Director of Engineering (Water Resources)

American Water•Chattanooga, TN

About The Position

People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals. We are Beautifully Different . We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey. About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $40 to $42 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities. American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn , Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Primary Role The Director, Engineering is responsible for the strategic leadership and overall management of the engineering function within a medium sized state like WV, KY, VA/MD and IA. This role is accountable for three primary areas: Infrastructure Assessment & Planning Evaluate the adequacy of water and wastewater infrastructure with respect to capacity, reliability, water quality/compliance, and operational efficiency. Direct long‑term engineering planning to identify system risks and develop strategic recommendations for mitigation. Capital Program Development & Execution Lead the creation and implementation of a comprehensive capital investment program designed to manage system risk, enhance asset resilience, and improve overall efficiency of critical infrastructure. Operational Engineering Support Provide technical expertise and engineering resources to operations and other functional teams to support system growth, operational excellence, and the organization’s core mission of delivering safe, reliable, and affordable services to customers

Requirements

Strong knowledge of Engineering related to planning, design and operations concepts for water and wastewater resource management facilities, Engineering and utility economics, knowledge of contract administration and construction technology related to water & wastewater facilities.
Knowledge of applicable state and federal regulations.
Knowledge of Company operations and procedures.
Knowledge of employee relations, applicable safety and environmental regulations, federal and state water quality and design regulations and technical standards.
Designated knowledge of engineering design theory and practice, project management, water resources, water/wastewater facilities and utility operations.
Good working knowledge of regulatory developments, new technology and current trends in water quality and water treatment and other related water resource management disciplines.
Knowledge of current trends in water quality and treatment and other aspects of the water industry.
General understanding of US regulations (commercial and environmental), legislation, and trends impacting the water industry.
Sound business acumen and judgment.
Knowledge of capital and O&M budgeting, cost estimating, cost recovery, project scoping, prioritization methodologies, and portfolio management.
Strong leadership ability and strategic planning skills
Detail oriented to conduct thorough analysis and evaluations, render and implement timely decisions and recommendations.
Project and Program Management skills, Quantitative skills (analytical, technical, problem solving)
Effective people management (planning, organizing, recruiting, supervising and leading individual staff and teams)
Strong written and verbal communications and keen listening ability (fluency in report writing and presentations)
Interpersonal Skills (persuasion, negotiation, listening, cooperation, tact, diplomacy, problem solving, internal consulting)
Leadership presence: ability to deal effectively and maintain cooperative and collaborative working relationships with senior management and other key stakeholders).
Financial analysis skills, including budget management, business modeling, and accounting knowledge.
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
15+ years’ experience in utility engineering and/or utility operations.
5+ years’ experience managing professional engineering staff.
Valid Driver’s License
Professional Engineering (PE) license required in the applicable operating state

Nice To Haves

Advanced management or technical degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Direct engineering planning activities to assess system risks and opportunities.
Develops recommendations for capital improvements, including scope, budget, and project prioritization, to strengthen the reliability, resiliency, and performance of water and wastewater systems.
Develop a prudently prioritized capital improvement plan (CIP) to address key risks and optimize efficient, reliable service.
Ensures effective delivery, governance, and oversight of the state operating company’s capital program.
Direct engineering design and construction activities in alignment with the CIP, ensuring adherence to sound engineering principles, technical standards, and effective project management practices.
Manage, coach, and develop the engineering organization.
Ensure strong collaboration and technical support for operations, business development, and other functional teams.
Prepare testimony and represents the company in rate cases, regulatory hearings and negotiations, and at community, industry, and public forums.