The purpose of this position is to manage, coordinate and direct the operations, staff, and business activities of the City's water and sewer utilities and stormwater administration to ensure efficient and reliable operation while meeting regulatory requirements and ensuring alignment with City policies, priorities, and the strategic plan.

This job formulates short and long-range goals for the organization, develops policy, and prepares formal guidance documents.

Position works under broad policy guidance and direction of the Assistant City Manager.

Read more about this position by viewing the Director of Public Utilities job brochure here. The essential functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the class as necessary.

Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
Coordinates, assigns and reviews work and establishes work schedules; maintains standards; monitors status of work in progress; inspects completed work assignments; answers questions; gives advice and direction as needed.
Manages and directs overall public utility department operations.
Directs, develops, and leads a team of employees responsible for the water and sewer utilities and stormwater administration.
Ensures compliance to Local/State/Federal Regulatory requirements.
Develops and manages operational and capital project budgets, short and long-range planning needs, and utility rate reviews and recommendations.
Administers and manages complex construction projects, prepares and reviews project contracts, analyzes proposed legislation and administrative regulation for impacts on utility.
Completes assigned tasks accurately and within established deadlines; provides timely updates regarding significant operational, financial, regulatory, or personnel issues; plans and directs public relations outreach.
Provides efficient and effective service to customers by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active team member.
Represents the utility by preparing and presenting at City Council meetings, committee meetings, and other related meetings and events.
Confers with Assistant City Manager.
Develops and implements goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the department.
Performs related work as assigned.

Comprehensive knowledge of principles and practices of water and sewer operations; extensive knowledge of the materials, methods, practices and equipment used in the operation of water and wastewater production, treatment, distribution and collection systems; knowledge of municipal public utilities administration, planning and design; comprehensive knowledge of municipal accounting and finance as related to water and wastewater utility operations; ability to prepare comprehensive financial, administrative and technical studies and reports and communicate complex ideas effectively, to a variety of audiences; ability to maintain effective working relationships with City officials, other local, state and federal career and elected officials, employees, contractors, industries, and the general public.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Public Administration, or related discipline. Master’s degree preferred.
Ten years of managing public utilities system administration and operations or related department/program experience.
Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be substituted.

SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:

Must possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license with an acceptable driving history.
NIMS 100, 200, 300 400 and 700 levels within twelve months of hire.
North Carolina Professional Engineer License preferred.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE
The City of Gastonia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

STANDARD CLAUSES
May be required to work nights, weekends, holidays and emergencies (man-made or natural) to meet the business needs of the City.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of essential functions and responsibilities that are required of an employee for this job. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

ESSENTIAL SAFETY FUNCTIONS
It is the responsibility of each employee to comply with established policies, procedures, and safe work practices. Each employee must follow safety training and instructions provided by their supervisor. Each employee must also properly wear and maintain all personal protective equipment required for their job. Finally, each employee must immediately report any unsafe work practices or unsafe conditions as well as any on-the-job injury or illnesses.
Every manager/supervisor is responsible for enforcing all safety rules and regulations. In addition, they are responsible for ensuring that a safe work environment is maintained, safe work practices are followed, and employees are properly trained.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical activity of this position includes:
Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or couching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium

Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction

Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.

Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.

Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal spoken word levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts.

Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

The physical requirements of this position:
Office Environment Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Office environment work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are categorized as office environment if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other Office Environment Work criteria are met.

The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision:
The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform the following:

Preparing and analyzing data and figures; accounting; computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, operation of machines (including inspection)

The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position:
Theworker is subject to inside environmental conditions; Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in a typical office or administrative work environment).

Drug screening and criminal background are required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The City of Gastonia is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that is inclusive, equitable, and welcoming. We value diversity and promise to honor your experiences, perspective, and unique identity.

The City of Gastonia is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/H

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DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES