Public Utilities Director

County of Anson•Wadesboro, NC

23h•$75,071 - $130,213

About The Position

The Public Utilities Director performs complex professional and administrative work planning, organizing, and directing Anson County’s water distribution and production, water filtration, wastewater collection and treatment, and the construction, maintenance, and repair of water and sewer infrastructure. Reporting to the Director of Water Resources, the position implements departmental policies, goals, and regulatory requirements; oversees daily operations; ensures compliance with NCDEQ, EPA, and applicable state and federal regulations; manages budgets and capital projects; and coordinates activities across multiple divisions. The Director leads and supervises department personnel and must operate effectively in a rural environment with aging infrastructure and evolving operational needs. The role oversees County water, wastewater, and reclaimed-water systems and facilities; regulatory and permitting programs; industrial pretreatment and residuals land application; public relations and customer complaint resolution; budgets, contracts, expenditures, revenue projections, rates, and capital project estimates; and short- and long-range planning, including master planning for water supply, distribution, wastewater collection, and treatment. The Director coordinates with agencies, jurisdictions, other County departments, the County Manager, engineers, contractors, and the public, and maintains records, files, and reports. The position requires at least ten years of progressively responsible public water and wastewater utility management experience, including five years in senior leadership or executive management. A bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required, as is a valid North Carolina driver’s license. Operator certification sufficient for Anson County’s needs, or the ability to obtain it within two years of hire, is required.

Requirements

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in public water and wastewater utility management.
At least 5 years of experience in senior leadership or executive management.
Demonstrated experience managing water, wastewater, or distribution system operations in a municipal or county setting.
Strong working knowledge of NCDEQ, EPA, and applicable state and federal regulatory requirements.
Experience supervising operational staff, coordinating daily field activities, maintaining regulatory compliance, and managing budgets and resources in aging infrastructure systems.
Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Valid North Carolina driver’s license.
Water and/or wastewater operator certification sufficient for the size needed for Anson County, or ability to obtain it within two years of hire.
Ability to work effectively in a rural, resource-limited environment and manage aging infrastructure, prioritize repairs, and respond to system failures or water-quality issues.
Strong communication skills for working with the public, regulatory agencies, engineers, contractors, and County departments.
Ability to prepare reports and long-range plans, evaluate proposals, and support master planning and departmental oversight.

Nice To Haves

North Carolina Water Treatment, Water Distribution, or Wastewater Operator certifications, or ability to obtain them within two years of hire.
Experience in rural or resource-limited utility environments.
Experience coordinating capital or system-improvement projects with engineers.
Experience managing SCADA systems, pump stations, chemical feed systems, and other technical components of water and wastewater operations.
Experience responding to system failures, water-quality issues, and weather-related emergencies.
Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or a closely related field.
North Carolina Professional Engineer license.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate all divisions and facilities involved in County water, wastewater, and reclaimed-water systems.
Direct the operation, maintenance, repair, and construction of water and sewer lines and appurtenances.
Oversee water production, distribution, and supply protection, as well as sewage collection, treatment, and related utility operations.
Coordinate work with agencies, jurisdictions, other departments, and the County Manager.
Maintain legal and regulatory compliance, records, and files, and prepare reports.
Recommend employee hiring, promotions, suspensions, terminations, and merit advances.
Maintain public relations through press releases, annual customer reports, and civic group presentations, and resolve customer complaints.
Administer the County’s delegated NCDEQ self-permitting program, local ordinances and permits, and departmental legal activities.
Administer the industrial pretreatment program and land application of treatment plant residuals.
Prepare and administer budgets and contracts, and monitor expenditures.
Develop spending plans and revenue projections for water and wastewater services and recommend rates to management and Commissioners.
Prepare cost estimates for capital improvement projects.
Administer regulatory programs, including compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, USEPA Process Safety, NCDEQ Dam Safety, and other applicable regulations.
Prepare requests for proposals for engineering and other professional services.
Prepare and review short- and long-range plans for departmental operations, capital improvements, financing, and program development.
Perform master planning for water supply and distribution and wastewater collection and treatment.
Perform related tasks as required.