Public Utilities Director

Socket.dev; Wadesboro (NC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Anson County is seeking a Public Utilities Director to plan, organize, and direct water distribution, water production and filtration, wastewater collection and treatment, and related infrastructure maintenance.

The role oversees regulatory compliance with NCDEQ, EPA, and federal rules; manages budgets and capital projects; provides leadership to department staff; and works in a rural environment with aging systems.

Qualifications

• Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in public water and wastewater utility management.
• Five (5) years in senior leadership or executive management.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct operations, maintenance, and construction of water and sewer systems.
• Oversee budgeting, contracts, and capital project planning.
• Ensure compliance with NCDEQ, EPA, and applicable regulations.
• Lead staff supervision and interdepartmental coordination.
• Prepare reports and long-range departmental plans.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Budget management

Public communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or related field

Tools

SCADA systems

Water/wastewater treatment equipment

Job description

Description

Anson County

Public Utilities Director

Salary Grade 79 Range: $75,071 - $130,213

Compensation commensurate with experience.

General Description of Duties

The Public Utilities Director performs complex professional and administrative work in planning, organizing, and directing the County’s water distribution, water production and filtration, wastewater collection and treatment, and the construction, maintenance, and repair of water and sewer infrastructure. The position operates under the direction of the Director of Water Resources and is responsible for implementing departmental policies, goals, and regulatory requirements. Work includes overseeing daily operations, ensuring compliance with NCDEQ, EPA, and all applicable state and federal regulations, managing budgets and capital projects, and coordinating activities across multiple divisions. The Director provides leadership and supervision to all department personnel and must be able to operate effectively in a rural environment with aging infrastructure and evolving operational needs.

Essential Duties and Tasks

Planning, organizing, and directing the operations, maintenance, repair, and construction of water and sewer lines and appurtenances; overseeing the production, distribution, and protection of the County’s water supply and collection and treatment of sewage and related utility operations; coordinating work with appropriate agencies and jurisdictions, other departments, and County Manager; maintaining legal and regulatory compliance with all applicable rules and statutes, maintaining records and files and preparing reports.

• Plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates activities of all divisions and facilities involved in management of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems for the County.
• Recommends employee hiring, promotions, suspensions, terminations, and merit advances.
• Maintains positive public relations through press releases, annual water/wastewater customer reports, and civic group presentations; effectively resolves customer complaints.
• Oversees and administers the County’s delegated self-permitting program from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), enforcement of local ordinances and permits, and all legal activities of the department.
• Oversees and administers the County industrial pretreatment program and the land application of treatment plant residuals.
• Prepares and administers budgets, contracts, and monitors expenditures.
• Develops spending plans and revenue projections for water and wastewater sales and services; makes rate setting recommendations to management and Commissioners.
• Prepares cost estimates for capital project improvement plans.
• Oversees and administers regulatory programs, including compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, USEPA Process Safety, NCDEQ Dam Safety, and all other applicable State and Federal regulations.
• Prepares requests for proposals for engineering and other professional services.
• Prepares/reviews comprehensive short- and long-range plans for all aspects of the department including water/wastewater capital improvements, financing, and program development.
• Performs master planning for water supply distribution and wastewater collection/treatment.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The Utilities Director must have strong knowledge of water production and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and the construction and maintenance of water and sewer infrastructure. The role requires familiarity with NCDEQ regulations, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, and other applicable state and federal requirements. Candidates should demonstrate skill in supervising staff, coordinating daily operations, preparing budgets, managing capital projects, and maintaining regulatory compliance.

The position requires the ability to operate effectively in a rural, resource-limited environment, including managing aging infrastructure, prioritizing repairs, and responding to system failures or water-quality issues. Strong communication skills are essential for working with the public, regulatory agencies, engineers, contractors, and other County departments. The Director must be able to prepare reports, develop long-range plans, evaluate proposals, and support the Director of Water Resources in master planning and departmental oversight.

Requirements

Minimum Training and Experience

Minimum qualifications include demonstrated experience managing water, wastewater, or distribution system operations in a municipal or county setting, with strong working knowledge of NCDEQ, EPA, and applicable state and federal regulatory requirements. Candidates must have experience supervising operational staff, coordinating daily field activities, maintaining regulatory compliance, and managing budgets and resources within aging infrastructure systems. A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in public water and wastewater utility management is required, including five (5) years in senior leadership or executive management. A bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or a closely related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required. A valid North Carolina driver’s license is also required due to operational travel and the potential assignment of a County work truck.

Preferred Training and Experience

Preferred qualifications include North Carolina Water Treatment, Water Distribution, or Wastewater Operator certifications, or the ability to obtain within two years of hire. Candidates with experience in rural or resource-limited utility environments, coordinating capital or system-improvement projects with engineers, and managing SCADA systems, pump stations, chemical feed systems, and other technical components of water and wastewater operations are strongly preferred. Additional preference is given to applicants with demonstrated experience responding to system failures, water quality issues, and weather-related emergencies. A master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or a closely related field is desirable, and a North Carolina Professional Engineer license is preferred.

Special Requirements

Possession of a water and/or wastewater operator’s certification sufficient for the size needed for Anson County, or the ability to obtain it within two years of hire.

Physical Demands

This is sedentary work requiring the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects; work requires standing, walking, fingering, and repetitive motions; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken work levels; visual acuity is required for depth perception, color perception, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, use of measuring devices, operation of motor vehicles or equipment, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities; the worker is subject to inside and outside environmental conditions.

Closing Date: Open until filled. First review date of applications September 16, 2026.