Assistant Director - Utilities Engineering

City-of-Bellevue; Bellevue (WA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Bellevue's Bellevue Utilities is seeking an Assistant Director to lead the Engineering Division and advance our $296 million CIP across water, wastewater, and stormwater. You will work with the Utilities leadership team to plan, develop, and implement policies, budgets, and programs that achieve strategic outcomes.

The role requires a civil engineering background with 8+ years of managerial experience in public utilities, strong collaboration skills, and the ability to lead complex

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in civil engineering, environmental studies, water resources management, construction management, or related field. An MS Engineering or MPA is preferred.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible managerial and administrative experience in public utilities systems.
• 10 years' experience developing and delivering Capital Investment Programs, incl. planning, design and construction for municipal utility projects with 5+ years in each utility.
• Experience/knowledge about Utility operations and maintenance, system planning, and public works contracting laws and processes.
• Experience/knowledge about environmental issues and permitting related to utility work is desirable.
• Washington State Professional Civil Engineering license is required at hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the Utilities Department and its Engineering Division.
• Lead budgeting, CIP portfolio management and capital project delivery.
• Manage ~50 staff including Engineering Managers, Supervisors and Analysts.
• Develop and implement department policies and strategic programs.
• Represent department in communications with City Council and external stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Policy development

Communication

Team management

Contract negotiation

Education

Civil Engineering degree

MS preferred

Job description

Bellevue Utilities provides high quality, essential drinking water, wastewater, and storm and surface water services that over 150,000 customers rely on every day. We take pride in making sure these services are dependable, a good value for the money, and delivered with our customers in mind. Our Utility Capital Investment Program invests $49 Million annually in infrastructure renewal, capacity for growth, and environmental preservation projects to ensure customer service and satisfaction remain high.

We are currently seeking an experienced Assistant Director to lead our Engineering Division. The Assistant Director is a member of the Bellevue Utilities executive team, collaborating to lead the department in achieving its strategic, operational, and financial goals. The Engineering Assistant Director is responsible for overseeing an $7.952 million operating budget and delivery of the Utilities $296 million, 6-year Capital Investment Program (CIP) encompassing drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater CIP projects. In addition, this position collaborates with the Utilities Director, two Deputy Directors, the Resource Management & Customer Service Division Assistant Director, and the Operations & Maintenance Division Assistant Director to plan, develop, and implement policies and programs to achieve strategic outcomes. The Engineering Assistant Director manages highly complex technical and policy work, assisting the Deputy Directors and Director of Utilities in the leadership and management of the department. This position reports directly to the Utilities Deputy Director for Engineering and Operations.

At the City of Bellevue, you'll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest, achieving the community vision and providing our customers fiscal stewardship. Our people bring unique skills and qualities to the table, embrace the values of honesty, accountability, and commitment to service, and take pride in the work they do. You'll work in an environment where being innovative, collaborative, and future focused are the status quo. Bellevue welcomes the world and we embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion for the community that we serve as well as within our City organization. It's what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

• The Assistant Director works with Deputy Directors and Director to develop department policies by identifying regional and local policy needs; identifying/recommending policy options for City management and Council; develops programs/procedures to implement policies.
• Reviews and obtains proper interpretations, where necessary, of the laws, rules and regulations affecting operation of a multi-faceted utilities system.
• Establishes and maintains a working environment conducive to positive morale, individual style, quality, creativity, and teamwork.
• Oversees a team of engineering managers responsible for recruiting, hiring, training, and developing staff in the areas of planning, CIP portfolio management, capital project management and design, construction management, and development plan review.
• Allocates, directs, motivates and evaluates division personnel to ensure employees growth and accountability.
• Uses performance data objectively to maintain and improve Utilities' functions. Establishes and leads results-oriented innovation and continuous process improvement projects.
• Plan, develop and implement programs; identifies program outcomes, budgets, processes and priorities; obtains resources via budget, contracting, inter-local agreements, etc.
• Negotiates and administers contracts and professional services agreements with contractors, consultants, and franchise operators.
• Develops interdepartmental and/or partnerships with outside stakeholders.
• Prepares and presents oral and written reports and responses to the department director, City Council, or other city departments, the Environmental Services Commission, regional committees and subcommittees, and the public, as required.
• This position may serve as Acting Director in the absence of the Deputy Directors and Director of Utilities.

Reporting Structure

The Assistant Director, Engineering, works under the general supervision of Deputy Director and/or Director of Utilities. This position exercises supervision over professional, technical, and support staff, either directly or indirectly through supervisors and managers, as assigned.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Provide leadership to the Utilities Department

• Implement City's and Utilities' vision and mission; Support Utilities Strategic Planning;
• Ensure quality of services, sound financial performance, and customer satisfaction;
• Manage resolution of major departmental issues;
• Create collaborative work environment and open communication;
• Model core values, work rules, and Utilities Department culture;
• Support department leadership team decisions and optimize organizational dynamics.

Manage Utilities Engineering Division

• Provide leadership and management oversight of ~50 staff members, comprised primarily of technical staff (Engineering Managers and Supervisors, Asset Manager, Engineers, Program Administrators, Construction Inspectors, Engineering Technicians, and Environmental Scientists).
• Lead budget development, analysis, and monitoring for the Engineering Division;
• Provide leadership and management of the following sections: Utility Systems Planning, CIP Portfolio Management and Administration, Asset Management, Project Management, Construction Management, and Private Development Utilities Plan Review.
• Provide leadership coordination with other Utilities Divisions and other departments in the City.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in civil engineering, environmental studies, water resources management, construction management, or related field. An MS Engineering or MPA is preferred.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible managerial and administrative experience in public utilities systems.
• 10 years' experience developing and delivering Capital Investment Programs, including management of planning, design and construction for municipal utility projects with at least 5 years of experience in each utility (water, wastewater, stormwater), or a program of similar scope/complexity (at least $15 Million/year Capital program value). (highly preferred)
• Experience/knowledge about Utility operations and maintenance, system planning, and public works consultant and construction contracting laws, regulations, and work processes.
• Experience/knowledge about environmental issues and permitting associated with utility work is highly desirable.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Washington State Professional Civil Engineering license is required at the time of hire.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in utility systems planning, engineering design, professional services and construction contracting, construction and operations/maintenance of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure systems.
• Proven ability to plan, supervise and coordinate long range technical and administrative programs.
• Knowledge of CIP budget development, project delivery monitoring and control including project change management and value engineering principles, portfolio management, and CIP delivery governance processes.
• Ability to express self clearly, completely, and concisely, orally, and in writing. Ability to listen and question effectively to better understand customer/employee needs and requests to ensure mutual understanding. Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to various audiences.
• Ability to communicate effectively and encourage people to accept changes in the organization. Ability to model positive attitudes towards change to reassure others.
• Ability to interpret legislation, rules and regulations. Demonstrated understanding of federal and state regulations for public utility systems of the size/scale of Bellevue Utilities.
• Understanding of City's political environment and sensitivities; and proven ability to function effectively within that environment. Demonstrated experience representing politically sensitive or otherwise high-profile Utility issues to elected body and executive manager (City Manager)
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department employees, other City departments, community officials, citizens, State and Federal officials. Proven success in a collaborative environment, working with Financial and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) stakeholders to achieve Utility objectives.
• Firm understanding, support, and experience with applying Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) principles and practices for both internal staff and external customers.
• Demonstrated experience successfully negotiating terms for collaboration with other jurisdictions/entities.
• Successful experience in public engagement.
• Proven ability to plan, assign, review, and supervise the work of direct reports. Ability to provide leadership, counsel, motivation and constructive performance reviews to staff, securing their respective commitments to the department's goals.
• Proven success as a leader, based on input from past subordinates, peers, and supervisors.
• Ability to create team environment in which information and trust flows freely both up and down the workforce.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands and work environment 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.
• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet while in the office or moderately loud when in the field.

Flexible/Hybrid Working

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period working in the office after hire. Remote work for this position is subject to department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.