Deputy Director of Operation & Maintenance

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 126,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is seeking an executive leader to direct wastewater treatment plants and collection systems, ensuring regulatory compliance and continuous improvement. The role oversees multiple facilities, budgets, and senior-level duties, with emphasis on strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration.

The position requires overseeing maintenance, budgets, KPIs, and staff development, as well as coordinating with engineering on capital projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Eight years of progressive responsibility in operating or managing a utility or similar facility.
• Five years of supervising people, projects or processes.
• Experience with budgets, change management and external stakeholder engagement.
• Experience with wastewater operations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants and collection system.
• Develop department budgets, KPIs and strategic direction.
• Manage staffing, performance reviews and succession planning.
• Coordinate with Engineering & Construction on capital projects.
• Lead incident command during emergencies and ensure safety compliance.

Skills

Team leadership

Budget management

Project management

Communication

Process improvement

Negotiation

Staff development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Environmental Science, Natural Science, Engineering or related field

Ohio EPA Class II Wastewater or Collection System Operator certificate (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Details

Posting Details

• • Posted on November 6, 2026

Locations

• Showing 1 location: George J. McMonagle Administration Building, Cleveland, OH, USA
• On-site
• Management
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: DEPUT002620

Description

JOB SUMMARY

Serves as a member of the executive leadership team and assists in directing wastewater treatment plants and collection system activities to ensure efficient operations and compliance with regulatory requirements and continuous improvement of operational and maintenance practices. Oversees the administration, planning, direction and coordination of any combination of the following departments: Southerly Wastewater Treatment Center including the Renewable Energy Facility, Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant, Westerly Wastewater Treatment Center, Maintenance Services including the operation and maintenance of the collection system and all supporting departments, Process Control and Automation and Emergency Management. Oversees department budgets, hiring, performance management and other senior level duties. Performs other duties of a similar nature as may be required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

- Develops and oversees efforts related to the operation and maintenance of the Sewer District’s wastewater treatment plants, collection system and auxiliary facilities.

- Contributes to the development of the Sewer District’s strategic goals and objectives. Uses the organizational goals and objectives to assist in setting the department’s strategic direction that balances long-term goals with day-to-day organizational objectives and activities.

- Defines department goals and assists management with prioritizing resource utilization to accomplish tasks. Supports the development, tracking and reporting ofKey Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the evaluation of progress against goals and targets. Establishes performance standards and operational plans to ensure regulatory compliance and safety

- Oversees the development of operating and minor capital budgets and ensures adherence. Provides guidance to ensure short and long-term planning meet necessary budget requirements. Recommends capital expenditures, materials and equipment purchases that comply with purchasing requirements.

- Critically examines information to assess feasibility, evaluate alternatives, review efficiency and identify data patterns or trends to improve efficiency of the operation and maintenance processes. Diagnoses problems and evaluates the quality of collection and wastewater treatment. Conducts research to explore new ideas and methods.

- Monitors wastewater industry information and trends and works to develop new and/or improved systems and processes. Identifies solutions to improve efficiency and safety, adapting business processes as necessary. Leads teams and assists leadership in the implementation of change management.

- Facilitates a culture of teamwork and provides resolutions for staff issues. Conducts annual performance reviews and sets performance goals for departments and individuals. Supports talent development efforts and participates in succession planning that seeks to align current and future organizational needs. Makes staffing recommendations in support of organizational needs and career path implementation. Holds grievance hearings, issues findings as required by union contracts and conducts disciplinary hearings.

- Assists with writing and implementing policies and procedures that ensure effective operations, maintenance and administrative functions that align with operational needs, legal and regulatory requirements and financial plan s.

- Builds cross-functional relationships to support continuous improvement of operational and maintenance processes. Works collaboratively across all Sewer District departments to achieve performance targets.

- Facilitates coordination and collaboration with Engineering & Construction (E&C) on planning, design, construction and commissioning of capital improvement projects to ensure operational and maintenance needs are met.

- Serves in various roles within the Sewer District’s incident command structure during large-scale emergencies. Oversees emergency responses and serves as incident commander of those emergencies when necessary. Provides guidance for emergency response plans and participates in and develops crisis response drills.

- Develops and maintains partnerships with external organizations, regulatory agencies and other governmental agencies. Serves as a Sewer District representative in national, community and trade meetings.

- Performs other duties of a similar nature as may be required.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

- Candidate must possess a bachelor’s degree preferably in Business Administration, Environmental Science, Natural Science, Engineering or a closely related field.

EXPERIENCE

- Candidate must possess eight (8) years of progressive responsibility in operating, maintaining and/or managing a utility, manufacturing facility or similar operation. Experience must include managing budgets and cultural change, implementing process improvements and efficiency initiatives and working with general public, agencies, communities and other external organizations.

- Experience must include five (5) years of supervising, managing and/or leading people, projects and/or processes.

- Previous wastewater collection and/or treatment operation and maintenance experience preferred.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS

- Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license with a driving record in accordance with the Sewer District’s acceptable guidelines.

- Possession of an Ohio EPA Class II Wastewater or Collection System Operator certificate preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

- Candidate must possess knowledge of operating large-scale utilities or industrial facilities, strategic planning and implementation, and operation and maintenance administration. Knowledge of wastewater treatment applications, methods and practices is preferred.

- Candidate must possess effective written and verbal communication, organizational skills and decision-making abilities.

- Candidate must possess ability to manage projects, meet deadlines and tackle emergencies and difficult situations.

- Candidate must possess negotiation, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills to address issues and opportunities for improvement.

- Candidate must possess the ability to effectively plan, coordinate, establish and maintain effective working relationships and prioritize workloads based on available resources.

- Candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

- Candidate must possess strong team leadership and people management skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

During the course of performing the essential functions of this position, the employee must be able to analyze, communicate, comprehend, coordinate, make decisions, possess general intelligence, interact, interpret, negotiate, possess numerical intelligence, organize, problem solve, have resilience and perform tasks. Physical work will need to be performed, such as driving, reaching, sitting, standing, talking, typing and walking. Repetitive movements will need to be performed such as simple grasping with one hand. Ability to lift from floor to waist, waist to shoulder or floor to shoulder up to 10 lbs. on an occasional basis may be necessary. Position will require visual demands of accommodation, depth perception, far acuity and near acuity. Ability to withstand faint to moderate noise exposure for fifteen minutes or longer on an intermittent basis is required. Exposure to environmental conditions such as outdoor work is encountered in this position.

Pay Range: USD, Commensurate with Experience

$125,983 - $180,000

Our Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Our Accessibility Statement

Our Employee Benefits & Wellness Programs
We offer a comprehensive employee benefits package including Health Insurance Coverage, Various Retirement Planning Options (Ohio Public Employee Retirement System and Deferred Compensation Plans), Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Free Parking at our facilities, Corporate Discounts, and more! We also have an active Health & Wellness Program that promotes a life/work balance.

DISCLAIMER: The information outlined in this job description indicates the general nature and type of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities or competencies required of employees within this classification

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.