Instrumentation Operations Supervisor

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Summary:

Supervises daily operations and activities of assigned Instrumentation staff for plant-wide projects including corrective and preventative maintenance. Serves as subject matter expert resource on programmable logic controllers (PLC) and Instrumentation Devices. Follows established safety, operating, and emergency response procedures and policies established by MWRA.

Posting Period: 10/30/2025 - 11/28/2025

Location: Deer Island (Winthrop), MA

Salary: $82,548.79 - $118,959.75 Annually $1,587.48 - $2,287.69 Weekly

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:00pm

Key Responsibilities

• Supervises staff in the performance of a variety of instrumentation functions.
• Determines the daily assignments for assigned staff and distributes work accordingly. Establishes deadlines and priorities based on the maintenance schedule or emergencies.
• Performs, documents and reports results in the Maximo database of inspections and work performed.
• Ensures operating and maintenance records and logs are properly maintained.
• Programs, configures, upgrades, edits, and troubleshoots programmable logic controllers (PLC).
• Manages all DITP off-island instrumentation and communication equipment and ensures instrumentation staff are adequately trained to support this equipment.
• Sets up, configures, and performs functional testing of instrumentation devices. Monitors instrumentation devices for proper operation.
• Provide ongoing guidance and technical support as well as annual training of all instrumentation staff on the following subjects:
  
  
  
  • Basic PLC - laptop connection, trouble shooting, and following logic operation.
  • Field instrument transmitter and element installation, configuration, troubleshooting and configuration device connection.
  
  
  
  

• Mentors new or promoted Instrumentation staff.
• Provides support to PICS Group, Project Engineer, and Instrumentation and Control with installation and upgrades to equipment.
• Communicates with all Supervisors and Managers regarding operational, maintenance and process control conditions. Collaborates across teams to share information on plant projects and emergencies. Attends weekly meetings of maintenance and operations managers at Deer Island.
• Works with engineers in the Technical Information Center to develop and improve designs for assigned work orders. Reports modifications made to equipment.
• Works with operations Area Supervisors or others to coordinate shutdown and start-up of process equipment.
• Performs work in compliance with Operations Integrated Contingency Plan.
• Supervises assigned crews including taking disciplinary actions (issuing verbal warnings and initiating written warnings) when necessary, conducting performance reviews, and preparing regular reports, as required, on work accomplished and crew productivity.
• Works from manufacturer's manuals and specifications, blueprints, schematics and verbal instructions to install, repair, troubleshoot, inspect, check & maintain process instrumentation and control systems.
• Prepares daily and weekly job status and time utilization to track execution of written work plan. Details include, but are not limited to, crew time productivity, material utilization and costs, and equipment utilization and costs.
• Monitors work-in-progress and provides final check that work in completed in accordance with specifications for the job, applicable vendor specifications, trade standards, etc., and the final cleanup is satisfactory. Conducts audits of completed tasks.
• Inspects plant equipment and processes of designated area regularly to determine efficiency of operation, cleanliness, maintenance requirements and adherence to safety and environmental restrictions. Periodically conducts safety inspections.
• Assists Planning/Scheduling Coordinator in determining appropriate Instrumentation preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance priorities, schedules, tasks, and estimated levels of effort to ensure that equipment performance is maximized.
• Identifies and monitors Unit's tools, parts and material requirements and works with Planning/Scheduling Coordinator to ensure timely procurement and maintenance of adequate inventory levels.
• Assists maintenance crews with troubleshooting assigned work orders, and provides instruction on difficult work operations.
• Performs light maintenance independently or as part of a team. Light maintenance shall include but is not limited to:
• Operates light equipment not requiring a special license.
• Generates inspection lists and maintenance reporting through the Computerized Maintenance Management System.
• Inspects and troubleshoots various systems and equipment.
• Installs and retrofits/new equipment related to plant systems.
• Modifies and/or aligns existing equipment to specifications.
• Conducts routine testing, lockout/tagout, operation (startup/shutdown) and adjustment of process equipment.
• Performs necessary cleanup and housekeeping for work area and other light maintenance tasks.
• Supervises and assists in the setting up of staging and rigging for access on the job installation and removal of equipment.
• Assists other trades in the performance of their work, as required, or as assigned.
• Assists employees with preparation of injury/illness reports, safety and maintenance work orders, and assures that they keep high quality, accurate related documents and records.
• Assists in maintaining harmonious labor management relations through proper application of collective bargaining agreement provisions and established personnel policies.
• Performs related duties as required.

Required Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED; and
• Requires at least seven (7) years of related experience supervising assigned staff in specialized titles, Instrumentation Specialists, Communication and Control Technicians, and related maintenance titles; and
• Successful completion of the MWRA sponsored supervisory development training program or equivalent; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience or education.
• A Valid Class D Vehicle Operator's License.
• ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) Certification or within twelve months of being in the title.
• Completion of management training for time management and personnel management including harassment prevention for managers and supervisors.
• Completion of 24 hours of PLC training (applicable to Deer Island Treatment Plant) every two years.
• This position has been designated as essential in instances where the MWRA Executive Director requires essential personnel to report to work such as inclement weather or other emergencies.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Basic reading, mathematical, scientific and oral communication skills.
• Solid writing skills to compose reports.
• Ability to plan, organize, direct, train and assign duties to subordinates, as obtained through successful completion of supervisory training.
• A working knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety practices and the satisfactory completion of applicable MWRA safety training.
• Ability to troubleshoot problem areas relative to complex instrumentation and control systems work assignments.
• Working knowledge of the methods, procedures and work rules relating to preventive maintenance, repair, and proper inspection of instrumentation and controls systems.
• Knowledge of PLC configuration language(s) associated with PLC supplier (Allen-Bradley).
• Ability to set-up and configure local, remote, hierarchical and distributive control systems; knowledge to configure Input/Output modules using various slot addressing techniques; understanding of program and data table file organization, number systems and processor information flow; and knowledge of basic relay type instructions, timers and counters, & data manipulation instructions
• Utilizes personal computer, data terminals and specialized MAXIMO/Lawson software application packages to perform related duties such as work planning and scheduling, inventory maintenance, purchase order placement/tracking, work order reporting; time, utilization, and written work plan completion.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with direct reports, supervisor, and colleagues.
• Ability to learn work procedures required to perform maintenance tasks required by Reliability Centered Maintenance or similar Maintenance Management Program.
• Ability to maintain written and computer-based records.
• Trained in confined space entry. Capable of entering, setting up, installing and disassembling confined space equipment. Ability to work in a confined space.
• Trained in CPR and First Aid.
• Trained in setting up staging and rigging.

Tools and Equipment Used

Hand tools, mobile radio, telephone, beeper, personal computer including word processing and other software, copy and fax machine.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee occasionally is required to sit, stand and walk. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; taste or smell.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office environment. The employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and vibration. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock.

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud in field settings, and moderately quiet in office settings.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Works under the general supervision of an Area Manager.

Exercises direct supervision of Instrumentation Specialists and Communication & Control Technicians.

Other Position Information

PCR: 29880109

Division: Operations

Department: Trade Labor Maintenance

Union/Grade: AFSCME (Unit 2)/Grade 21

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.