Director Engineering Wastewater

City of Chattanooga•Chattanooga, TN

4h•$93,788 - $112,546•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Chattanooga is seeking a Director of Engineering Wastewater to lead their Wastewater Engineering, Sewer Maintenance, and Infiltration and Inflow (I & I) teams. This role is crucial for managing and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements for the Interceptor Sewer System, Combined Sewer System, and Sanitary Sewer Overflows. The Director will review and approve consultant sanitary sewer projects, perform departmental managerial duties including policy development and budget preparation, and coordinate emergency preplanning. This position also involves supervising lower-level wastewater utility staff, managing the day-to-day operations of the Regional Wastewater Engineering and Collection System, and overseeing activities for the City’s Environmental Protection Agency Consent Decree program. The role will provide guidance on innovative technology projects, including the smart sewer program, and manage utility budgets. The Director will represent the City at various meetings and events, analyze data and reports, and serve as a technical authority for engineering projects. Department-specific duties include managing various engineering professionals and overseeing work towards Zero Net Energy for the wastewater system, as well as Consent Decree coordination.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in civil, environmental, mechanical or chemical engineering or a related field.
Six (6) years progressively responsible management experience in an engineering department focused on wastewater collection and treatment facilities.
Five (5) years in a supervisory position.
A valid Driver's License.
Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee or the ability to obtain by reciprocity from another state within six (6) months of starting the job.
Professional Engineer License must be issued in the State of Tennessee.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations; grant writing; budgeting principles; program management and development including supervisory principles; project management principles and practices; vendor management principles; personal computer; Microsoft Office and Google applications; and customer service principles.
Skill in monitoring and evaluating the work of subordinate staff; responding to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies and business community; exercising independent and decisive judgment; presentations to administrators, public and boards.
Must meet regular attendance requirements.
Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.
Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction to the Wastewater Engineering, Sewer Maintenance, and Infiltration and Inflow (I & I) teams.
Manage and ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements for the Interceptor Sewer System (ISS), the Combined Sewer System (CSS), and Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO).
Provide review and approval on behalf of the City for consultants’ sanitary sewer projects, ensuring they meet City and State of Tennessee design requirements.
Perform departmental managerial duties, including developing policies, operating procedures, rules, regulations, and work methods, and making recommendations for improvement.
Formulate long- and short-range goals and objectives for better operating efficiency.
Assist with preparing and implementing the annual operating and capital improvement budgets.
Evaluate staff procedures on a continuous basis; recommend and implement improvements where necessary.
Interpret rules, policies, and procedures for staff members.
Assist in coordinating and preplanning emergencies with departmental personnel and various governmental departments/agencies.
Supervise lower-level wastewater utility staff, including prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, ensuring staff training, ensuring policy adherence, maintaining a healthy and safe working environment, and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
Approve leave requests.
Manage the day-to-day activities and operations of the Regional Wastewater Engineering and Collection System, including capital projects, Consent Decree projects, developing, planning, coordinating, administering, and evaluating programs, projects, processes, procedures, systems, standards, long and short-term strategic planning, and/or service offerings.
Ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and/or standards.
Perform activities for the City’s Environmental Protection Agency Consent Decree program, including correspondence, reports, negotiations, meetings with consultants, contractors, regulators and the public; plans review; and monitoring project progress.
Prepare and evaluate specifications and requests for proposals for related capital projects, equipment, and services.
Provide guidance, input and recommendations for innovative technology projects, including the City’s smart sewer program.
Forecast and assist in preparing various utility budgets; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; prepare and submit justifications for budget items; evaluate, monitor and control expenditures.
Represent the City and/or the Regional Wastewater System at a variety of internal and/or external meetings, public events, training sessions, on committees, and/or other related events or groups.
Prepare, review, interpret and analyze a variety of information, data and reports; make recommendations based on findings; communicate pertinent information to internal and external parties.
Participate in developing and administering the division budget; approve expenditures; review financial statements.
Serve as a technical authority for engineering projects and/or systems.
Manage a variety of different professionals such as engineers of Treatment Plant processes, pump stations, collection system, system modeling engineer, and environmental issues pertaining to sewage flows and treatment, and GIS analyst to maintain asset inventory.
Oversee work toward Zero Net Energy for the wastewater system.
Provide Consent Decree coordination with Consent Decree Program Manager including Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) and Projects to ensure Consent Decree compliance.