Director of Public Water Utility

Client

For over the last 50 years, our client has established a track record of reliable service and a willingness to expand its reach;

our client is well-positioned to continue playing a pivotal role in ensuring safe and accessible drinking water for the benefit of the communities it serves.

Summary

The Director of Public Water Utility is responsible for the overall administration, supervision, financial planning, and management of all the facilities owned or operated by the District.

The General Manager is also responsible for assuring the District's compliance with local and State laws, contracts, and agreements.

The General Manager reports to the Board of Trustees.

Location

Onsite, 45 minutes north of Chicago, IL

Compensation

A highly competitive annual earnings opportunity comprised of a base salary, health insurance, retirement plan, and any other benefits established by the District Board of Trustees

Essential Responsibilities

Administration :

• Presents to the Board of Trustees monthly updates and action requests
• Ensures the directions of the Board of Trustees are being followed
• Verify that all required forms and documents are submitted promptly to the regulatory agencies
• Regularly review and recommend updates to the Employee Handbook as needed
• Work with the District’s attorney to resolve all legal issues presented to the District
• Work with an insurance broker to obtain suitable, cost-effective insurance coverage for the District
• Schedule quarterly meetings with District customers, per contract, to update the Public Works Directors of District activities
• Represent the District as directed by the board
• Provide coordination for all interactions of the District with municipal, regional, state, and federal entities as necessary
• Ensure that the annual audit is completed in a timely manner
• Review qualifications and applications for hiring new employees, and if qualified, hire those new employees
• Assure that all personnel files contain current and pertinent information
• Work with the contracted engineers, be it the consultant or a firm tasked with a district project
• Work with contractors and subcontractors on district projects

Supervision :

• Work with District staff in a manner to ensure safe and efficient use of employees, materials, supplies and equipment
• Assign responsibilities to all personnel and delegate authority to carry out these responsibilities.
• Assure that employee reviews are completed on a regular basis
• Plan and hold appropriate staff meetings on a regular basis

Financial Planning :

• Develop revenue and expense budgets and capital improvement forecasts for the Board of Trustee’s consideration
• Working under applicable accounting guidelines, review and appraise soundness, adequacy, and application of accounting practices and recommend additional accounting controls as needed
• Administer salary plan for all District employees consistent with the overall salary budget for the District personnel
• Review overall benefits for District employees to determine the cost-benefit relationship and ascertain competitiveness in the overall local marketplace
• Develop cost estimates for new construction, renovations, and equipment to assist in determining funding requirements

Operations :

• Review, analyze, and update financial and operating data for the District’s facilities to improve overall performance.
• Develop overall standard procedures involving the District’s water system operation
• Provide general direction and support for purchasing functions relating to materials, supplies, equipment, and services necessary to maintain and enhance the water treatment facilities
• Provide management information to the Board of Trustees to aid its decision-making process as it relates to the overall operations of the District
• Work with the Board to develop short and long-range plans
• Assist in reviewing consulting and construction contracts. Help select final contractors and negotiate contracts
• Review ongoing construction with others as appropriate to ensure compliance with construction documents
• Review pay estimates and job order requests to determine their correctness
• Assist in developing operation and maintenance modules for all new construction.
• Prepare bid documents to the extent qualified
• Provide technical assistance and expert advice to personnel involved in laboratory sampling and analyses

Required Education, Skills, and Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant management / operational experience in a similar public or private utility or associated experience at a management level in a consulting engineering firm, larger utility, or governmental agency is required
• A master’s degree in one of the disciplines listed above may be substituted for one year of experience
• A bachelor’s degree is desirable in civil engineering, computer science, public / business administration or management, environmental / chemical engineering, or a closely related field
• Certification as a Class A or higher Public Water Supply Operator in Illinois or the ability to attain certification within one (1) year is desirable
• Presentation skills
• The ability to use a personal computer for drafting reports is required
• Obtain sufficient knowledge of the computer-based control system to provide emergency backup to the operators for the maintenance of that system
30+ days ago