Assistant Director, Watershed Protection - Modeling, Monitoring, and Compliance (MMC)

City of Austin•Austin, TX

6d•$194,000 - $204,000

About The Position

Austin Watershed Protection protects lives, property, and the environment by reducing flooding, erosion, and water pollution. Established in 1996, the department manages the City’s creeks, drainage systems, and water quality programs. Under the direction of the Director, the Assistant Director leads personnel and activities related to development review and inspection services, helping reduce the impacts of flooding, erosion, and water pollution. The role develops and implements division strategies, programs, policies, and procedures; oversees staffing, fiscal management, planning, and evaluation; and ensures compliance with applicable regulations and City requirements. It also supports departmental budget development and monitoring, recommends or approves major purchases as applicable, and represents the division with City departments, agencies, contractors, consultants, officials, and the public. The position supervises staff across the full range of supervisory functions, including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendations for dismissal. The ideal candidate provides strategic oversight of environmental monitoring and compliance, floodplain management, and community education; leads complex environmental programs; and collaborates across departments, agencies, and stakeholder groups. The role also requires preparing and presenting reports, and addressing sensitive inquiries, complaints, and issues.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with major coursework in Engineering, Business, Natural Science, Public Administration, or a related field.
Six years of supervisory or management experience in the environmental field, public administration, or business administration; a master’s degree may substitute for up to two years of experience.
Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
Knowledge of and skill in supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
Oral and written communication skills.
Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize.
Skill using computers and related software applications.
Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
Ability to train others.
Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated expertise leading municipal stormwater programs, including MS4 permit compliance, regulatory coordination, and water-quality strategies meeting TCEQ and EPA requirements.
Experience guiding ecological programs and applying ecosystem science to municipal decisions, including habitat protection, biodiversity assessments, and conservation initiatives.
Experience directing floodplain management, interpreting FEMA/NFIP requirements, evaluating flood risk, and advancing mitigation strategies.
Experience managing stormwater utility operations, inspections, regulatory adherence, BMP performance, and compliance documentation.
Experience evaluating development proposals for stormwater impacts, applying drainage criteria, guiding applicants, and ensuring designs meet municipal runoff, water-quality, and resilience standards.
Ability to coordinate closely with City departments and external agencies.
One or more relevant professional credentials, such as Professional Geologist, Professional Engineer, Certified Floodplain Manager, Professional Wetland Scientist, or Certified Inspector of Sediment and Erosion Control.
Ability to lead development and implementation of departmental goals, policies, and staffing priorities, align work with citywide objectives, and allocate resources.
Negotiation skills, including building agreement, resolving differences, and achieving favorable outcomes through communication, strategic thinking, and collaborative problem-solving.
Social intelligence, including building meaningful connections, understanding others’ responses, and guiding interactions effectively.
Customer-focused approach that delivers high-quality results and service while considering internal and external customers’ needs and perspectives.
Visionary executive leadership, regulatory expertise, political acumen, and experience aligning multidisciplinary teams around climate resilience and equity.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement short- and long-range strategies, plans, programs, and personnel supporting administration, management, fiscal management, program planning, and evaluation.
Determine goals, objectives, and resource requirements for division activities.
Develop, revise, and implement division practices, policies, and procedures.
Ensure division compliance with governmental regulations, ordinances, directives, and City practices, policies, and procedures.
Assist with development, management, and monitoring of the departmental budget and ensure operations remain within the appropriated budget.
Recommend and, where applicable, approve major purchases and expenditures.
Serve as liaison to City departments, consultants, contractors, and governmental agencies.
Respond to and resolve sensitive inquiries, complaints, and issues from internal and external sources.
Compile, review, and analyze data; prepare and present written and oral reports.
Investigate and resolve consumer and citizen inquiries and complaints.
Present to City Council, boards, County, State, and Federal officials, vendors, contractors, and the general public.
Direct personnel providing development review and inspection services related to flooding, erosion, and water pollution.
Perform the full range of supervisory activities, including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.
Provide strategic oversight of environmental monitoring and compliance, floodplain management, and community education.