Water Operations Director

Jefferson County Public Utility District 1 - Port Townsend, WA

Full-time - Mid Level

Port Townsend, WA

About the position

The Water Operations Director at Jefferson County Public Utility District is a pivotal role responsible for the safe, effective, and efficient operation and maintenance of the water department. This position is crucial in achieving the district's mission and goals while ensuring compliance with laws, rules, policies, and procedures. The director will plan, organize, manage, lead, and evaluate the overall operations and maintenance of the Water and Wastewater Systems Department, overseeing all department staff. In this role, the director will ensure that water system quality and monitoring procedures meet current regulations. They will assist in developing department policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, identifying proactive operational and maintenance activities that enhance service reliability and reduce long-term operating costs. The director will gather, analyze, and prepare a variety of administrative, financial, and technical reports for decision-making purposes, submitting monthly and annual reports to applicable agencies. The director will also design and collaborate with consulting engineers on new water and sewer or septic systems, including preparing plans, specifications, cost estimates, and conducting onsite construction oversight. They will administer and monitor the department budget, approve expenditures, and oversee the development and collection of department revenue. Additionally, the director will partner with the District's Finance Director to develop the departmental budget and investigate damages to customer facilities caused by water and/or wastewater systems. The role requires attending public meetings to present policies, reports, and other significant information to the District's Board of Commissioners. The director will prepare applications for funds and permits from federal, state, or local agencies for water and sewer or septic system projects, evaluate existing system capabilities, and coordinate construction of local utility districts requested by property owners. They will also research and identify funding opportunities to support District projects and initiatives, perform field inspections, and supervise work on water and sewer or septic systems. As a liaison to community and civic organizations, the director will collaborate with local and state agencies, respond to public inquiries, and ensure that team members have the necessary tools and equipment to perform their work safely and efficiently. The director will oversee the maintenance of the District's water and sewer or septic systems, ensuring they are in good working order and obtaining necessary state-approved certifications. They will also establish and maintain water works design standards, prepare and maintain system maps and records, assist in determining District policy, and ensure crew employees are kept current on technologies and training. In partnership with the PUD's Safety Manager, the director will ensure safe operations and compliance within the department, along with other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate safe, effective, and efficient operation and maintenance of the water department.
• Ensure consistent interpretation of laws, rules, policies, and procedures.
• Plan, organize, manage, lead, and evaluate the overall operations and maintenance of the Water and Wastewater Systems Department.
• Oversee and ensure that water system quality and monitoring procedures meet current regulations.
• Assist in developing department policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Gather, analyze, and prepare a variety of administrative, financial, and technical reports for decision-making purposes.
• Submit monthly and annual reports to applicable agencies.
• Design and collaborate with consulting engineers on new water and sewer or septic systems and upgrades to existing systems.
• Administer and monitor department budget; approve expenditures and oversee the development and collection of department revenue.
• Partner with the District's Finance Director to develop departmental budget.
• Investigate damages to customer facilities caused or allegedly caused by water and/or wastewater systems.
• Perform field investigations and structural analyses for new and proposed District water and wastewater facilities.
• Attend and present policies, reports, and other information of significance to the District's Board of Commissioners during public meetings.
• Prepare applications for funds and permits from federal, state, or local agencies for water and sewer or septic system projects.
• Evaluate existing water and sewer or septic system capability and future system requirements.
• Determine feasibility and coordinate construction of local utility districts requested by property owners.
• Research and identify funding opportunities and new sources of funding in support of District projects and initiatives.
• Perform field inspection and/or supervision of work being done on water and sewer or septic systems by District or contract crews.
• Serve as department liaison to community/civic organizations, and various government and other agencies.
• Receive and respond to public inquiries, requests for assistance, and complaints.
• Ensure that team members of the water department have adequate tools and equipment to efficiently and safely perform all work.
• Oversee the maintenance of the District's water and sewer or septic systems to ensure good working order and obtain necessary state-approved certifications.
• Administer requests for the creation of local utility districts for new water and wastewater systems.
• Establish and maintain water works design standards.
• Prepare and maintain water and sewer or septic system maps and records.
• Assist in determining District policy for water and sewer or septic systems and prepare data for rate studies when needed.
• Ensure that crew employees are kept current on state-of-the-art technologies and arrange educational training as necessary.
• In partnership with PUD's Safety Manager, ensure safe operations and compliance of the Department.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field from an accredited college preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) License preferred.
• 7-10 years of water and wastewater utilities operations and maintenance experience preferred.
• 4-5 years of supervisory or management experience preferred.
• Project Management Training and experience preferred.
• Experience with personal computer applications associated with this position, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, GIS, SCADA, and AutoCAD programs preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the job may be substituted.
• Ability to supervise effectively, plan and organize work schedules, make sound decisions, develop solutions to situations, and train others.
• Leadership ability to enable and empower employees to accomplish the District's goals and objectives through individual and team performance.
• Ability to understand, follow, and communicate accurate, clear, and concise written and verbal information and instructions.
• Ability to understand water laws and apply them to securing water rights for existing and future water demands.
• Ability to understand financial and environmental responsibilities related to water and wastewater systems.
• Ability to manage engineering and construction projects including scope, schedule, and budgets.
• Math, reading, and writing skills required for the job functions.
• Familiarity with water treatment plant operating procedures and water system equipment operations.
• Familiarity with sewer and septic system design and operation, as well as monitoring, inspection, reporting, and maintenance requirements.
• Ability to assess work requirements and coordinate and effectively assign personnel, equipment, and materials to accomplish the work.
• Ability to operate software efficiently to facilitate completion of job functions.
• Knowledge of local utility district rules and regulations preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to conduct clear, concise, and effective presentations in a public setting.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills to build relationships and foster collaboration among team members and departments.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with others and promote cross-functional teamwork to achieve District goals.
• Ability to identify and resolve conflicts.
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity and promote ethical behavior.
• Ability to meet deadlines regularly and reliably.