Utilities Director

Job Description

Job Title: Utilities Director

Department: Utilities

Location: Municipal Building

FLSA Status: Exempt

Code: EAP-14

Reports to: City Manager

Job Summary

Under general direction researches literature to maintain current information on practices and methods of utility services; analyzes needs and generates revenue; directs the formulation of strategic and operating plans, develops and obtains approval for annual budget; reviews, updates and modifies jobs, prepares position announcements, designs selection procedures, recruits and interviews applicants and makes hiring recommendations, orients and trains staff, communicates work rules, counsels employees and rates job performance; writes directives and holds group meetings, leads and directs activities of subordinate managers and staff; controls budget and ensures expenditures are in accordance with guidelines; maintains liaison and coordinates with other departments and represents City Manager at meetings as required and carries out public relations activities by speaking at civic functions and making media appearances, assists in planning and administrative functions as required.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statement of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this position. Other duties may be required, assigned and expected aside from those set forth below to address operational needs and changing operational practices.

• Researches literature including books, articles and other sources to maintain current information on practices, methods and approaches to customer service, billing, collection and meeting for water and other utility services.
• Communicates with other City departments and City Council to analyze needs in rate structures, deposits and other financial aspects to generate necessary revenue.
• Directs the formulation of strategic and operating plans needed to accomplish mission and achieve goals efficiently and effectively.
• Develops and obtains approval for policies and operating procedures.
• Develops and obtains approval for annual budget.
• Reviews, updates and modifies jobs as necessary to accomplish work; may propose addition or deletion of jobs.
• Prepares position announcements, designs selections procedures, conducts recruiting activities, evaluates applications, holds interviews and makes hiring recommendations to City Manager.
• Orients new employees; trains key employees on UMS software and other computer skills.
• Research and recommend training for employees.
• Establishes expectations for total operations of the Utilities Department.
• Counsels employees as necessary and rates job performance.
• Recommends pay actions including starting pay and pay adjustments based on established procedures. Communicates work rules and administers disciplinary action as necessary.
• Writes directives, hold group meetings and conferences with subordinate managers and employees to explain plans, policies, procedures, projects and programs including time lines, budgetary considerations and expected results.
• Leads and directs activities of subordinate managers and other reports.
• Ensures that managers and employees have necessary equipment, supplies and other resources needed to complete assignments.
• Monitors work climate and implements appropriate team building and motivational techniques so that managers and employees work effectively to accomplish objectives.
• Coordinates, through Office Manager activities in metering, billing, cashiering and dispatching and customer service.
• Coordinates through Purchasing /Warehouse Manager purchasing and warehousing of Utilities supplies.
• Maintains liaison and coordinates with other Utilities Departments, Public Service Department and Finance Department.
• Prepares and delivers presentations to City Council, schools, civic clubs and other groups as necessary to explain activities, plans and proposals and maintains customer relations.
• Monitors performance of temporary contract employees.
• Controls budget and ensures expenditures are in accordance with guidelines and within limits; may propose adjustments to budget as appropriate.
• Reviews industrial customers’ monthly bills.
• Authorizes purchase orders and payment of invoices and other check requests.
• Assists with resolving problems with difficult customers and large commercial customer accounts.
• Monitors work-in-progress and completed work to ensure professional standards are met.
• Coordinates the collection and analysis of data necessary to complete required reports and determine the effectiveness of activities and programs.
• Coordinates the management of records and compilation and submission of required reports.
• Carries out public relations activities on behalf of the City by appearing at civic functions, discussing or explaining City positions to media representatives and speaking to organized groups and citizens.
• Assists City Manager in planning and administrative functions as required.
• Cooperates with other managers and departments on interdepartmental projects, programs and activities.
• Coordinates interoffice mail procedures for Municipal Building.
• Coordinates custodial services for Municipal Building.
• Performs other tasks as delegated by City Manager.

Qualifications

Education & Experience Guidelines

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities required for this position would be:

Education/Training

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or closely related field

Experience

Five years managerial experience of water/sewer operations, Two years experience of constructions/maintenance of water/sewer systems and equipment; Experience in metering, purchasing and warehousing is desirable.

Licenses or Certifications Required

ADEM certification in Water/Wastewater Plant Operations; Water Distribution Systems and/or Wastewater Collection Systems preferred; Valid driver’s license required

The following generally describes the knowledge and abilities required in order to successfully perform the assigned duties of the position:

Knowledge of:

• Concepts, principles and techniques of utilities administration including marketing, metering, billing, purchasing, warehousing, accounting, finance, water purifications and wastewater treatment operations.
• Administrative office operations including office systems, communications, records and equipment.
• Management functions including planning, budgeting, organizing staffing and human resource management, directing and controlling.
• Organization, operation, policies, procedures and ordinances and regulations of the City of Phenix City.
• State laws and ADEM regulations applying to utilities administration, water purification and wastewater treatment.
• Alabama Code regarding purchasing and bid laws.

Ability to:

• Read to comprehend technical literature, regulations, reports, financial statements and other highly complex material.
• Write to prepare directives, memoranda, correspondence, press releases, narrative reports and similar documents.
• Verbally communicate to counsel staff, speak in public and negotiate and convince persons holding significant positions and authority.
• Utilize math skills to perform calculations involving percentages, discounts and compound interest, perform accounting procedures, and to use statistical methods to compute trends, means, standard deviations and other statistics.
• Utilize computer skills to use word processing, spreadsheet, database and specialized utilities software programs.
• To develop strategic and operational plans.
• Utilize supervisory skills in delegation, communications, motivation and leadership.
• Effectively use human, financial, physical and information resources to accomplish goals.
• Work from administrative direction in terms of broadly defined goals.
• Diplomatically address conflict and offer solutions for resolution
• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, city administrators, civic and business leaders.

Physical Demands & Working Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the city encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations needed to perform the essential duties of this position.

Environment: Indoor Administrative Work and Outdoor Field Work

Physical Demands: See accompanying page for details (Download PDF reader)

Key Working Relationship: Utilities Employees, City Manager, Other Department Heads, Citizens