Utilities Manager

American Water Works Association; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic leader to oversee utility operations in a thriving city. This role involves strategic direction, compliance management, and daily operations of water and sewer services. You will lead a talented team, ensuring accurate metering and billing while maintaining high water quality standards. Collaborating with city departments and regulatory partners, you will drive initiatives that enhance service delivery and operational efficiency. If you're passionate about public service and have a strong background in utility management, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in the community.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in utility operations and management.
• Strong knowledge of water/sewer system management and engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operation of field service delivery and meter reading activities.
• Develop and execute Customer Service plans to achieve strategic priorities.

Skills

Water System Management

Utility Operations

Leadership Development

Budget Oversight

Customer Service

Technical Standards Compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree in a related field

Tools

Meter Reading Systems

Water Quality Monitoring Systems

Job description

Charlotte’s local government, with more than 7,000 employees and a $2.39 billion budget, works hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn, and play.

Charlotte Water is an enterprise department of the City of Charlotte and one of the largest public water and sewer service providers in the southeast with 300,000 customer accounts and over 1000 employees. Our service area includes the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mint Hill, Matthews, and Pineville. Charlotte Water’s FY 23 budget is $535M and a five-year capital program of $2.5 billion. We enjoy the highest credit ratings from all three major credit rating agencies as a result of sound financial planning and management and strong support from our City Council. We value competent, skilled candidates with a customer service focus to work in a team environment.

JOB SUMMARY:

This position provides leadership, strategic direction, planning, and management oversight of the assigned utility area within Charlotte Water. Work involves overall compliance; leading development of annual water and sewer rates; managing assigned workforce; responsible for the daily operation of all field service delivery activities; including the meter reading system ; ensuring metering equipment is maintained and working appropriately; ensuring customer billing is timely and accurate; establishing goals for divisional staff; developing organizational structure; providing leadership and technical direction; overseeing and reviewing team member assignments and projects; and making sure assigned area has sufficient resources to perform. This position serves as a member of the leadership team and oversees and manages assigned operations and staff.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Supervises and coordinates work activities of assigned staff; assigns work, monitors status of work, and inspects completed work; participates and provides input in staffing decisions relative to hiring, firing, discipline, and promotional opportunities; evaluates performance; mentors staff; and aids with career development.
• Manages the daily operation of all field service delivery, meter reading and maintenance activities.
• Assures metering and billing accuracy.
• Oversees daily operation of the backflow program.
• Develops, executes, tracks, and reports on Customer Service plans to ensure achievement of assigned strategic priorities and projects.
• Serves as a member of the Charlotte Water Leadership Team participating in the overall management of the department.
• Partners with the Charlotte Water leadership team on department-wide strategic, operational, budgetary, and policy issues.
• Provides strategic direction, leadership development, resource needs, budget oversight and procurement for assigned area.
• Establishes the overall maintenance philosophy for the division; ensures maintenance staff is meeting the needs and is responsive to the needs of the various customers.
• Maintains water quality within water distribution.
• Makes sure that maintenance needs, activities, and functions are aligned with the
• City’s and the Department’s core values, strategic plan and direction.
• Tracks and addresses deficiencies to minimize negative impact to assigned area.
• Monitors performance levels, assets, and metrics applicable to assigned area;
• Communicates with both internal and external customers.
• Provides input into the establishment of capital investment priorities.
• Plans for optimal use of staff and material resources of the division.
• Coordinates and develops the annual budget submission for the division.
• Coordinates with multiple City departments regarding storm water projects, street paving projects, community improvement projects, and other topics as needed.
• Works collaboratively with other city departments, regional partners, and regulatory partners on programs, projects, city goals, regulatory issues, stakeholder processes and initiatives
• Assures metering and billing accuracy
• Meets regulatory and safety requirements in operational areas.
• Coordinates with City Finance on debt issuances, refinancing, and refunding.
• Provides water quality oversight of the whole system and maintains adequate pressure and flow.
• Develops organizational structure and creates an inclusive, respectful culture to support all facilities in the department.
• Monitors progress and provides feedback related to goals.
• Negotiates contracts and agreements related to assigned area of responsibility.
• Assists the utility in responding to increasingly complex technical standards and regulations.
• Reviews current processes and practices; identifies areas for improvement. Monitors, reviews, and discusses project efforts
• Represents Charlotte Water in work with elected officials, other City leaders and staff, state and federal regulators, regional partners, consultants, and contractors.
• Coordinates with internal and external service providers to assure support services and other needs are met to establish and sustain efficient, effective operations.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Ten (10) years of related work experience in utility operations and management preferably managing water/sewer maintenance, operations, and/or engineering including one (1) year of supervisory experience.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work/industry/military/job specific experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential job duties.

Licenses, Certifications or Registrations:

• North Carolina Professional Engineering registration and/or higher level is desired.
• Meter Technician Certificate and Backflow Certification is desired.
• Certification in one or more fields of water/wastewater operations (i.e., Water or Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, Maintenance Technology, Distribution/Collection System) is desired.
• Requires a valid driver’s license.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Knowledge of water/sewer system management, operation, maintenance, and engineering principles and practices.
• Ability to negotiate and resolve sensitive, significant, and controversial issues.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work is light work and requires applying 10 pounds of force frequently exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: balancing, climbing, manual dexterity, handling, perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, distinguishing among sounds, mental acuity, reaching, speaking, standing, stooping, expressing ideas by spoken word, shouting above noises, visual acuity in data/color/observations/equipment/inspections, and walking.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties at any time. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description.