General Definition of Work

Performs complex professional and administrative work overseeing the Public Utilities Department including electric operations, water and wastewater distribution and treatment; does related work as required. Work involves setting policies and goals under the direction of the City Manager or his designee. Departmental supervision is exercised over all departmental personnel.

View this position in detail! Read the Director of Public Utilities Job Brochure

Essential Functions/Duties

The following job functions are typical for a position of this nature. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each function satisfactorily. Other job functions and duties may be required as assigned. Percentages for each function are subject to fluctuations.

Plans, directs, oversees, and coordinates activities of the department through supervision of subordinate personnel. In consultation with division managers, establishes broad operating policies and procedures, goals, and objectives.35%Oversees the preparation and review of departmental operating budgets and capital budgets; oversees the development and implementation of electric, water, and sewer rate schedules15%Facilitates the disposition of correspondence and preparation of a wide variety of administrative and technical reports concerning all functions of the department for the City Manager, Mayor and City Council, City Council committees, appointed citizens committees, and the public.10%Reviews and interprets state and federal regulations and legislation; serves as the intergovernmental coordinator between departments, federal and state authorities including the North Carolina Municipal Power Agencies; serves as the Director of Two Rivers Utilities15%Plans, reviews, approves, and oversees major projects involving the construction of a variety of public utility facilities; Arbitrates contractual disputes with contractors, developers, and consultants20%Researches and makes recommendations regarding administrative and operational policy and ordinance changes to the City Manager and Mayor and City Council5%

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Comprehensive knowledge of principles and practices of electric, water, and sewer operations
extensive knowledge of the materials, methods, practices, and equipment used in the operation of electric utilities, and 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 electric, 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.

Education/Experience/Physical Demands/Special Requirements/Additional Information

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field with extensive experience in managing public utilities system administration and operations,
or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Master’s degree and Professional Engineering registration in the State of North Carolina preferred.

Special Requirements

NIMS 100, 200, 300 400, and 700 levels within twelve months of hire.
Valid North Carolina driver’s license.

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:

The worker 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

High Deductible Health Plan with HSA

Dental

Vision

Life

Supplemental Insurance Plans

Pension (Local Government Employees' Retirement System)

401(k)

457

Short-term/Long-term Disability

Dependent Care Plan

Employee Assistance Program

On-Site Health Clinic

Employee Educational Assistance Program

Sick Leave (12 days per year)

Initial Employment Vacation: Starting at 12 days per year

Holidays (11 days per year)

Personal Day (1 day per year)

A comprehensive list of benefits can be found online at City of Gastonia Employee Benefits Handbook

01

Please indicate your highest level of education.

High School or Equivalent
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate

02

Do you have experience overseeing both electric operations and water/wastewater systems?

Extensive experience overseeing both electric operations and water/wastewater systems
Moderate experience overseeing one of these systems and limited experience with the other
Limited experience overseeing either system
No experience overseeing either system

03

What is your experience with preparing or managing operating and capital budgets exceeding $100 million?

Extensive experience managing budgets over $100 million
Moderate experience managing budgets between $50 million and $100 million
Limited experience managing budgets under $50 million
No experience managing budgets

04

Which best describes your experience with regulatory compliance in utilities?

Regularly worked with regulatory agencies and ensured compliance with all relevant laws
Limited experience but familiar with the basics of compliance
No direct experience but willing to learn
Not applicable
Required Question

City of Gastonia

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Director of Public Utilites