Assistant Director - Utilities Engineering

Bellevue Utilities provides high quality, essential drinking water, wastewater, and storm and surface water services that over 150,000 customers rely on every day. We take pride in making sure these services are dependable, a good value for the money, and delivered with our customers in mind. Our Utility Capital Investment Program invests $49 Million annually in infrastructure renewal, capacity for growth, and environmental preservation projects to ensure customer service and satisfaction remain high.

About the role

The Assistant Director is a member of the Bellevue Utilities executive team, collaborating to lead the department in achieving its strategic, operational, and financial goals. This position oversees an $7.952 million operating budget and delivery of the Utilities $296 million, 6-year Capital Investment Program (CIP) encompassing drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater CIP projects. The Engineering Assistant Director collaborates with the Utilities Director, two Deputy Directors, the Resource Management & Customer Service Division Assistant Director, and the Operations & Maintenance Division Assistant Director to plan, develop, and implement policies and programs to achieve strategic outcomes.

This position manages highly complex technical and policy work, assisting the Deputy Directors and Director of Utilities in the leadership and management of the department. The Assistant Director reports directly to the Utilities Deputy Director for Engineering and Operations.

At the City of Bellevue, you'll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest, achieving the community vision, and providing fiscal stewardship. Our people bring unique skills and qualities to the table, embrace the values of honesty, accountability, and commitment to service, and take pride in the work they do. You'll work in an environment where being innovative, collaborative, and future-focused are the status quo.

Responsibilities

• Work with Deputy Directors and Director to develop department policies by identifying regional and local policy needs; identifying/recommending policy options for City management and Council; develop programs/procedures to implement policies.
• Review and obtain proper interpretations of laws, rules, and regulations affecting operation of a multi-faceted utilities system.
• Establish and maintain a working environment conducive to positive morale, individual style, quality, creativity, and teamwork.
• Oversee a team of engineering managers responsible for recruiting, hiring, training, and developing staff in planning, CIP portfolio management, capital project management and design, construction management, and development plan review.
• Allocate, direct, motivate, and evaluate division personnel to ensure employee growth and accountability.
• Use performance data objectively to maintain and improve Utilities' functions.
• Establish and lead results-oriented innovation and continuous process improvement projects.
• Plan, develop, and implement programs; identify program outcomes, budgets, processes, and priorities; obtain resources via budget, contracting, inter-local agreements, etc.
• Negotiate and administer contracts and professional services agreements with contractors, consultants, and franchise operators.
• Develop interdepartmental and/or partnerships with outside stakeholders.
• Prepare and present oral and written reports and responses to the department director, City Council, or other city departments, the Environmental Services Commission, regional committees and subcommittees, and the public, as required.
• Serve as Acting Director in the absence of the Deputy Directors and Director of Utilities.
• Provide leadership to the Utilities Department by implementing the City's and Utilities' vision and mission; supporting Utilities Strategic Planning; ensuring quality of services, sound financial performance, and customer satisfaction; managing resolution of major departmental issues; creating a collaborative work environment and open communication; modeling core values, work rules, and Utilities Department culture; supporting department leadership team decisions and optimizing organizational dynamics.
• Manage the Utilities Engineering Division by providing leadership and management oversight of ~50 staff members, comprised primarily of technical staff (Engineering Managers and Supervisors, Asset Manager, Engineers, Program Administrators, Construction Inspectors, Engineering Technicians, and Environmental Scientists).
• Lead budget development, analysis, and monitoring for the Engineering Division.
• Provide leadership and management of the following sections: Utility Systems Planning, CIP Portfolio Management and Administration, Asset Management, Project Management, Construction Management, and Private Development Utilities Plan Review.
• Provide leadership coordination with other Utilities Divisions and other departments in the City.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in civil engineering, environmental studies, water resources management, construction management, or related field. An MS Engineering or MPA is preferred.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible managerial and administrative experience in public utilities systems.
• Ten years' experience developing and delivering Capital Investment Programs, including management of planning, design, and construction for municipal utility projects with at least 5 years of experience in each utility (water, wastewater, stormwater), or a program of similar scope/complexity (at least $15 Million/year Capital program value).
• Experience/knowledge about Utility operations and maintenance, system planning, and public works consultant and construction contracting laws, regulations, and work processes.
• Experience/knowledge about environmental issues and permitting associated with utility work is highly desirable.
• Washington State Professional Civil Engineering license is required at the time of hire.

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in utility systems planning, engineering design, professional services and construction contracting, construction, and operations/maintenance of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure systems.
• Proven ability to plan, supervise, and coordinate long-range technical and administrative programs.
• Knowledge of CIP budget development, project delivery monitoring and control including project change management and value engineering principles, portfolio management, and CIP delivery governance processes.
• Ability to express self clearly, completely, and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to listen and question effectively to better understand customer/employee needs and requests to ensure mutual understanding.
• Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to various audiences.
• Ability to communicate effectively and encourage people to accept changes in the organization.
• Ability to model positive attitudes towards change to reassure others.
• Ability to interpret legislation, rules, and regulations.
• Demonstrated understanding of federal and state regulations for public utility systems of the size/scale of Bellevue Utilities.
• Understanding of the City's political environment and sensitivities; and proven ability to function effectively within that environment.
• Demonstrated experience representing politically sensitive or otherwise high-profile Utility issues to elected body and executive manager (City Manager).
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department employees, other City departments, community officials, citizens, State and Federal officials.
• Proven success in a collaborative environment, working with Financial and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) stakeholders to achieve Utility objectives.
• Firm understanding, support, and experience with applying Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) principles and practices for both internal staff and external customers.
• Demonstrated experience successfully negotiating terms for collaboration with other jurisdictions/entities.
• Successful experience in public engagement.
• Proven 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.
• Proven success as a leader, based on input from past subordinates, peers, and supervisors.
• Ability to create a team environment in which information and trust flows freely both up and down the workforce.

Working Conditions

• 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 noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet while in the office or moderately loud when in the field.

Schedule

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period working in the office after hire. Remote work for this position is subject to the department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.