About the Department: The York County Utilities Department, Water and Sewer Division operates and maintains water and sewer systems in defined service areas in eastern York County and western York County. The department operates on $60 million dollar budget and has 45 employees. It's a water & sewer distribution system; purchasing water and sewer treatment services from the City of Rock Hill through a wholesale agreement. The department delivers approximately 6 MGD of water to its 20,000+ customers and delivers approximately 4.5 MGD of sewer to the City of Rock Hill's Manchester Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility. The system is comprised of 2 water booster stations, 10 water storage tanks, 321 miles of water main, 121 sewer pump stations, 233 miles of gravity sewer, and 95 miles of sewer force main.
About our opportunity
We invite you to apply for our Utility Director position. This position is full-time, exempt and eligible for our comprehensive benefits package. In this integral position, you will be responsible for planning, directing, and managing the operations of the Utility Department. This position provides supervision, personnel management, project management, short- and long-range planning and technical assistance. This position also requires the use and operation of a county vehicle to visit multiple utility infrastructure locations throughout York County, oversees capital utility projects, responds to after hour emergencies and attends required meetings and trainings.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and customer-focused utility leader with a proven ability to build consensus among elected officials, staff, regulators, and community stakeholders. They are a strategic thinker and strong problem solver who can balance long-term planning with day-to-day operations while navigating complex regulatory, operational, and infrastructure challenges.

This leader is an effective manager who develops high-performing teams, sets clear expectations, and fosters accountability and service excellence. The ideal candidate brings strong technical knowledge of municipal utility operations, experience managing operating and capital budgets, and a track record of leading modernization, continuous improvement, and capital investment initiatives to ensure reliable, compliant, and sustainable utility services.

This position will be open until filled with the first review of applications beginning on February 20th.

Check out our Recruitment Brochure for this position.

Full Salary Grade Range (133): $124,105.68 - $192,338.64 per year. Salary is based on qualifications.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am -5:00 pm; hours may vary based on operational needs.

Our Total Compensation Package:

Compensation – competitive market-rate pay, and negotiable based on qualifications.
Comprehensive State Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Long-term disability
Parental Leave
Bereavement Leave
Deferred Compensation 401K Plans
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Public Loan Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness Program)
11 Paid Holidays + 3 Optional Holidays
Longevity Pay
SC State Retirement Plan Pension
Paid Vacation and Sick Time
Expanded Sick Bank
Critical Care and Cancer Insurance
Wellness Screenings
Employee Assistance Programs
Professional Development / Trainings / Conferences

Duties and Responsibilities:
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.
Plans and manages the installation, maintenance, and repair of water and sewer systems, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Provides technical guidance and support related to water and sewer utilities.
Develops and implements the departments' 3-year strategic plan and is a key contributor to the Infrastructure Strategic Goal Group.
Develops and administers the department budget; ensures effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, resources, facilities and time. Directs the procurement of departmental equipment, goods and services.
Evaluates County water and sewer systems and service needs and formulates short- and long-term plans to meet those needs in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act regulations.
Manages the water and sewer billing functions; assists with customer request and complaints; resolves billing disputes.
Evaluates and establishes rates based on system operational and capital needs.
Participates in the Capital Improvement planning and administration.
Develop, implement, and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and safety regulations.
Maintain and facilitate effective communication with regulatory agencies., County departments, affiliate utility providers and the general public.
Performs related work as assigned.
About you
Experience and Education Requirements:

Requires Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, public administration or closely related field.
Over eight (8) years and up to and including ten (10) years or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Special Certifications and Licenses:
Valid state driver's license.
Must possess state certification in water distribution operations.
State certification in cross connection control.
State certification in wastewater collection operations preferred.

Applicants with equivalent experience and/or education may be considered
Physical Demands / Work Environment / Disclaimer
Physical Demands:
Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance:
York County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

York County, SC

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Utility Director