Austin Water Operations Manager - Water Treatment Operations - Austin Water

City of Austin•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under nominal direction, the Austin Water Operations Manager plans, directs, and administers multiple divisions supporting the operations, maintenance, advanced operational technology, and support services of water, wastewater, and/or reclaimed-water programs involving multiple facilities or programs. The position oversees and coordinates Austin Water’s Davis, Ullrich, and Handcox lime-softening water treatment facilities. It reviews and responds to regulatory requirements, participates in asset management, and monitors water-quality changes and necessary responses to protect public health and safety. The manager coordinates with other Austin Water Operations Managers, the Austin Water Executive Team, City departments, consultants, neighborhood associations, and the general public. The role develops and evaluates strategic short- and long-range plans, including three- to five-year forecasts; oversees division budgets; evaluates program effectiveness; and ensures compliance with applicable policies, procedures, ordinances, and federal and state regulations. It develops and approves procedures and specifications for operations, equipment, technical instrumentation, testing, quality control, safety, and training. The manager provides technical advice, represents the division and department, and applies principles related to water and wastewater engineering, process controls, SCADA, distributed control systems, and advanced smart-water infrastructure. The position has full supervisory responsibility, including employee selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendations for dismissal. It is based at Ullrich Water Treatment Plant in Austin, Texas. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with some flexibility; other hours may be required to support 24/7 utility operations. The position is designated essential and may require work during emergencies, inclement weather, weekends, or holidays, as well as shift work, overtime, callback, and on-call work. Travel to multiple work locations may be necessary.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a relevant field, plus seven years of progressively responsible experience related to the program area, including three years in a supervisory, management, or program-management capacity.
A master’s degree from an accredited college may substitute for two years of non-supervisory or non-management experience.
Experience may substitute for education up to a maximum of four years.
For the water-treatment program area, an appropriate Class A Water license from TCEQ or a State of Texas Professional Engineer license is required.
An equivalent out-of-state water license must be eligible for TCEQ reciprocity, with reciprocity completed before the hire date is confirmed; an out-of-state PE license requires obtaining a State of Texas PE license before the hire date is confirmed.
Knowledge of water and wastewater operational programs and local, state, and federal water, wastewater, and reclaimed-water regulations.
Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures; safety practices and procedures; supervisory and managerial techniques; and fiscal planning and budget preparation.
Oral and written communication skills; ability to make public presentations.
Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize, plan, organize, and use computers and related software.
Ability to analyze complex data from multiple sources, synthesize information, and develop sound decisions and recommendations.
Ability to manage projects, develop and execute timelines, delegate tasks, and evaluate progress from project start through completion.
Ability to recognize and analyze irregular events quickly; resolve situations using tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment; and work through frequent interruptions and changing priorities.
Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility under the City of Austin Driver Safety Program.
A detailed employment application, cover letter, and resume are required. Candidates selected for interview must prepare and deliver a short presentation.

Nice To Haves

Advanced management experience in a large, robust organization.
Extensive experience using performance measures to assess progress and drive improvements.
Knowledge of and experience implementing occupational health and safety best practices within the wastewater industry.
Demonstrated ability and experience developing and maintaining positive business relationships internally and externally.
Experience implementing and managing process improvements for large groups.
Advanced written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to travel to more than one work location.

Responsibilities

Determine divisional needs and develop, execute, and evaluate strategic short- and long-range plans, including three- to five-year forecasts for projects, programs, and division activities.
Review, prepare, consolidate, and monitor division-wide budgets.
Coordinate activities within the division, with Austin Water and City departments, and with consultants, engineers, associations, regulatory agencies, neighborhood associations, and the public.
Interpret and ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, ordinances, and federal and state regulations.
Evaluate programs for effectiveness and achievement of goals.
Develop, review, revise, and approve procedures and specifications for plant, field, or laboratory operations; equipment and technical instrumentation; analytical testing; quality control; safety; and training.
Facilitate, conduct, and attend meetings and represent the division on behalf of the assistant director, department, and City.
Provide technical advice and assistance to internal and external customers.
Apply and interpret principles and practices related to civil, water and wastewater, and/or process-control-system engineering; water SCADA controls; DCS; and advanced smart-water infrastructure.
Oversee and coordinate the Davis, Ullrich, and Handcox lime-softening water treatment facilities.
Review and respond to regulatory requirements, participate in asset management, and monitor water-quality changes and responses needed to protect public health and safety.
Coordinate and collaborate with other Austin Water Operations Managers, the Austin Water Executive Team, other City departments, consultants, neighborhood associations, and the public.
Select, train, evaluate, counsel, and recommend dismissal of staff.
Meet and maintain eligibility under the City of Austin Driver Safety Program and travel between work locations as needed.