Bessemer Utilities Assistant Director

TARGET CLOSE DATE:

12/31/2026

PAY GRADE:

Grade 35

TYPE:

Full time

JOB SUMMARY:

Bessemer Utilities Assistant Directors perform senior-level administrative, managerial, and technical work directing the daily business and operational activities of the City's electric and water utilities. Employees in this job class are responsible for managing utility distribution operations, infrastructure construction and maintenance, financial and budget administration, billing and revenue functions, regulatory and contractual compliance, capital improvement projects, personnel management, safety programs, and emergency response activities. Employees are distinguished from Bessemer Utilities Directors by their responsibility for managing daily departmental operations and implementing established goals and policies rather than exercising overall executive authority for the department. Work is performed in both office and field settings, with visits to utility facilities, construction sites, and operational locations. Employees report to the Bessemer Utilities Director, receive general direction regarding departmental objectives and priorities, and exercise considerable independence in directing operational activities, managing resources, resolving complex administrative and technical issues, and supervising subordinate supervisors and personnel. Employees may represent the department and assume delegated leadership responsibilities in the Director's absence.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

The City of Bessemer provides competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages, including medical and dental insurance, an employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more. The pay range for this job is presented below:


$91,852 - $142,480

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following qualifications are proposed for evaluation and should be finalized following review of the position's actual responsibilities and market comparisons.

• Experience managing or coordinating utility operations (e.g., coordinating maintenance and operational activities, monitoring service delivery, addressing operational issues, or implementing process improvements).
• Experience managing departmental or organizational operations, including directing subordinate managers or supervisors, establishing operational priorities, and evaluating organizational performance.

• Experience developing or administering operating and capital budgets (e.g., monitoring revenues and expenditures, evaluating financial statements and revenue performance, assessing cost recovery, or making funding and resource allocation decisions).

• Experience managing contracts or procurement activities (e.g., evaluating proposals, administering agreements, negotiating contract terms, or monitoring vendor performance).

• Experience interpreting and applying regulatory or contractual requirements (e.g., monitoring compliance with applicable laws or contractual agreements, implementing compliance procedures, identifying and addressing compliance deficiencies, or preparing reports for regulatory agencies or oversight bodies).

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

• Manages the daily administrative, business, and technical operations of the City's electric and water utility department by implementing departmental goals and priorities, directing subordinate supervisors and personnel, monitoring operational performance, and resolving administrative and technical issues to ensure efficient operations, financial accountability, and reliable delivery of utility services.
• Manages assigned departmental financial and budget activities by assisting with the development of operating and capital budgets, monitoring revenues and expenditures, evaluating equipment, personnel, and infrastructure funding needs, reviewing financial and budget reports, and recommending resource allocations and corrective actions to support departmental objectives and maintain fiscal accountability.
• Manages departmental compliance activities involving electric and water utility operations by monitoring adherence to applicable environmental, safety, utility, and contractual requirements, including wholesale power agreements; maintaining required permits and compliance documentation; coordinating inspections and regulatory reporting; and addressing identified deficiencies to ensure compliance with established requirements.
• Manages assigned utility business operations by overseeing billing, customer accounts, revenue collection, rate administration, payment processing, and related administrative functions through subordinate personnel to ensure accurate billing, effective revenue management, consistent application of departmental policies, and resolution of complex customer account issues.
• Manages improvements to departmental business and operational systems by evaluating billing, accounting, customer-information, and utility management processes, identifying system and workflow deficiencies, coordinating technology improvements with staff and vendors, and implementing approved changes to improve operational efficiency, financial accuracy, and utility service delivery.
• Manages assigned capital improvement projects, procurement activities, and contract administration by evaluating infrastructure needs, reviewing project plans and specifications, coordinating with engineers, contractors, and vendors, developing project cost estimates, monitoring project schedules and expenditures, and overseeing the acquisition of equipment and materials to ensure timely completion of utility improvements within approved budgets and established requirements.
• Manages departmental personnel by directing subordinate supervisors and field personnel, establishing performance expectations, assigning and evaluating work, reviewing staffing and training needs, addressing personnel issues, and participating in hiring, performance evaluation, and disciplinary processes to maintain an effective workforce and support departmental goals.
• Directs operational response activities during electric and water utility emergencies by assessing service disruptions, establishing response priorities, coordinating field crews and external responding agencies, allocating personnel and equipment, monitoring restoration activities, and communicating significant operational issues to the Utilities Director to ensure public safety, timely service restoration, and continuity of utility operations. 
• Coordinates the development and implementation of departmental policies, administrative procedures, and service regulations by evaluating operational needs, reviewing financial and regulatory requirements, consulting with subordinate supervisors and other stakeholders, and preparing recommendations for the Utilities Director's review to support consistent departmental operations and informed policy decisions.
• Represents the utility department within delegated authority by coordinating with the Mayor's Office, City Council, regulatory agencies, utility suppliers, contractors, and other stakeholders; preparing reports and recommendations; resolving escalated issues; and assuming assigned departmental leadership responsibilities in the Director's absence to maintain organizational continuity and support informed decision-making.
• Manages the construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of the City's electric and water utility distribution systems by establishing operational priorities, scheduling and supervising field activities, reviewing technical plans and work orders, coordinating infrastructure installations and improvements, monitoring system conditions, and evaluating equipment and resource needs to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient utility services.
• Manages departmental safety and technical training activities by establishing and enforcing operational safety procedures, coordinating employee training on electric and water utility equipment and work practices, conducting or overseeing field safety inspections, identifying workplace hazards, and implementing corrective measures to promote safe utility operations and compliance with applicable safety requirements.
• Engages in professional development by reviewing industry publications, participating in professional organizations, attending training and conferences, and monitoring changes in electric and water utility operations, financial management, regulatory requirements, safety practices, and public administration to maintain current knowledge and support effective departmental management.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work is primarily sedentary and may require sitting for extended periods while performing administrative duties, using a computer, reviewing documents, and attending meetings. Job may require occasional standing, walking, bending, reaching, and climbing steps during visits to utility facilities, construction sites, and other operational locations. Job may also require walking on uneven or unstable ground during field inspections and site visits.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is primarily performed in an office environment and requires regular use of a computer and standard office equipment. Job may require occasional travel to utility facilities, construction sites, and other operational locations, with potential exposure to uneven terrain, inclement weather, temperature extremes, electrical hazards, and heavy equipment. Job may require wearing common protective or safety equipment during site visits. Job may require interacting with angry or irate customers or citizens, working beyond normal business hours, and occasionally being on-call to respond to utility emergencies or significant service disruptions.

EEO STATEMENT:

The Personnel Board of Jefferson County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment with the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.  Each Merit System member city/agency operates its own equal employment opportunity policies available on the individual city/agency website.

ACCOMMODATION:

NOTE:

This job posting may close before, or be extended beyond, the listed Target Close Date based on the employment needs of the Merit System. More detail regarding this job is available by clicking Apply.

DISCLAIMER:

This job posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of the job duties, responsibilities, or skills and abilities required for this position and may be changed at the discretion of the Personnel Board at any time.