Water Operations Director

This position will remain open until filled with the first review of applicants taking place on September 30, 2024.

Salary: $119,167.00 - $171,600.00 Annually

The Water Operations Director will facilitate safe, effective and efficient operation and maintenance of the water department to achieve the district’s mission and goals. Ensures consistent interpretation of laws, rules, policies, and procedures.

Examples of Duties

• Plans, organizes, manages, leads, and evaluates the overall operations and maintenance of the Water and Wastewater Systems Department and all department staff. 
• Oversee and ensure that water system quality and monitoring procedures and records meet current regulations.
• Assists in developing department policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations to include identifying proactive operational and maintenance activities or programs that ensure proper function, improved service reliability to customers and reduce long-term operating costs.
• Gather, analyze and prepare a variety of administrative, financial and technical reports for decision-making purposes. Submit monthly and annual reports to applicable agencies. 
• Design and collaborate with consulting engineers to design new water and sewer or septic systems and upgrades to existing systems, including preparation of plans, specifications and cost estimates and field staking. Conduct onsite construction oversight. 
• Administer and monitor department budget; approves expenditures and oversees the development and collection of department revenue.
• Partner with the District’s Finance Director to develop departmental budget. 
• Investigate damages to customer facilities caused or allegedly caused by water and/or wastewater systems.
• Perform field investigations and structural analyses for new and proposed District water and wastewater facilities.
• Attend and present policies, reports, and other information of significance to the District’s Board of Commissioners during public meetings.
• Prepare applications for funds and permits from federal, state or local agencies for water and sewer or septic system projects.
• Evaluate existing water and sewer or septic system capability and future system requirements.
• Determine feasibility and coordinate construction of local utility districts requested by property owners.
• Research and identify funding opportunities and new sources of funding in support of District projects and initatives. Perform field inspection and/or supervision of work being done on water and sewer or septic systems by District or contract crews.
• Serves as department liaison to community/civic organizations, and various government and other agencies. Collaborates with local and state agencies as applicable.
• Receive and respond to public inquiries, requests for assistance and complaints.
• Ensure that team members of the water department have adequate tools and equipment to efficiently and safely perform all work.
• Oversee the maintenance of the District's water and sewer or septic systems to ensure good working order and obtain necessary state-approved certifications for same.
• Administer requests for the creation of local utility districts for new water and wastewater systems.
• Establish and maintain water works design standards..
• Prepare and maintain water and sewer or septic system maps and records.
• Assist in determining District policy for water and sewer or septic systems and prepare data for rate studies when needed.
• Ensure that crew employees are kept current on state-of-the-art technologies and arrange educational training as necessary.
• In partnership with PUD’s Safety Manager, ensure safe operations and compliance of the Department. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Typical Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field from an accredited college preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) License preferred.
• 7-10 years of water and wastewater utilities operations and maintenance experience preferred.
• 4-5 years of supervisory or management experience preferred.
• Project Management Training and experience preferred.   
• Experience with the use of personal computer applications associated with this position, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, GIS, SCADA, and AutoCAD programs preferred. 
• An equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the job may be substituted. 
  
  

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS 

• Must have the ability to supervise effectively, plan and organize work schedules, make sound decisions, develop solutions to situations and train others.
• Must have leadership ability to enable and empower employees to accomplish the District's goals and objectives through individual and team performance.
• Must have the ability to understand, follow and communicate accurate, clear and concise written and verbal information and instructions.
• Must have the ability to understand water laws and apply them to securing water rights for existing and future water demands.
• Must have the ability to understand financial and environmental responsibilities related to water and wastewater systems.
• Must have the ability to manage engineering and construction projects including scope, schedule and budgets.
• Must have math, reading and writing skills required for the job functions.
• Must be familiar with water treatment plant operating procedures and water system equipment operations.
• Must be familiar with sewer and septic system design and operation, as well as monitoring, inspection, reporting and maintenance requirements.
• Must have the ability to assess work requirements and coordinate and effectively assign personnel, equipment and materials to accomplish the work.
• Must have the ability to operate software efficiently to facilitate completion of job functions.
• Knowledge of local utility district rules and regulations preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to conduct clear, concise, and effective presentations in a public setting. 
• Strong interpersonal communication skills to build relationships and foster collaboration among team members and departments.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with others and promote cross-functional teamwork to achieve District goals. 
• Ability to identify and resolve conflicts. 
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity and promote ethical behavior. 
• Ability to meet deadlines regularly and reliably.