Director-Engineering

Description

The Director of Engineering provides strategic vision and leadership for all engineering functions supporting water supply, treatment, pumping, distribution systems, storage, and facilities. This role drives the delivery of high-quality innovative solutions through project delivery and technical services while maintaining operations, maintenance, and community relationships to ensure the reliability of the water system. The Director collaborates with leaders across divisions on organizational goals and initiatives. The Director of Engineering reports to the General Manager and is responsible for managing the performance of the employees within the Division.

• Researches new strategies, brainstorms possible solutions, communicates and ensures implementation of process changes, and ensures consistency across the organization.
• Actively engages in senior leadership activities, providing executive direction to advance WaterOne’s Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategic Goals. Plays a key role in the development and coordination of strategic planning and goal-setting efforts.
• Attends Board and Committee meetings as well as other public or staff meetings. Delivers presentations to the Board, employees, public, and other stakeholders.
• Drives work performance of the Division, and provides appropriate training, mentoring and coaching to Managers to enhance the overall operations of the Division. Provides consultation to Managers for the application of employee corrective actions.
• Fosters strong relationships with employees, inspiring and motivating them to achieve success. Champions a positive, inclusive workplace culture that promotes belonging and engagement.
• Monitors and reviews work assignments to identify and solve operating difficulties, personnel or customer problems, and to ensure adherence to policies, procedures, regulations, etc. and to provide supervision and technical advice. Responsible for working with Division managers and staff to determine the most economical method for utilization of the workforce, equipment, and materials.
• Oversees project planning, design, and construction, ensuring sound engineering principles and alignment with operational goals for the organization.
• Performs or oversees other leadership and administrative duties such as timesheet approvals, time off requests, training authorizations, and other recordkeeping tasks.
• Conducts interviews and evaluates talent for hire in accordance with WaterOne interview standards. Makes hiring decisions for the Division.
• Oversees complex engineering analysis and programs, including water modeling and SCADA. Leverages enterprise data to assess capacity, identify deficiencies, and develop solutions, using insights to drive improvements and plan future projects.
• Conducts annual performance evaluations, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and employee development plans. Cultivates leadership skills in direct reports at intermediate to advanced levels and mentors high-potential employees to support their leadership growth.
• Provides guidance or addresses inquiries and complaints from customers or stakeholders that cannot be resolved by managers, or those requiring a high degree of urgency or severity.
• Leads and guides efforts to foster a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.
• Plans, coordinates, oversees and evaluates the organization, functions and activities of the Division to ensure effective and efficient operations and quality service to all customers and stakeholders.
• Contracts with vendors to ensure compliance with project or service requirements and WaterOne business practices.
• Leads the development and implementation of the 40-Year Master Plan, Capital Improvement Plan, and Asset Management Plan, forecasting future needs related to water system growth, rehabilitation, replacement, and regulatory changes. Assesses risks, prioritizes improvements, and identifies opportunities to enhance the reliability and efficiency of water treatment and distribution systems.
• Provides guidance to Managers on departmental tactical strategies, metrics, and key performance indicators, while taking ownership of achieving Division goals and aligning with the organization’s mission. Regularly reviews and interprets performance data to ensure strategic adjustments are made as needed.
• Provides vision, direction and goal setting for the Division in alignment with WaterOne’s mission, vision, values and strategic plan, and in coordination with organization-wide and cross-divisional priorities.
• Advises the General Manager, WaterOne Board, and senior staff on engineering matters that impact strategic objectives.
• Ensures project quality by evaluating proposals, contracts, scopes of work, schedules, budgets, contractor and vendor performance.
• Ensures alignment and consistency with organizational and team policies; contributes to the development of organization-wide policies and approves or endorses team-level policies.
• Leads disaster recovery efforts in the event of a catastrophic occurrence.
• Develops and maintains internal relationships within WaterOne, as well as stakeholder relationships within the community, and various governmental entities.
• Oversees the development and review of policies, procedures, and engineering standards for project management, design, and construction.
• Oversees the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of both operating and capital budgets. Evaluates historical spending and assesses future resource needs to ensure alignment with Division goals and WaterOne’s overall financial framework. Authorizes Division expenditures in accordance with WaterOne policies.
• Supports the exploration, development and implementation of new and innovative technologies, systems, and methods to increase efficiency, cost savings, enhanced security, and improved customer experiences.
• Provides strategic vision and leadership in the development and management of the Division’s budget, business plans, financial forecasts, and long-term staffing needs.
• Oversees public engagement efforts on projects, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to address project impacts, benefits, and requirements.
• Collaborates with Divisions to implement projects and deliver technical services that support overall operations, strategic initiatives, and goals.
• Develops and maintains industry relationships with vendors, other utilities and professional organizations like the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Participates and encourages staff to participate in water industry research and activities providing awareness to WaterOne on leading edge technologies and practices.

Requirements

An employee in this position will rarely lift or move up to 5 lbs, work in outdoor weather conditions, and tolerate noise levels that are generally minimal but may be excessive for brief periods of time (hearing protection is provided). Employees in this position must be able to remain in a stationary, standing and/or sitting position for up to several hours a day, move from one location to another, and constantly operate office productivity machinery such as a copy machine, telephone, and computer. Employees must be able to position themselves to stoop, kneel, or crouch, move through elevators, stairways, ramps and rough terrain, as well as move from one location to another. Employees must also be able to wear personal protective equipment and navigate construction sites.

Required_Degreee: 4 Year Degree

Minimum Experience 12 Years

• Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Seventeen years of progressive leadership responsibilities that included experience with employee performance reviews and coaching and managerial administrative tasks like timekeeping approvals.
• Ability to make critical decisions and apply good problem-solving skills.
• Cooperative attitude and ability to exhibit diplomacy and judgment when working with government agencies and the public.
• Experience negotiating and managing contracts for products and services.
• Knowledge of working in right-of-way and easements.
• Ability to effectively plan, schedule, and direct multiple projects/activities through project and asset management.
• Ability to effectively communicate with the WaterOne Leadership Team and all other levels of employees, customers, political, governmental and business leaders, contractors, developers, and other stakeholders.
• Exceptional service orientation.
• Knowledge of State and Federal drinking water regulations.
• Ability to motivate in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate with the WaterOne Leadership Team and all other levels of employees, as well as the ability to deliver high quality communications to the WaterOne Board. This includes the ability to present ideas in business-specific language appropriate for the target audience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Chemical, Environmental, Mechanical, or related field).
• Experience with enterprise software, including SAP S4/HANA, Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA), ESRI Geographic Information System (GIS), and Automated Information Mapping System (AIMS).
• Twelve years of increasingly responsible experience in the water utility industry relating to potable water production, distribution operations, and maintenance, with an emphasis on engineering design and construction contracts, leveraging both internal and external teams.
• Knowledge of water facilities design, construction, operations, and maintenance.
• Strong computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office suite of software with emphasis in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Knowledge of SCADA and computer control systems. Ability to learn and use WaterOne software programs.
• Ability to plan, evaluate, motivate and manage the performance of teams, and to provide appropriate leadership and oversight of their continued professional development.
• Ability to collaborate with senior management to achieve WaterOne goals and objectives.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and standard practices applied in water treatment, water distribution systems, and asset management.
• Knowledge of security issues that affect water utilities and ability to recognize hazards to water quality, personnel, and facilities.
• High standards for quality and quantity of work produced, including the ability to provide technical support, correct and timely forecasting, progress, and procedural reports
• Postgraduate degree in Management, Business Administration, or Engineering (Civil, Chemical, Environmental or Mechanical) or related field.
• Knowledge of safety issues in underground work including open trench and trenchless operations, traffic control and confined spaces, as well as water treatment facilities, while exercising good judgment and concern for workers and workplace safety.
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience and the ability to effectively work with the other senior leadership team members, internal and external stakeholders, consultants, and boards or governing bodies.
• Registration to practice as a Professional Engineer in the state of Kansas is required. Licensing from another state will be accepted if comity exists with the State of Kansas. If so, a license in Kansas must be acquired within one year of employment.
• Experience managing vendors who provide both products and services.
• Ability to function effectively as an internal consultant for all parts of the business.
• Seven years of progressive leadership responsibilities that included experience with employee performance reviews and coaching and managerial administrative tasks like timekeeping approvals.
• Experience designing, permitting, constructing, and commissioning water utility infrastructure.
• Available during specific emergency situations as outlined in the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) or when operational decisions require input from the Director.

Benefits

Pay range for this position is $200,000/yr to $265,000/yr. Compensation for the selected candidate will depend on candidate qualifications and experience as related to the position requirements..

• Flexible spending account
• Company funded Cash Balance Plan
• Medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, and LTD insurance
• Company match Defined Contribution Plan
• A variety of other benefit programs and activities
• Comprehensive wellness program
• Competitive base pay
• Educational assistance program

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance