Director of Operations and Maintenance

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), a regional governmental agency serving 1.1 million people in the greater Milwaukee area, provides water reclamation, flood management, and green infrastructure services. Its mission is to protect public health and the environment through cost-effective water resource management, leadership, and partnership. The Director of Operations and Maintenance will establish and lead a new division responsible for operations oversight, maintenance oversight, asset management, and major corrective maintenance under a new agreement with a private operations and maintenance contractor. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director will build the division’s management team, integrate experienced staff, and establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and working relationships. The role will shape MMSD’s oversight of critical wastewater infrastructure and develop the internal knowledge, systems, and capabilities needed for effective long-term stewardship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, engineering technology, science related to water, wastewater, or maintenance, or a related field.
Ten years of job-related experience; advanced education degrees will be considered in lieu of experience.
Demonstrated ability to lead managers and technically diverse teams, establish clear expectations, develop staff, and hold individuals accountable for results.
Experience leading organizational change while maintaining effective operations and working relationships.
Knowledge of wastewater operations, maintenance, infrastructure asset management, and the operational consequences of facility outages and wet-weather events.
Ability to administer complex service agreements, evaluate contractor performance, and resolve technical and contractual issues.
Ability to evaluate competing technical recommendations, assess risk, and make timely decisions with incomplete information.
Understanding of CMMS and asset management systems, data quality, and the use of operational information to support maintenance and investment decisions.
Ability to collaborate across organizational boundaries and integrate operational, maintenance, and capital priorities.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain consequential technical and operational matters to executive leadership.
Ability to fulfill after-hours operational responsibilities and establish effective coverage and readiness within the division.
Previous supervisory or management experience.
Valid driver’s license and a good driving record at the time of application, during the selection process, and throughout employment.
At least one certification or license related to operations and maintenance of a wastewater treatment facility.

Nice To Haves

Examples of relevant certifications or licenses include a Wisconsin Professional Engineer (PE) License, Wisconsin Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification, Power Plant Operating Engineer License, Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP), IAM Diploma in Asset Management, Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM), Certified Asset Management Professional (CAMP), or Project Management Professional (PMP).

Responsibilities

Establish and lead the Operations and Maintenance Division, including managers and staff responsible for operations oversight, maintenance oversight, asset management, and major corrective maintenance initiatives.
Lead the transition from existing contract compliance functions to the broader responsibilities of the new division.
Preserve institutional knowledge, support staff development, and establish accountability for new expectations and practices.
Direct MMSD’s oversight of the private O&M contractor; evaluate performance, address deficiencies, resolve issues, maintain a productive working relationship, and enforce contractual requirements.
Establish clear decision authority, performance expectations, and management practices.
Develop managers’ technical judgment, leadership capabilities, and ability to work effectively across disciplines.
Oversee decisions concerning facility outages, wet-weather operations, energy use and purchasing, and the necessity of combined sewer overflows in accordance with applicable requirements.
Establish dependable coverage, delegation, and escalation procedures, and respond to critical issues outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Direct asset management practices that integrate asset condition, maintenance requirements, operational risk, lifecycle cost, and renewal needs.
Coordinate priorities with the Technical Services Division (TSD) and other MMSD functions.
Guide implementation and effective use of MMSD’s computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
Establish expectations for reliable data, useful reporting, and staff proficiency in evaluating asset and maintenance information.
Strengthen MMSD’s ability to independently evaluate contractor recommendations, assess performance, and retain operational and asset knowledge through staff and contractor transitions.
Coordinate with executive leadership, TSD, legal counsel, and other functions to address operational risks, contractual matters, and competing organizational priorities.
Communicate performance, risks, and recommendations clearly to executive leadership.
Ensure significant issues receive timely attention and corrective actions address underlying causes.
Complete special projects as assigned.
Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with MMSD policies and applicable laws, including interviewing, hiring, training, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints, and resolving problems.