Utilities Operations Manager

Are you a leader committed to continuous improvement and innovation while working in a world-class city department? Do you have a passion for public service?
Bellevue Utilities is looking for an experienced and motivated professional to join our Operations & Maintenance division as an Operations Manager.
This position manages the operations and maintenance of the Water, Wastewater, and Operations Sections of the Utilities Department, responsible for assigning and setting the work priorities, monitoring annual plans and budgets, establishing strategic direction, defining program objectives, and implementing policies and procedures.
This position also supports the City by identifying existing or future deficiencies, proposing solutions, supporting projects through to completion, coordinating with other staff, agencies and regional partners, and other important work detailed below.

• Manages personnel, performance issues, disciplinary measures, and the evaluation of subordinates, operational practices, and procedures.
• Recruits, selects, supervises, and evaluates technical and maintenance staff; provides direction to staff; ensures resolution of problems; sets priorities, establishes workloads and provides support in decision-making.
• Establishes and maintains a working environment conducive to positive morale, individual style, quality, creativity, and teamwork.
• Recommends policies and procedures; ensures effective implementation and adherence.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration for utility system; prepares cost estimates for budget recommendations; submits justifications; monitors and controls expenditures.
• Perform strategic planning and financial analysis, including preparation of budgets to include staffing and operational needs and work plans that address levels of service, staffing, and operational needs.
• Support programs to assess the condition of utility infrastructure using a variety of data and database software.
• Develop and manages programs, prepares annual plans including trend analysis, tracks maintenance costs.
• Participate in development and support of asset management including failures and claims documentations and presentations.
• Identify deficiencies in operations, maintenance, and service delivery systems; develops corrective programs.
• Manage, communicate, and coordinate with other city staff, external consultants, and outside agencies on operations & maintenance issues, impacts, benefits, requirements, and schedules.
• Respond to complex customer service requests.
• Represent division and department on multiple interdepartmental and interdivisional teams and committees.
• Perform conflict and dispute resolutions including union contract grievance resolutions.
• Perform presentations and training to all Operations and Maintenance staff.
• Manages and administers risk management issues, including claims administration.
• Provides technical expertise and leadership in assigned functional area; provides expertise for solving more complex electrical, maintenance and system problems as appropriate to position; assists with, performs or directs more complicated repairs and projects.
• May function as Incident Commander, providing leadership and strategic direction during department events.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

• Works under the general supervision of the Assistant Director, Operations & Maintenance.
• Exercises direct supervision of the Water Superintendent, Wastewater Superintendent, and the SCADA & Operations Supervisor.
• May supervise other professional, technical, maintenance, and administrative staff either directly or through subordinate supervisors, as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

• Knowledge of the principles, standard methods and practices of the operation and maintenance of water supply systems, wastewater collection, transmission, treatment, and operations/telemetry system.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of public and business administration as applied in a large organization including budget development, oversight and administration and contract development and administration.
• Ability to plan, assign, review, and supervise the work of direct reports.
• Ability to provide leadership, counsel, motivation, and constructive performance reviews to staff, securing their respective commitments to the department's goals.
• Direct experience in leadership and supervision of field and technical staff involved in multiple functions and programs.
• Ability to develop, coordinate and promote training and cross-training programs and opportunities across the sections of the division for employee development.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department employees, other City departments, community officials, citizens, State and Federal officials.
• Understanding of the City's political environment and sensitivities; ability to function effectively within that environment.
• Customer service experience and ability to interact with internal/external client base. Able to communicate effectively with citizens, staff, crew, etc. both orally and in writing.
• Skill in using a personal computer, and data management software in performing duties.
• Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally, and in writing.

Education, Experience, and Other Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited two-year college or university with an appropriate degree for utilities operational and/or maintenance disciplines.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible related experience in field operations and/or maintenance, including supervisory or lead-worker experience.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Certification as a Water Distribution Manager, Cross Connection Control Specialist, or Wastewater Collection Specialist are desired, but not required.

Physical Demands
The physical demands and work environment 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.

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 20 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet while in the office and moderately loud when in the field.
• Work may periodically require the employee to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl.

Employment Type: Regular