Manager - Water Utility (DWU Special Projects) (Dallas Water Utilities - Civil Service)

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About the role

Performs highly advanced and complex management or oversight activities for daily operations of an operating unit or functional program. Work involves establishing short-, mid-, and long-term goals and objectives; developing guidelines, procedures, rules, and regulations; developing schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals; coordinating and evaluating program activities; and developing and evaluating budget requests. Directly accountable for functional operations of unit in its entirety. Works under limited direction with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the operations of the facility, ensuring that all wastewater/biosolids are conditioned and processed within all state and federal guidelines; monitors and evaluates lab data, conducts daily plant inspections, and directs operations on a daily basis.
• Manages, coordinates, and monitors the development and implementation of the budget; monitors billing and payment processing; oversees water quality, wholesale services, and various reporting and compliance measures.
• Negotiates terms of contracts with elected officials and administers terms of water and wastewater contracts; establishes and maintains high standard of client relationship and service delivery to prevent loss of revenue, legal, and rate disputes.
• Identifies major needs of the facility and works with project management to implement, coordinate, plan, and design capital improvement projects for the facility; attends planning and design meetings on a regular basis, reviews engineering and technical reports and design prints; coordinates plant activities to accommodate any and all construction activities and oversees the planning, development, and operation of special projects or facilities.
• Oversees special investigations, internal audits, and research studies; ensures that the facility is prepared for the audits and is well represented during the audits.
• Plans, assigns, delegates, and manages the work of subordinate staff; manages activities of the operating budget staff, manages work quality and accuracy, delivers performance feedback, and oversees payroll activities.
• Establishes short-, mid-, and long-term goals and objectives; develops and approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; and directs evaluation activities.
• Monitors, manages, and evaluates treatment plant performance to ensure compliance and plant goals are being met; provides advanced troubleshooting and correction of issues in a timely manner; approves orders, overtime, and mileage reports for the Operations and Laboratory groups; monitors budget to ensure we are staying within budget goals; works on master agreements for operation and laboratory needs.
• Organizes, directs, and supervises activities related to establishing procedures, policies, and goals for negotiating contracts and managing water and wastewater clients and vendors; maintains communication and manages disputes and contract compliance.
• Provides extensive administrative expertise and operational management to ensure the effective processing of large amounts of payments, management of billing and funding accounts, and general budget development, implementation, and tracking for the DWU.
• Performs any and all other work as needed or assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Architecture, or Environmental Science.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in any of the following water utility areas: Operations, Engineering, or Customer relations.
• Three (3) years of supervision/project management responsibilities (this experience may be included in the required five years listed above).

Equivalencies

• High school diploma or GED plus nine (9) years of the required experience including three (3) years of supervision/project management responsibilities.
• Associate degree in any field plus seven (7) years of the required experience including three (3) years of supervisory/management responsibilities.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in a non-specified field plus seven (7) years of the required experience including three (3) years of supervision/project management responsibilities.
• Master's degree or higher in a specified field plus three (3) years of the required experience including three (3) years of supervision/project management responsibilities.
• Current valid Professional Engineer (PE) license plus three (3) years of the required experience including three (3) years of supervision/project management responsibilities.
• Master's degree or higher in a specified field with a current valid Professional Engineer (PE) license plus one (1) year of required experience including three (3) years of supervision/project management responsibilities.

Skills

• Knowledge of Utility policy, procedure, and standards.
• Knowledge of contract preparation and administration.
• Knowledge of water and wastewater operations.
• Ability to manage billing activities and large-scale transactions.
• Ability to establish and obtain operating goals and objectives for unit.
• Ability to devise solutions to administrative problems and to plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.
• Ability to develop and evaluate administrative policies and procedures.
• Ability to disseminate information through the preparation of concise reports.
• Ability to supervise and manage a staff, assign work, and give performance feedback.
• Ability to develop and administer a budget.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

Licenses

• Valid driver's license with good driving record.
• Some positions may require site-specific licensure from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Departmental Note

The Water Utility Manager (Special Project) serves as a strategic leader responsible for overseeing high-impact initiatives and special projects that support the operational success of the utility. This role manages complex, cross-functional projects including operational enhancements, contract administration, and process improvement initiatives. Working collaboratively with executive leadership, external and internal stakeholders, the Water Utility Manager ensures projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with organizational goals while maintaining exceptional service to customers.

Pay

$81,120.00 - $101,400.00. The salary listed is the starting salary range; amount offered will depend upon qualifications.