Public Utilities Director

Anson County•Anson County, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Utilities Director performs complex professional and administrative work planning, organizing, and directing Anson County’s water distribution, water production and filtration, wastewater collection and treatment, and the construction, maintenance, and repair of water and sewer infrastructure. The position operates under the direction of the Director of Water Resources and implements departmental policies, goals, and regulatory requirements. The Director oversees daily operations, ensures compliance with applicable NCDEQ, EPA, state, and federal regulations, manages budgets and capital projects, and coordinates activities across multiple divisions. The role provides leadership and supervision to department personnel and requires effective management in a rural environment with aging infrastructure and evolving operational needs. The Director also administers the County’s delegated self-permitting and industrial pretreatment programs, oversees land application of treatment plant residuals, and manages legal and regulatory activities. The position develops budgets, contracts, spending plans, revenue projections, rate recommendations, capital project estimates, requests for proposals, and short- and long-range plans. A bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience is required, as are at least ten years of progressively responsible public water and wastewater utility management experience, including five years in senior leadership or executive management. A valid North Carolina driver’s license is required. Operator certifications or the ability to obtain them within two years are required; additional certifications, a master’s degree, and a North Carolina Professional Engineer license are preferred.

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.
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 Anson County’s needs, or ability to obtain it within two years of hire.
Strong knowledge of water production and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and water and sewer infrastructure construction and maintenance.
Ability to manage aging infrastructure, prioritize repairs, and respond to system failures or water-quality issues in a rural, resource-limited environment.
Strong communication skills for working with the public, regulatory agencies, engineers, contractors, and County departments.
Ability to prepare reports, develop long-range plans, evaluate proposals, and support departmental master planning.

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.
Demonstrated 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, and direct the operation, maintenance, repair, and construction of water and sewer lines and related infrastructure.
Oversee water production, distribution, and protection, as well as sewage collection, treatment, and related utility operations.
Coordinate work with agencies, jurisdictions, County departments, and the County Manager.
Maintain legal and regulatory compliance, records, and files, and prepare required reports.
Direct and coordinate activities across divisions and facilities managing the County’s water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems.
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, enforce local ordinances and permits, and oversee 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 sales and services, and recommend rates to management and Commissioners.
Prepare cost estimates for capital improvement projects.
Oversee regulatory programs, including compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, USEPA Process Safety, NCDEQ Dam Safety, and other applicable requirements.
Prepare requests for proposals for engineering and other professional services.
Prepare or review short- and long-range plans for departmental operations, capital improvements, financing, and program development.
Conduct master planning for water supply distribution and wastewater collection and treatment.
Support the Director of Water Resources in master planning and departmental oversight.