Assistant Public Works Director-Utilities

Under the general direction of the Public Works Director, the Assistant Public Works Director - Utilities provides executive and operational leadership for the City's water and wastewater utilities. The position plans, directs, and evaluates water-supply planning, water distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, reclaimed-water, lift-station, utility maintenance, regulatory compliance, asset-management, and related capital-improvement activities. The position develops employees, manages operating and capital resources, coordinates internal and external partners, and supports emergency response to ensure reliable, safe, financially responsible, and environmentally compliant utility services. The following duties are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or logically assigned to the position.

• Evaluates current and projected water supply, wastewater capacity, and infrastructure needs and participates in master planning, conservation, drought-response, and regional planning activities to support responsible growth and long-term system resilience.
• Prepares and administers utility operating and capital budgets, monitors revenues and expenditures, and supports rate, fee, and impact-fee evaluations to maintain sound stewardship of enterprise funds and adequate resources for utility services.
• Directs the operation, maintenance, and repair of the City's potable water distribution, wastewater collection, wastewater treatment, reclaimed-water, lift-station, and related utility systems to provide reliable service and protect public health and the environment.
• Plans, assigns, supervises, and evaluates the work of utility employees and contractors to establish accountability, maintain service levels, and ensure work is completed safely and effectively.
• Develops and implements operating procedures, performance measures, work plans, and service standards for utility functions to promote consistent practices, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Monitors compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including TCEQ drinking-water rules, TPDES permit conditions, wastewater requirements, water rights, and required reporting, to maintain permits and reduce operational and environmental risk.
• Oversees sampling, testing, recordkeeping, inspections, audits, and corrective actions for water and wastewater programs to verify system performance and address compliance concerns promptly.
• Develops preventive and predictive maintenance and asset-management programs for plants, pumps, lift stations, pipelines, meters, vehicles, and equipment to improve reliability, extend useful life, and prioritize lifecycle replacement.
• Reviews operational, maintenance, water-use, flow, capacity, and condition data using SCADA, GIS, work-order, and other utility systems to identify trends, support decisions, and improve system performance.
• Plans and coordinates utility capital improvement projects by developing scopes, schedules, cost estimates, procurement documents, and operational requirements to deliver infrastructure that meets service, capacity, and regulatory needs.
• Reviews utility plans, specifications, studies, development proposals, and construction documents and coordinates with Engineering, consultants, developers, and contractors to confirm compatibility with City standards and existing systems.
• Maintains strategic partnerships with community representatives, external utility agencies, and regional water authorities to respond as a representative of the City. 
• Represents the City in negotiations with other agencies, utilities, and groups pertaining to the City’s water and wastewater strategies. 
• Oversees utility construction, rehabilitation, testing, startup, and acceptance activities and resolves operational or contract issues to ensure completed work is safe, functional, and consistent with approved requirements.
• Prepares specifications, solicitations, agenda materials, contracts, purchase requests, and recommendations for utility equipment, materials, and professional services to support transparent procurement and timely operational needs.
• Coordinates emergency preparedness, continuity, security, and response activities for water and wastewater systems and serves as essential personnel when assigned to protect critical infrastructure and restore service during emergencies.
• Inspects utility facilities, work sites, and contractor activities and reinforces safety procedures, training, and corrective action to protect employees, contractors, customers, and the public.
• Responds to complex customer concerns, service interruptions, water-quality questions, and utility inquiries and coordinates resolution with appropriate staff to provide accurate information and maintain public confidence.
• Represents the City before City Council, boards, commissions, regulatory agencies, regional water organizations, wholesale suppliers, neighboring utilities, and community groups to communicate utility priorities and advance the City's interests.
• Advises the Public Works Director on utility operations, staffing, risk, regulatory matters, projects, budgets, and emerging issues and acts on the Director's behalf when assigned to support informed and continuous department leadership.
• Builds effective working relationships across City departments and develops employees through coaching, training, succession planning, and performance management to strengthen teamwork and organizational capacity.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge through training, regulatory updates, publications, and professional organizations to apply current utility-management practices and retain required credentials.
• Performs other related duties assigned to support the operational needs and objectives of the City.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in public administration, engineering, environmental science, natural resources, construction management, business administration, or a closely related field; five years of progressively responsible municipal water or wastewater utility experience, including three years of supervisory or management experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid Texas driver's license with an acceptable driving record, or the ability to obtain one within 90 days of hire.
• TCEQ water and/or wastewater operator licenses appropriate to the City's systems and the position's assigned responsibilities are preferred.
• Must obtain and maintain any licenses, certifications, and training required by the City or applicable regulations.

Knowledge of:

• Water-supply planning, water conservation, drought response, capacity planning, system resilience, and regional water-planning concepts.
• Principles and practices of municipal water distribution and operation, wastewater collection and treatment, reclaimed-water systems, pumping, storage, metering, and utility operations.
• Federal, state, and local laws, rules, permits, and standards governing public water systems, wastewater systems, environmental protection, water quality, water rights, and occupational safety.
• TCEQ and TPDES compliance, sampling, monitoring, reporting, inspection, audit, and record-retention requirements applicable to assigned utility systems.
• Utility asset management, preventive and predictive maintenance, condition assessment, lifecycle planning, and emergency repair practices.
• Utility capital planning, design and construction practices, contract administration, procurement, and project-management principles.
• Municipal budgeting, enterprise-fund administration, revenue and expenditure monitoring, utility rates and fees, impact fees, and financial forecasting.
• Supervisory and leadership practices, including employee development, performance management, workplace safety, and succession planning.
• Customer service, public information, and intergovernmental relations practices for complex or sensitive utility matters.
• SCADA, GIS, computerized maintenance or work-order systems, utility data systems, and standard office applications.

Skill in:

• Leading multidisciplinary utility operations and coordinating the work of supervisors, employees, consultants, and contractors.
• Interpreting technical plans, specifications, permits, laboratory results, operational data, regulations, contracts, and financial information.
• Analyzing complex operational, regulatory, financial, and infrastructure issues and developing practical, defensible recommendations.
• Planning and managing multiple operating and capital priorities, schedules, budgets, and deadlines in a changing service environment.
• Preparing clear reports, procedures, budgets, presentations, agenda materials, procurement documents, and professional correspondence.
• Communicating technical information clearly to employees, customers, elected and appointed officials, regulators, consultants, and members of the public.
• Negotiating, facilitating, and resolving conflicts involving projects, contracts, service delivery, compliance, or customer concerns.
• Using SCADA, GIS, work-order or asset-management systems, utility databases, Microsoft Office applications, and related technology.

Ability to:

• Interpret and apply laws, permits, policies, technical standards, contracts, and City requirements accurately and consistently.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for water and wastewater utility services while maintaining accountability for safety, service, compliance, and financial performance.
• Exercise sound, independent judgment during routine operations, emergencies, service interruptions, and sensitive regulatory or personnel matters.
• Establish priorities, delegate responsibility, evaluate performance, and develop employees in a fair and consistent manner.
• Identify system risks and capacity needs and translate operational data into maintenance, capital, staffing, and budget priorities.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, City leadership, elected and appointed officials, regulatory agencies, partner organizations, contractors, customers, and the public.
• Respond to utility emergencies and participate in after-hours, weekend, holiday, and on-call activities as required by operational needs.
• Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, composure, and sound judgment when handling sensitive information and difficult interactions.
• Obtain and maintain licenses, certifications, and training required by the City or applicable regulations.
• Perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.