Water Resources Manager

County of Thurston•Olympia, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Thurston County Public Works is recruiting for a Water Resources Manager to join their dynamic, energetic, and innovative Water Resources team. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership and direction for the County’s water resources programs, oversee complex utility operations, and foster strong partnerships with employees, community members, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders. This position is responsible for the overall management of the Water Resources Division, which includes Stormwater Utility, Noxious Weeds and Water & Sewer Utilities. Essential functions include directing department operations to achieve goals within budgeted funds and available personnel, ensuring clear definition of responsibilities, authority, and accountability through subordinate supervisors, and monitoring hiring, training, scheduling, and assignment of employees. The role also involves collaborating with Human Resources on employee and labor relations matters, creating short and long-range development plans, establishing work programs, budgets, and staffing needs, and developing and overseeing operating and capital budget preparation. Additionally, the position coordinates division operations with other departments and agencies, develops and administers utility rate programs, and is responsible for Water & Sewer Utilities and Stormwater Operations, including facility inspections, infrastructure asset management, and emergency response. The manager is also responsible for the development, adoption, and implementation of the County's Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual and serves as the Drainage Manual Administrator. The role requires representing the County in various professional and interagency groups.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Natural Resources, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Public Administration, or a related field. Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities may be considered.
Five years of management-level experience in managing storm water or utility operations with at least three years previous supervisory experience where responsibilities included leading a large team or work group.
Must possess knowledge and experience in budget development, setting and administering utility rates, and grant management.
Ability to utilize a personal computer and related software packages to perform word processing, research, data analysis, information retrieval, and tracking.
A valid Washington State driver's license (or must obtain WA license within 30 days of hire).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Natural Resources, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Public Administration, or a related field.
Significant experience and competency supervising personnel responsible for program administration.
Significant experience and competency in budget development and control for programs in the general areas of $10 to $20 million annually.
Experience in capital project planning and delivery.
Knowledge of current water resource practices, methodologies, and operation.
Ability to read, interpret and apply a variety of laws, rules and regulations governing departmental operations including County personnel rules and regulations.
Ability to communicate complex ideas or project issues in a clear, comprehensive, effective and professional manner, both orally and in writing.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, associates, subordinates, employees of outside agencies, and with the public.

Responsibilities

Directs department operations to achieve goals within budgeted funds and available personnel.
Through subordinate supervisors, ensures that responsibilities, authority, and accountability of each work section are clearly defined.
Monitors hiring, training, scheduling, and assignment of employees.
Collaboratively works with the Human Resources Department in resolving matters regarding employee relations, labor relations, risk management, etc., which may include performance management, corrective action, termination, grievance resolution and overall employee morale.
Creates short and long-range development plans, including project timelines.
Establishes current and long-range work programs, budgets, and staffing needs, including the annual update of the Capital Facilities Plan, drainage retrofit studies, and watershed studies.
Develops and oversees operating and capital budget preparation, expenditure controls, revenue tracking, grant compliance, including identifying funding sources for projects.
Coordinates division operations and activities with other divisions and departments of the County and outside agencies as required.
Develops, implements, and administers utility rate programs including establishing rates and charges, rebate program, and billing adjustments.
Responsible for Water & Sewer Utilities and Stormwater Operations, which includes facility inspections, infrastructure asset management, and technical assistance, and 24-hour response for service interruptions and emergencies, spills, and utility locate services.
Responsible for the development, adoption, and implementation of the County's Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual and serves as the Drainage Manual Administrator.
Represents the County with professional, interagency, and intradepartmental groups to provide information regarding activities, present department plans and proposals, and to coordinate services.