Public Utilities Assistant Director - Operations

City of Clearwater•Clearwater, FL

About The Position

Under the direction of the Public Utilities Director, the Assistant Director is a member of the Department’s executive leadership team and provides strategic leadership for assigned functional areas. The role collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to support safe, reliable, compliant, and sustainable water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services. The Operations Assistant Director provides strategic and operational leadership for day-to-day utility operations and operational readiness, covering water distribution and treatment, wastewater collection and treatment, reclaimed water distribution, and related services as applicable. The position leads operational performance management, safety practices, emergency readiness, and the operational use of enterprise asset management, SCADA, and related software systems. It also partners with engineering and administrative functions on capital project delivery and coordinates with regulatory agencies on operational matters as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business Management, or a related field.
Five years of responsible experience in water and/or wastewater utility operations, engineering, project management, design, construction management, or related utility functions, including at least two years in a supervisory or managerial capacity within utilities; an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.
Valid State driver’s license.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.
Ability to prepare and deliver clear, professional briefings and presentations to executive leadership, regulatory partners, governing bodies, and other stakeholders.
Ability to collaborate effectively with operations, engineering, finance, business systems, and compliance functions, and communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, external agencies, consultants or contractors, and the public as assigned.
Ability to lead large organizations, prioritize competing operational demands, allocate resources, and maintain continuity of service during changing conditions and emergent events.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field.
Experience supporting enterprise asset management and utility business systems, including SCADA and related operational technology support models, in a utility environment.
For Assistant Director, Operations: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Water A, Wastewater A, Water Distribution 1, or the highest equivalent out-of-state license.
Demonstrated experience leading large-scale utility operations, including treatment operations, safety leadership, and emergency response coordination.
Knowledge of enterprise asset management concepts and practices supporting work management, data quality, asset lifecycle planning, and decision-making.
Knowledge of utility business systems, data governance principles, and SCADA/operational technology concepts sufficient to support safe operations, operational needs, and performance reporting.
Knowledge of utility operations and maintenance practices for water treatment, wastewater treatment, reclaimed water, distribution and collection, and related service delivery requirements.
Knowledge of operational safety principles, incident response coordination, operational risk management, and regulatory requirements affecting day-to-day utility operations.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership for day-to-day utility operations and operational readiness.
Direct planning, coordination, and performance of operational services to support continuity and reliability of water distribution and treatment, wastewater collection and treatment, reclaimed water distribution, and related services.
Establish operational priorities, monitor outcomes, and direct corrective actions to maintain service levels.
Ensure operational policies, procedures, and standard work practices are developed, implemented, and consistently applied.
Lead operational safety practices, promote safety expectations, review incidents, and support continuous improvement.
Coordinate operational readiness and emergency response planning; support incident response and continuity of service activities with appropriate partners as assigned.
Partner with engineering and administrative functions on capital project delivery, operational impacts, commissioning readiness, and transition to ongoing operations.
Coordinate with regulatory agencies on operational matters as assigned and ensure operational responses align with requirements and departmental direction.
Oversee operational purchasing needs and equipment and service readiness in accordance with City policy and budget guidelines.
Lead and champion operational use of enterprise asset management systems and related software; ensure field and plant teams enter, maintain, and use high-quality data for work management, preventive maintenance, reliability, and performance reporting.
Ensure effective day-to-day operational use of SCADA and related systems; partner with support teams to sustain functionality, improve usability, and maintain reliable monitoring and control.
Promote consistent use of departmental software platforms, mobile tools, and reporting systems across operations to support decision-making and work execution.