Deputy Director of Water Resources

City of Gainesville, GA; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Gainesville's Department of Water Resources seeks an experienced leader to plan and direct water, wastewater, and environmental services operations. This role will oversee treatment, distribution, collection, and environmental compliance, while guiding budgeting, staffing, and interagency collaboration.

The successful candidate will manage multiple complex projects, engage with regulators and city officials, and drive strategic initiatives for reliable water resources delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering or related field.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, Accounting or Public Administration desirable.
• Ten to fifteen years in water and wastewater services, including seven in a management capacity.
• Professional Engineer Certification desirable.
• Class I Water/Wastewater Operator desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision for water resources operations and coordinate with City leadership and regulators.
• Oversee treatment, distribution, collection, and environmental compliance activities.
• Manage budgets, expenditures, and purchasing approvals for assigned functions.
• Direct supervision of Water Treatment Superintendent, Wastewater Treatment Superintendent, Environmental Services Manager, and Distribution/Collection Manager.
• Lead cross-functional teams and coordinate with contractors, consultants and City Departments.
• Represent the Department with regulators, customers, and stakeholders and prepare complex reports.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Water resources management

Budgeting and finance

Staff supervision

Regulatory compliance

Contract management

Public communications

Education

Bachelor's in Civil/Environmental Engineering

Master’s degree desirable

Job description

Plans and directs professional, technical, and skilled employees engaged in water, wastewater, and stormwater utility work. Supervises the day to day operations of treatment, distribution and collection, and environmental services functions. Assists the Director with overall Department operations. Represents the Department with regulators, customers, other City Departments, consultants, contractors, vendors, other governments, and elected officials.

Strategic Utility Leadership

• Provide strategic vision for operations issues, engage staff in both the development and implementation of vision, and coordinate with Director of Water Resources, other DWR Divisions, City Manager, and elected leadership as appropriate.
• Keep informed of changes to legislation, policies, codes of practice relating to the position, advise the Director and City Manager as necessary and take action as appropriate.
• Manage projects and operations to ensure that objectives, outcomes, milestones and actions are achieved on time and within budget. Engage, supervise and monitor contractors, vendors, and consultants as required. Evaluates and effectively communicates project progress results, risks issues, and needs.
• Manage and participate in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver effective operations outcomes.
• Proactively build and maintain effective working relationships with City of Gainesville staff and other key stakeholders from local, state and federal government entities, developers, utilities, industry and the community, to facilitate a collaborative approach to the business of the Department of Water Resources and the City of Gainesville, as related to the operations aspects of the Department.

Operational Responsibilities

• Responsible for operations of the treatment, distribution, collection, and environmental compliance activities of the Department.
• Manages multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Directs and coordinates with assigned managers in the operation and prioritization of daily activities.
• Oversees the development of expense budgets, monitors expenditures to ensure proper use of funds; exercises authority to approve expenditures, requisitions, purchase orders, and invoices for assigned functions.
• Assists in the development of long and short-range plans for systems improvements and expansions; works with staff to provide input to the five year capital improvement plan.
• Investigates and resolves public complaints and requests for service, interpreting established policies and guidelines; consults with Director of Water Resources and makes recommendations on matters not covered by specific policies and guidelines.
• Directs the administration of the City’s Sewer Use Ordinance, Industrial Pretreatment Program, Water Conservation Program and City and County Subdivision Regulations Water and Sewer requirements.
• Monitor, evaluate, and improve operational efficiencies and service delivery methods for assigned areas.

Communication and Coordination Responsibilities

• Consults with State Department of Transportation, City of Gainesville, and Hall County to coordinate road improvements and construction with relocation of water mains and sanitary sewers and the installation or new construction of water and wastewater facilities.
• As related to operations and maintenance, and other assigned areas, coordinates with Georgia EPD and other State officials, Corps of Engineers, EPA, and other Federal officials.
• Prepare and/or guide the preparation of complex reports, graphics, and other communications materials to a high standard.
• Effectively represent the City within relevant committees and forums and deliver presentations as required.

Supervisory Duties

• Directly supervise the Water Treatment Superintendent, Wastewater Treatment Superintendent, Environmental Services Manager, and the Distribution and Collection System Division Manager.
• Directs and coordinates with assigned managers in the operation and prioritization of daily activities. Participates in troubleshooting and problem solving with direct reports, other DWR Divisions, and other City Departments.
• Identify and implement professional development training of assigned staff.
• Interviews, makes hiring recommendations, and evaluates performance of employees in the assigned divisions.
• Select, train, motivate, and evaluate personnel within assigned divisions; provide or coordinate staff training, work with employees to correct deficiencies; make personnel recommendation to the Director of Water Resources as needed.

Other Duties

• Project the image of the Department of Water Resources and City of Gainesville government as being efficient and sensitive to the needs of the community
• Work with limited supervision, be innovative, self-motivated and support the Director in the motivation of other team members.
• Manages special projects and programs for the Department of Water Resources as assigned by the Water Resources Director
• Attend Council meetings, committee meetings and public meetings as required.
• Serves as Director of Water Resources in his absence.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Is subject to recall to duty in cases of emergency.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Business, Accounting or related field.

Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, Accounting or Public Administration is desirable.

Ten to fifteen years water and wastewater services experience, including seven in a management capacity.

Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the minimum level of qualifications stated above.

Licenses and Certifications:

Professional Engineer Certification desirable.

Class I Water Operator desirable.

Class I Wastewater Operator desirable.

Valid Class C Driver's License and a satisfactory Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of general utility operations, as well as water and wastewater treatment, sewage collection, construction, water treatment and storage and distribution as well as laboratory and technical services.

Strong financial acumen with proven ability to utilize team building techniques and link project results and organizational benefits for operational effectiveness.

Knowledge of municipal budgeting procedures and multi-funded financing operations.

Knowledge of professional environmental service provider practices.

Knowledge of current federal and state regulations and trends for water resources management.

Skill in negotiating and administering contracts.

Ability to select, develop, organize, motivate and effectively utilize staff.

Ability to plan, direct and manage a number of concurrent and diverse activities of multiple staff members.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, contractors, utility companies, Federal, State, City and County officials and the general public.

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish effective working relationships with developers, consulting engineers, local government officials, other professionals and the general public.

Ability to manage operations and maintenance staff to accomplish a wide array of challenges and projects as well as the ability to make decisions and recommendations which impact operational success while remaining within schedule and budget.

ADA Minimum Requirements

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert light to medium physical effort in sedentary to medium level activity which may require some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of objects and materials of medium weight (up to 20 pounds) and occasionally of heavy weight (up to 50 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation as well as work in the field at construction sites. Duties require the ability to use a personal computer, to operate a motor vehicle, and to use tools and equipment used in inspection and measurement of construction elements.

Sensory Requirements: Tasks require the ability to communicate orally in person and by telephone. Tasks require the ability to visually inspect items for proper length, width, and shape using various tools and equipment.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are performed with frequent exposure to adverse environmental conditions including weather, dust, debris, chemicals, and machinery involved in construction.

This class specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job. The incumbents may be required to perform job‑related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.