Water Quality Program Supervisor

Competition #

HW26-65E

Title

Water Quality Program Supervisor

Department

Regulatory Services

Primary Function

Reporting to the Manager of Water Quality, the Water Quality Program Supervisor is responsible for the coordination of Halifax Water’s lead service line replacement program, implementing regulatory, research and corporate water quality programs from source to tap, responding to customer water quality complaints and supporting water quality compliance or operational issues.

You will be responsible for your personal safety and that of your co-workers by observing all Occupational Health and Safety Rules and Regulations and Halifax Water’s Occupational Health and Safety Program Manual.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Organize, co-ordinate and supervise the day-to-day work of technical water quality staff to ensure delivery of water quality and regulatory compliance sampling programs in source water (lakes and tributaries), treatment, and the distribution system in accordance with regulatory, research and corporate requirements.
• Participate in a variety of management activities including hiring, performance management, discipline, and labour relations matters.
• Participate in the preparation of budgets, track and control ongoing financial activities within established budget constraints. Approve purchases and invoices.
• Develop, implement and keep current, systems, policies and procedures to ensure water quality programs operate and interact efficiently with Regulators, other Halifax Water Departments, Customers, the Environmental Management System, and others as required.
• Provide and coordinate technical support and services to assist other Halifax Water departments with source water, treatment and distribution system compliance, water quality issues, or investigations.
• Regularly review water quality data to assist with improving the operation of the water system, support water quality research programs and to meet corporate priorities, goals and objectives.
• Coordinate Halifax Water’s lead service line program, including building and maintaining an inventory of lead services, developing and executing various programs for lead service line replacement in line with Halifax Water Rules and Regulations, executing lead service line and regulatory lead and copper sampling programs, coordinating all customer outreach, and meeting reporting requirements.
• Coordinate and prepare annual reports, board reports, UARB Reports and other reports as may be required from time-to-time.
• Liaise with contractors, developers, Engineering Department, Operations Department, Procurement Department, Halifax Regional Municipality, Customers and other internal and external stakeholders pertaining to Halifax Water’s lead and other water quality programs or issues.
• Coordinate and oversee customer water quality ticket response process. Review customer ticket requests and investigations as required and resolve escalated tickets in an efficient manner.
• Support implementation and execution of water safety plans to support corporate water quality risk reduction and integration with Enterprise Risk Management
• Prepare customer correspondence and develop materials for customers and to support other business units at Halifax Water.
• Coordinate day to day use of the Water Quality Data Management System to track sample task completion, notifications, and responses as required for approvals, water quality programs, and other related processes.
• Maintain working knowledge of current and proposed federal, provincial, and municipal drinking water, regulations, issues, and technical advances, and assess compliance with regulations.
• Oversee and maintain the Water Quality Laboratory including QA/QC processes, sample tracking and processing, the disposal of hazardous waste, procurement of lab equipment and testing supplies, maintenance and operation of safety, field and laboratory equipment, maintenance of SDS inventory, and other required processes.
• Supervise unionized water quality staff.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Reporting Relationships

Reports to:  Manager of Water Quality
Supervises: Water Quality staff as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Education:

• Undergraduate Science Degree or Engineering Degree. A Technical Diploma in Engineering Sciences, Environmental or Water Resources may be considered with water quality management experience directly related to this position.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience delivering municipal water, wastewater or stormwater services, wastewater and/or water treatment; and at least two years of water quality management experience and/or investigating and recommending solutions to address operational issues.

Other Requirements

• Must have a valid NS driver’s license
• Must be willing to undertake and maintain the following safety training:
  • First Aid
  • Globally harmonized System (GHS) (Formally WHMIS)
  • Confined Space Entry and Fall Arrest
  • Non-Violent Crisis Prevention
  • Additional safety training as identified based on legislative and operational requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles, practices and objectives of drinking water quality regulations, research and treatment processes.
• Excellent skills in dealing with the public and Halifax Water staff.
• Excellent leadership, motivation and interpersonal skills with demonstrated supervisory ability.
• Experience managing projects and programs requiring attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
• Knowledge of biology, microbiology, organic and inorganic chemistry.
• Knowledge of mathematical and statistical principles.
• Familiarity with lake and watershed management.
• Familiarity with drinking water treatment and distribution systems.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with public, external and internal stakeholders.
• Knowledge of managerial principles and managing work teams.
• Ability to work in a team environment to accomplish organizational goals.
• Familiarity with federal, provincial and local health and safety regulations and requirements.
• Understanding of basic budgetary principles.
• Very good working knowledge of computer software, hardware and web applications as required (eg. Microsoft suite, PI, GIS, CityWorks, KLIR).

How to Apply

Applicants who applied previously for this competition do not need to reapply.

Completed cover letters and application forms [PDF] or resumes, stating Competition #HW26-65 must be received by 12 noon on June 15, 2026. Please forward to:

Mail

• Halifax Water
  HR Department
  P.O. Box 8388, RPO CSC
  Halifax, NS
  B3K 5M1

Fax

• View phone number on halifaxwater.ca

Email

• Show email

Please note: Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.

Conditional Items Required for Employment:

• Satisfactory background check
• Satisfactory pre-employment testing

Halifax Water is an equal opportunity employer.

Halifax Water’s goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of the community we serve, at all job levels. Halifax Water believes a diverse workforce positively contributes to its success, and the success of our community. We encourage applications from qualified African Nova Scotians, LGBTQ+ community, racially visible persons, women in non-traditional positions, persons with disabilities and Indigenous persons. Halifax Water encourages applicants to self-identify in the cover letter.