Description
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Utilities Director is responsible for the strategic leadership, administration, and operational oversight of the City’s utility systems, including wastewater, sewer, water production, laboratory services, warehouse operation, meters and customer services. This position ensures the delivery of safe, reliable, and compliant utility services to the community while directing and coordinating the activities of subordinate supervisors and staff across multiple divisions. This position also oversees capital project delivery, long-term infrastructure planning, and coordination with development activities to ensure adequate system capacity and sustainable growth. This is an at-will position, classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), without the rights of grievance or appeal.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Leadership & Administration
Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates all operations within wastewater, water production, laboratory, and meters/services divisions.
Establishes departmental goals, policies, and procedures aligned with City objectives and regulatory requirements.
Develops and manages the department budget, including capital improvement planning and long-term infrastructure investments. Assures that assigned areas of responsibility are performed within budget; Performs cost control activities; Monitors revenues and expenditures in assigned area to assure sound fiscal control; Prepares division annual budget requests; Assures effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, materials, facilities, and time.
Advises executive leadership and City Commission on utility-related issues, policy decisions, and strategic initiatives. Makes presentations to supervisors, boards, commissions, civic groups and the general public. Attends all regular and special meetings of the City Commission, departments, or administration at which attendance may be required.
Provides leadership and direction in the development of short- and long-range plans; Gathers, interprets, and prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations; Coordinates division activities with other departments and agencies as needed.
Oversees the development or update of the Comprehensive Sewer Plan and Comprehensive Water Plan.
Determines applicable codes, regulations, and requirements for assigned projects.
Coordinates with developers, engineers, and planning staff to ensure utility capacity, infrastructure timing, and cost participation for new development.
Oversees delivery of capital improvement projects including design coordination, construction administration, and contractor performance.
Exercises independent judgment in operational decisions while providing policy recommendations to executive leadership and the City Commission
Operational Oversight
Oversees wastewater collection and treatment operations to ensure compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.
Directs water production activities, including sourcing, treatment, storage, and distribution systems.
Supervises laboratory operations to ensure accurate testing, reporting, and regulatory compliance for water quality standards.
Manages meters and services operations, including installation, maintenance, billing coordination, and customer service functions.
Studies and standardizes departmental policies and procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations.
Implements asset management strategies, including system inventory, condition assessment, lifecycle planning, and risk-based capital prioritization.
Oversees implementation and use of SCADA systems, metering technologies, and data systems to improve operational efficiency and decision-making.
Regulatory Compliance & Safety
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state (New Mexico Environmental Department), and local regulations.
Maintain permits, reporting requirements, and inspections for all utility systems.
Promote and enforce workplace safety standards and risk management practices.
Staff Management & Development
Provide leadership, training, and professional development opportunities for staff.
Evaluate performance, enforce policies, and support succession planning.
Foster a collaborative and accountable work environment across all divisions.
Directs the work of division superintendents and other subordinates, ensuring accountability, efficiency, and high performance. Trains, motivates, develops and evaluates assigned staff members. Reviews progress and directs changes as needed.
Develops workforce succession planning strategies, including operator certification pathways and leadership development to ensure continuity of operations.
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
Respond to public inquiries and concerns regarding utility services.
Coordinate with regulatory agencies, contractors, engineers, and other stakeholders.
Represent the City in public meetings, boards, and regional utility collaborations.
Supervises the review of private project development plans for compliance with codes, regulations, and standards, adequacy of applications for permits and compliance with approved plans.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Represents the City at various professional events and organizations; Makes presentations and speeches to councils, boards, commissions, civic groups and the general public. May serve on various boards or committees as required and assigned.
WORK BEHAVIORS
Exhibit a positive attitude and display appropriate conduct.
Create positive relationships with the public, co-workers and supervisors and treat all persons with appropriate respect.
Comply with work schedule and fulfill job responsibility commitments.
Complete job assignments in a conscientious and thorough manner.
Adhere to Laws, Ordinances, City, Department and Division policies and procedures and support organizational objectives.
Listen with comprehension and communicate accurately, clearly, and concisely to facilitate an efficient operation.
Comply with safety rules and appropriately maintain and use equipment and material.
Maintain confidentiality of matters relating to the City at all times.
Maintain licensure and insurability to operate city vehicles in accordance with insurance policy.
Perform other duties as assigned by the City Manager or Assistant City Manager and chain of command.
Requirements
one or more of the following: pre-employment testing, post accident testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing and follow-up testing.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Administration, or a related field required (Master’s preferred).
Plus, a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal utilities or public works, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role.
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
Skill in preparing and administering municipal budgets; skill in planning, directing and administering municipal programs.
Ability to prepare and analyze comprehensive reports; ability to carry out assigned projects to their completion; ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, city officials and the public; ability to efficiently and effectively assist in the administration of a municipal government.
Considerable knowledge of engineering principles, practices and methods as applicable to a municipal setting; Thorough knowledge of applicable City policies, laws, and regulations affecting Division activities.
Thorough knowledge of comprehensive plans including their formation, process of adoption, and enforcement; Thorough knowledge of water and wastewater systems; Extensive knowledge of planning programs and processes; Working knowledge of personal computers and GIS applications;
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with employees, consultants, other governmental agency representatives, City officials and the general public; Ability to conduct necessary engineering research and compile comprehensive reports.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Valid State issued Driver’s License
Residency requirement: residing within the five (5) mile planning radius of the city.
Professional Engineer (PE) license in the State of New Mexico preferred
Possession of, or ability to obtain within 24 months, appropriate New Mexico Water and/or Wastewater Operator Certification (Level IV preferred)
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Works under the broad policy guidance and direction of the City Manager and Assistant City Manager. This position serves at the will of the City Manager.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Exercises supervision over assigned personnel either directly or through subordinate supervisory staff.
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 this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work is performed mostly in office settings. Some outdoor work is required in the inspection of various land use developments, construction sites, or public works facilities. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk or hear and smell.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. Must be available to respond to utility-related emergencies, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Serves in an on-call capacity as needed to ensure continuity of essential utility services.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
