Utilities Development Specialist

Polk County Board of County Commissioners•Winter Haven, FL

4d•$33 - $50

About The Position

The Utilities Division is responsible for public health and safety, as well as safeguarding the environment, by providing crucial safe water and wastewater services. This position is part of the team that provides services necessary for human health, economic stability, and overall societal well-being. At the core of the mission of providing these services includes commitment to providing excellent customer service to our citizens, business partners, regulatory agencies, and other county divisions. MAJOR FUNCTION Professional position responsible for the coordination of utility issues in the review of land development projects and the review and permitting of projects subject to potable water, reclaimed water, and wastewater capacity requirements. Participates in the formulation of land use and conservation policies related to the need, availability and provision of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water utilities. Correlates and integrates capacity program with geographic information system and hydraulic analysis programs. Participates in the preparation, coordination and documentation of utility infrastructure improvement agreements, procedures between the development community and county along with inter-local agreements between the cities and the county.

Requirements

Must have the physical, developmental and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below:
Knowledge of principles related to water, wastewater, and reclaimed water facilities and systems, including planning, zoning, land development coordination, and utility infrastructure design.
Knowledge of utilities management principles and utility master planning, including hydraulic and treatment capacity analysis and construction of utility infrastructure.
Ability to draft ordinances and develop implementation procedures related to land use and development regulations.
Ability to learn and apply local, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations, codes, policies, and ordinances applicable to land use, zoning, planning, and water and wastewater systems.
Ability to read and interpret aerial photographs, land use maps, legal descriptions, deeds, abstracts, and complex engineering plans and specifications.
Knowledge of methods for collecting, researching, and analyzing land use information, census data, customer billing data, operational flow data, water quality data, and development data.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), GIS, and AutoCAD to prepare reports, correspondence, presentations, and perform data manipulation and statistical analysis.
Knowledge of water and wastewater permitting requirements and procedures, with the ability to conduct on-site inspections and prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports.
Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and manage multiple projects while exercising sound judgment and making independent decisions.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, elected officials, regulatory representatives, and coworkers.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and participate in public speaking activities as required.
Detail-oriented with strong analytical, mathematical, research, and problem-solving skills.
Self-motivated with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Graduate of an accredited four-year college or university with course work in civil or environmental engineering, public administration, business management, and physical or natural sciences or related environmental science fields, and five (5) years of experience in development coordination, utilities engineering, utilities administration, utilities compliance, utilities maintenance and/or utilities construction.
Must have a valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver's license at the time of employment within this classification.
A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

Nice To Haves

Able to develop and/or maintain hydraulic models of the county’s water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems with the modeling software currently in use by the Utilities Division. Currently used programs: WaterGEMS and SewerGEMS.

Responsibilities

Functions as a liaison for the Utilities Division, Land Development Division, Building Division, and land developers to help ensure an efficient development review process as it relates to water, wastewater, and reclaimed water capacity requirements and conditions.
Ensures proposed development activities are in compliance with the county’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code, and Utilities Community Investment Program.
Assists with water and wastewater system capacity questions and prepares system capacity availability forms and letters.
Tracks the status of utility capacity projects for the permitting and allocation of development projects and coordinates with regulatory agencies on commitments and available capacities.
Assists with the preparation of the Utilities Water and Wastewater Capacity Summary Report.
Reviews projects through the county’s development process to include communications and coordination with departments/divisions, consulting engineers, developers, contractors, and other utility purveyors to ensure compliance regulation with Land Development and Utilities Codes.
Determines water and wastewater flow demands and calculates water and wastewater connection fees for land development projects to ensure compliance with county ordinance requirements. Evaluates water and wastewater flow demands and re-calculates water and wastewater connection fees for existing development’s changing usage.
Prepares, coordinates and monitors utility infrastructure agreements and the terms and conditions related to the public or private provision of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water utilities.
Performs data collection and analysis needed to establish or modify land use and conservation policies in the Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code and Utilities Code related to requirements for the provision of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water utilities.
Coordinates within the Utilities Division on Comprehensive Plan policies and Land Development Code requirement involving the 10-Year Water Supply Plan.
Assists with the documentation of private sector contributions to the public utility infrastructure and the inclusion of this documentation in the Utilities Community Investment Program.
Prepares professional evaluations, assessments, studies, reports, and models of systems and facilities for planning, expansion, regionalizing and decommissioning systems and facilities.
Performs permitting duties which may include the compliance evaluation of treatment facilities for permit renewals, data computation for capacity or hydraulic analyses, and permit document preparation for permit renewal applications. Conducts field inspections of water and wastewater facilities and reviews facility analytical data to assure adherence to permit compliance requirements for required reports.
May analyze and evaluate computer models using WaterCAD/WaterGEMS to assist with master planning, pump selection, pipe sizing and other related hydraulic considerations. Using established models, update with new inputs to determine acceptability of new building developments or uses.
Procures and manages consultant services as necessary on capacity programs and/or related compliance projects.
Attends meetings, conferences, and seminars as required. May oversee and direct the work of others, as necessary. Performs related duties as required.