor performance
  - Track key operational indicators (pressure, flows, interruptions, leak rates, response times to incidents).
  - Report regularly to management on network performance and emerging issues.

Team Organization & Workforce Management

• Assess existing organization
  - Review the current organization chart of technical group (engineering head, foremen, pump operators, leak detection staff, maintenance workers, regular vs. agency/subcontracted personnel).
  - Compare actual roles and responsibilities to the needs of operations.
  - Optimize staffing and roles
  - Propose whether the existing organization is sufficient, needs reinforcement, or can be streamlined.
  - Identify critical positions (e.g., leak detection, pumping operations, maintenance) and ensure clear responsibilities.
  
  
• Support HR decisions
  - Provide technical input on which staff to absorb based on performance and fit with standards.
  - Identify training needs and staff who can evolve into higher responsibility roles.

Coordination with Process & Treatment Teams

• Split of technical focus

• Coordinate closely with:
  - Process and treatment engineers focusing on plant process and equipment.
  - Network/pumping specialists focusing on pumping stations and distribution.
  - Joint workshops & split sessions
  - When workshops with the water district and other stakeholders occur (e.g., meeting with the experienced general manager), organize and participate in split sessions:
  - One stream for treatment process and equipment.
  - One stream for pumping and networks (led or co-led by the Network Operation Manager).
  - Handling high turbidity and operational incidents
  - Integrate lessons from the water district (e.g., only the pulsator plant works adequately in high turbidity events) into network operations planning:
      Adjust network operation patterns during high-turbidity episodes.
      Coordinate with treatment colleagues on how plant constraints affect network operations.

Key Qualifications

• At least 3-5 years of experience in water/wastewater treatment.
  
  
• Experience in either the Municipal sector (MWSS, MWCI) or Industrial sector.