Operations Project Manager - Wastewater & Water Utilities

Company Description

About Veolia North America

A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has approximately 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent. Please visit our website www.veolianorthamerica.com.

Job Description

BENEFITS

Veolia's comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental and vision insurance. In addition, employees are also entitled to participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement.  Pay and benefits for employees represented by a union are outlined in their collective bargaining agreement. 

Position Purpose: 

This position is responsible for working with the operations staff and VP Mid-Atlantic East to provide quality water and wastewater services to Bayonne under a long-term service contract. Project delivery must be accomplished in accordance with Veolia’s commitment to Superior Client/Customer Service, motivated and trained employees, and business efficiency. The position is responsible for full compliance with contractual responsibilities, safety and environmental compliance goals using the full resources of the company to achieve superior client/customer loyalty and build long-term relationship. Incumbent will coordinate and leverage the efforts of Veolia’s support functions – Technical Services, Finance & Due Diligence, Legal, Human Resources, and Operations Management during the project delivery.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• The Project Manager is responsible for direction of the Projects to provide high quality water and wastewater treatment and collection system services to the residence of Bayonne, under a long-term service contract between Veolia and Bayonne. To accomplish this goal, the incumbent provides guidance, assistance and direction to his/her reports.
• The Project Manager supervises and participates in the preparation and administration of strategic plans, systems plans, capital plans, marketing plans, operating plans and revises plans as needed.
• The Project Manager administers corporate, local and state rules and regulations, which govern operations, water quality, service, safety, etc.
• The Project Manager develops and maintains sound regulatory, governmental, media, community, customer and employee relations programs.
• The Project Manager, through his/her Leadership Team, trains and develops employees to assure each employee has the necessary skill sets to accomplish his/her responsibilities.
• Provides client relations including presentations of progress and special reports, participates in client meetings, conducts client service audit interviews and professional handling and resolution of client services concerns, contract interpretation and modification and/or renewal activities.
• Aggressively supervises project staff to ensure work is performed in a safe and professional manner by following established safety, operating and emergency response procedures.
• Ensures uniform monitoring and recordkeeping are performed.
• Ensures that safety, process control, and maintenance management programs and systems are consistently implemented by subordinates and that each site follows established administrative and maintenance policies and procedures.
• Manages and directs all activities related to Technical Services within the scope of his/her reporting structure.
• Manages the establishment of procedures for maintaining high standards of operation, product quality, reliability and safety. Determine and enforce, through direct and functional report groups, productivity, quality and safety requirements in accordance with company need, based on current local, state and federal regulations. Evaluate and develop improved techniques for the control of operations, quality, reliability and safety.
• Supports and assists as necessary the development and maintenance of sound regulatory, governmental, media, community, customer and employee relations programs.
• Through his/her Leadership Team, trains and develops employees to assure each employee has the necessary skill sets to accomplish his/her responsibilities.
• Promotes morale and provides staff with atmosphere of open communication, innovation and job growth.
• Performs related duties as needed and assigned.
• Dimensions / Supervisory Responsibilities:
  • Direct reports: 6
  • Indirect reports: 24
  • Combined Revenue: 10 million
  • System – Bayonne water distribution, collections system and customer service.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job:

• The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Qualifications

Education/Experience/Background:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Science, Civil, Environmental, or Sanitary Engineering preferred. Equivalent experience in related fields with strong understanding of local governments and contracting of local services acceptable.
• Master’s Degree in Engineering or MBA, strongly preferred.
• Formal training in the development, deployment, and use of Management Control & Reporting Systems (MCRS).
• Minimum ten-fifteen years combined experience as Project Manager/ Operations Manager/Director in a Water or Wastewater Utility, Consulting Engineering, Construction Management, Program Management, or Facilities Management organization with a minimum of ten years of supervisory experience managing Technical/Operational employees and complex activities.
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrated experience in supporting or leading public works project development activities with documented evidence of successfully capturing target projects.
• Strong knowledge of municipal water and/or wastewater industry issues including regulatory, financing and inter-local government management agreements.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Familiarity and adherence to all environmental and safety compliance regulations.
• Excellent skills in leadership, team building, internal & external communications, change management, and training and mentoring of Project Managers and supervisors.
• Strong skills in preparing proposals, bid and/or contract amendments for governmental agencies, with an emphasis on public works.
• Strong experience in managing contracts including negotiations, resolving conflicts and preparing and negotiating change orders.
• Ability to develop and submit complex proposals for municipal and government organizations.
• Ability to develop and implement a project level and division level Strategic Vision and plan.
• Strong skills in working with local elected officials to develop new business, negotiate contracts, prepare capital plans, and manage regulatory reviews.
• Working knowledge of water treatment methods, distribution system operations and maintenance, utility accounting systems and procedures, and engineering principles as related to water treatment and distribution facilities.
• Short and long term planning skills.
• Experience overseeing water and sewer projects; experience supervising capital system upgrades.
• Strong financial acumen with ability to review and recommend annual budgets and report variances.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively relate and interact with elected officials, regulators, and media.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.

Required Certification/Licenses/Training:

• Valid driver’s license in state of residence is required and must meet risk management guidelines.
• NJDEP C-4 and/or W-4 Operator License, or ability to obtain licenses within 1-2 year time-frame.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job:

• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; climb stairs or ladders; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to distinguish color, close vision and distance vision.

Additional Information

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.