Director Engineering (Wastewater)

City of Chattanooga•Chattanooga, TN

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Engineering for Wastewater leads the Wastewater Engineering team and provides technical support to other Wastewater divisions and City departments. The position manages compliance activities for the Interceptor Sewer System, Combined Sewer System, and Sanitary Sewer Overflows, and reviews and approves consultants’ sanitary sewer projects for compliance with City and Tennessee design requirements. The director oversees engineering and utility programs, staff, budgets, capital projects, and strategic planning for the Regional Wastewater Treatment and Collection System. Work includes managing Consent Decree projects and compliance, providing technical oversight for improvements to the Moccasin Bend Environmental Campus and wastewater collection system, and advising on innovative technology such as the smart sewer program. The role serves as a technical authority for engineering projects and systems and may oversee work toward the wastewater system’s Zero Net Energy goals. This is an exempt position with scheduled hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (EST), though hours may vary with assignments or projects. The work location is the Wastewater Treatment Plant at 455 Moccasin Bend Road. Pre-employment screening includes a background check.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in civil, environmental, mechanical, or chemical engineering, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and experience in the water pollution control industry may qualify.
Ten years of progressively responsible management experience in an engineering department focused on wastewater collection and treatment facilities, water distribution and treatment facilities, or an equivalent combination of experience and education in the water pollution control industry.
Five years of supervisory experience.
Valid driver’s license.
Registration as a Professional Engineer in Tennessee, or ability to obtain registration by reciprocity from another state within six months of starting the job.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations; grant writing; budgeting; program management and development; supervisory principles; project management; vendor management; personal computers; Microsoft Office and Google applications; and customer service principles.
Skill in monitoring and evaluating subordinate staff, responding to inquiries or complaints from customers and regulatory agencies and the business community, exercising independent judgment, and presenting to administrators, the public, and boards.
Ability to meet regular attendance requirements, maintain good interpersonal relationships, and accomplish essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.
Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Responsibilities

Lead and direct the Wastewater Engineering team and provide technical support to other Wastewater divisions and City departments.
Manage and help ensure regulatory compliance for the Interceptor Sewer System, Combined Sewer System, and Sanitary Sewer Overflows.
Review and approve consultants’ sanitary sewer projects on behalf of the City to ensure compliance with City and Tennessee design requirements.
Perform departmental management duties, including assisting with policies, procedures, rules, regulations, work methods, and operational goals.
Evaluate staff procedures and recommend and implement improvements; interpret policies and procedures for staff.
Assist with emergency coordination and preplanning with departmental staff and governmental agencies.
Supervise wastewater utility staff, including assigning and prioritizing work, conducting evaluations, ensuring training and policy compliance, maintaining a safe work environment, and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
Assist in managing day-to-day operations of the Regional Wastewater Treatment and Collection System, including capital and Consent Decree projects, programs, processes, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance.
Support the Environmental Protection Agency Consent Decree program through correspondence, reports, negotiations, meetings, plan reviews, project monitoring, and preparation or evaluation of project specifications and requests for proposals.
Provide guidance and recommendations on innovative technology projects, including the smart sewer program.
Forecast and assist with utility budgets, prepare cost estimates and budget justifications, and monitor and control expenditures.
Represent the City or Regional Wastewater System at internal and external meetings, public events, training sessions, committees, and other events.
Prepare, review, interpret, and analyze information, data, and reports; make recommendations and communicate relevant information to internal and external parties.
Participate in developing and administering the division budget, approve expenditures, and review financial statements.
Manage professionals across civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering, treatment processes, pump stations, collection systems, system modeling, sewage-related environmental issues, and GIS asset inventory.
Provide capital project management and technical oversight for improvements to the Moccasin Bend Environmental Campus and wastewater collection system.
May oversee work toward Zero Net Energy for the wastewater system.
May coordinate with the Consent Decree Program Manager on CMOM and projects to ensure Consent Decree compliance.
Meet attendance requirements, maintain effective interpersonal relationships, and perform essential functions in a timely manner, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Perform other duties as assigned.