CITY OF FERNLEY
Utility Director
Range: $105,705 - $151,195
DEFINITION
Under general supervision of the City Manager, the Utility Director serves as the managing director of the water tre
atment, water distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment operations. Performs a variety of developmental oversight, supervisory functions as well as personally performing or overseeing unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled construction, repair and maintenance functions involved in the provision of the water, wastewater, irrigation, and stormwater utilities, and performs a variety of civil engineering assignments that require application of engineering principles, practices, and theories.
DISTINGUISIDNG CHARACTERISTICS
This is a single position management class responsible for the broad spectrum of engineering functions, formulating policies, goals, and directives; providing expert professional assistance to City management staff on engineering matters, program planning, fiscal management, and operation of assigned functional areas, including professional civil engineering work and design for water treatment, distribution; oversees a wide range of engineering work in the review of designs, studies, and research in municipal utilities; provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager and; represent the department on a variety of matters at the City, State, and National level.
EXAMPLE OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES: The duties listed below are examples of the work typically performed by employees in this class. An employee may not be assigned all duties listed and may be assigned duties which are not listed below. Marginal duties (shown in italics) are those least likely to be essential functions for any single position in this class.
1. Assumes full management responsibility for all Utilities Department services, operations, and activities.
2. Manages and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the Water Treatment and Distribution Division, Wastewater Collection and Treatment Division.
3. Ensures Utilities Department compliance with local, state and federal regulations.
4. Recommends, in accordance with City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommend and administer policies and procedures.
5. Assumes responsibility for the day to day administration of the Utilities Department operational budget; forecast funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; approve budgeted expenditures; conduct monthly budget reviews of operational and capital improvement program budgets; direct the preparation of annual operational and capital improvement budgets.
6. Plan, direct, coordinate, and review the work plan for the Utilities Department; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems; assign work activities, projects, and programs; monitor work flow; review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures.
7. Ensure City water rights are submitted, renewed, and kept current with the State of Nevada.
8. Provide technical review and approvals for utility related capital improvement projects.
9. Oversee the planning and construction of cooperative projects undertaken with adjoining jurisdictions and other agencies; prepare and negotiate cooperative agreements.
10. Provides engineering services and consultation for the development of engineering plans and specifications for Utilities Department projects; coordinate construction scheduling; review construction bids.
11. Prepares project-related studies, draft reports, recommendations, and correspondence for the City Manager, City Council, and other departments or the public.
12. Makes oral presentations before the City Council, commissions, committees, community groups and boards of other governmental agencies.
13. Participates in the selection and monitoring of consultants and contractors.
14. Serves as project manager and/or resident engineer on a variety of construction or capital improvement projects.
15. Oversee the review of development plans for private projects including subdivisions, commercial projects, and industrial developments for compliance with utility codes and regulations; ensure that reviews are completed on schedule.
16. Review utility permits; issue Will Serve Letters.
17. Negotiate and prepare water and/or sewer line extension agreements; assist in the negotiation and/or development of public improvement agreements.
18. Prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
19. Conduct a variety of organizational studies, investigations, and operational studies; recommend modifications to department programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.
20. Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
21. Researches new materials and techniques and monitors current developments in civil engineering, and hydraulics and hydrology.
22. Performs contract administration activities; approves progress payments on contract construction projects; negotiates prices, and prepares contract change orders.
23. Supervises Utility Department staff; determines staffing needs; hires, trains, schedules, evaluates, and implements disciplinary action, if appropriate, to assigned staff.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of management and administration .
- Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of utility operations, policies, and operational needs.
- Working knowledge of water system operations to include: well operations and pump curves; electrical knowledge as it applies to operations; storage system requirements; distribution system hydraulics; metering operations; water and sewer line repair methods; and water sampling requirements and methods.
- Working knowledge of sewer collection system operation and maintenance; sewer treatment plant operation; discharge of treated water; and discharge permit parameters.
- Principles and practices of civil engineering design for water and wastewater utility design, infrastructure development, construction, and maintenance;
- Administrative principles and practices, including goals and objectives development and work planning and organization;
- Principles and practices of contract administration, project management and evaluation;
- Theories, principles, techniques and equipment used in water works construction and maintenance;
- Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, with emphasis on regulations regarding permit requirements in water distribution, sewer collection and treatment.
- Grant funding application and administration;
- Knowledge of water rights and water laws in the State of Nevada.
Ability to:
- Prepare and evaluate engineering studies of large projects;
- Prepare complex plans, specifications and legal contracts;
- Perform difficult, technical research and analyze complex engineering problems, evaluate alternatives and recommend or adopt effective courses of action;
- Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials;
- Exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines;
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Education and Experience: Any combination of training, education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to gain the required knowledge and ability is:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, environmental science or a closely related field and five years of full-time professional engineering experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Have at a minimum of one year of experience as a supervisor.
Licenses and Certificates: Valid registration as a Professional Civil Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Nevada, or if registered in another state, the ability to obtain a Nevada registration within one year of employment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: (The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. In compliance with applicable disabilities laws. reasonable accommodations may be provided for qualified individuals with a disability who require and request such accommodations. Incumbents and individuals who have been offered employment are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.)
The physical and mental requirements described here are representative of those that must be met
by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
Frequent sitting, standing, and occasional walking on uneven construction sites, lifting manholes
and storm drain covers. Position requires typing and writing. The employee must be able to give, receive, and understand written and oral instructions. Requires climbing into confined spaces, hearing, seeing, climbing stairs, and lifting up to 50lbs. Stamina to sit at a desk for prolonged periods of time. Visual stamina to view a computer monitor for long periods of time.
In compliance with applicable disability laws, reasonable accommodations may be provided for qualified individuals with a disability who require and request such accommodations. Incumbents and individuals who have been offered employment are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed under the following conditions:
Standard office environment with some work in outdoor conditions, which can include wet, dusty, poor lighting, dirty, and noisy cicumstances. Exposure to all types of weather. Some exposure to grease, dust, chemicals, and other potential health hazards.