Utilities Director

Description

FLSA: Exempt

Purpose of Classification:

The purpose of this classification is to direct and manage daily operations and activities of the City’s Utility Division, which includes the electric, natural gas, water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Supervises subordinate utility division personnel. Prepares and processes various reports, records, documents, and related information; responds to correspondence and phone calls relating to utility services; administers contracts; reviews and approves engineering plans, specifications, and system studies, etc. Reports to the City Administrator.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Manages, directs, and evaluates assigned staff: develops and oversees employee work schedules to ensure adequate coverage and control; compiles and reviews timesheets; approves/processes employee concerns and problems and counsels or disciplines as appropriate; assists with or completes employee performance appraisals; directs work; acts as a liaison between employees and management; and trains staff in operations, policies, and procedures.

Organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work: prioritizes and schedules work activities in order to meet objectives; ensures that subordinates have the proper resources needed to complete the assigned work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; consults with assigned staff to assist with complex/problem situations and provide technical expertise; provides progress and activity reports to management; and assists with the revision of procedure manuals as appropriate. 

Directs the activities of the Utilities Division concerning the operations, maintenance, construction, and expansion of the electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities.

Reviews all incoming correspondence relating to utilities and responds or takes necessary action: reviews all monthly invoices for utilities purchases; reviews bi-weekly time sheets of all utilities employees; and classifies hours. 

Administers all state and federal environmental and safety regulations, and other regulations to include applicable reporting. 

Responds to telephone calls from customers, contractors, vendors, and local, state, and federal agencies regarding utility services. 

Prepares detailed annual budget for electric, gas, water and wastewater to include revenues, expenditures, and capital items. 

Administers wastewater ordinance, to include industrial permitting, pre-treatment compliance and associated notices and reporting. 

Administers federal Department of Transportation (DOT) natural gas pipeline regulations and South Carolina Public Service Commission: administers federal DOT drug and alcohol regulations relating to the natural gas division. 

Prepares long range capital improvements plans for electric, gas, water and wastewater, to include projected schedules for construction and cost estimates. 

Administers contracts involving construction projects for electrical, gas, water and wastewater: negotiates, reviews, and approves contracts for electric and gas supply, material and equipment purchases.   

Reviews and approves all engineering plans, specifications and system studies relating to electric, gas, water and wastewater systems, as well as plans for utilities service for industry, commercial and apartment complexes. 

Confers with regulatory agencies, engineers, architects, vendors, attorneys, and others as required regarding utilities service and other related matters: attends and participates in regulatory hearings for utility related issues; and testifies in legal proceedings involving utility law suits or other cases. 

Negotiates, reviews and approves all contracts for electric and gas supply, material, and equipment purchases. 

Performs rate analyses for electric, gas, water and wastewater, to include projected revenues and expenditures: uses information to develop new rates as required. 

Prepares specifications for major equipment and material purchases; evaluates quotes and makes purchases; reviews and approves daily purchases of subordinate personnel. 

Prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for City Council, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and others. 

Negotiates and drafts service agreements for water, wastewater districts and industrial gas customers. 

Meets with new industrial prospects, shows sites, discusses industrial development needs to include energy, utilities, siting, incentives, etc. 

Prepares agenda information for Council meetings, to include background data, costs, and recommendations. 

Confers and works with City Administrator to develop or revise service policies as needed. 

Serves on and participates with various Boards, Commissions and committees for the City. 

Confers and works with financial consultants, rating agencies, and bond attorneys to prepare official statements and sell revenue bonds: administers all projects relating to utility revenue bonds. 

Receives, reviews, prepares and processes various reports and documents to include correspondence, invoices, budget and financial reports, environmental inspections, time sheets, specifications, engineering plans, drug reports, etc. 

Operates and utilizes various equipment and machinery such as a computer, calculator, copier, blueprint machine, telephone, two-way radio, drafting instruments, surveying instruments, diagnostic instruments, pipe locators, valve locators, gas leak detectors, etc. 

Additional Functions:

Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, or a related field required; supplemented by seven years of progressively responsible experience in public utilities operations, maintenance and construction of electric, gas, water and wastewater systems;, to include lead or supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. 

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all City or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Performance Aptitudes:

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to synthesize, hypothesize, and/or theorize concerning data involving modification of existing policies, strategies and/or methods to meet unique or unusual conditions. Requires the ability to do so within the context of existing organizational theories and management principles.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to function in a managerial capacity for a division or organizational unit; includes the ability to make decisions on procedural and technical levels.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver, and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials requiring complex and/or rapid adjustments.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize consulting and advisory data and information, as well as reference, descriptive and/or design data and information as applicable.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables; and to analyze major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in critical and/or unexpected situations involving moderate risk to the organization.

ADA Compliance:

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds).

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, taste, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

The City of Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.