Director Of Utilities
The Director of Utilities is responsible for complex administrative, management, and technical work in directing and overseeing the activities of a comprehensive Hernando County Utilities Department which includes: Water, Reclaimed Water, and Wastewater/Sanitary. This position also serves as the responsible-in-charge for the Hernando County Solid Waste Department which manages the collection and disposal of solid waste and recycling in the County. The following statements describe the principal functions of this job and its scope of responsibility but shall not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including working in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload. Serves as full management responsibility for all functions, programs, and operations of the County's Utilities (water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services) and Solid Waste. Provides staff assistance and support to the County Administrator and Deputy County Administrator. Explains, justifies, and defends department programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues. Establishes appropriate service and staffing levels; monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of programs, policies and operational needs; identifies opportunities for improvement; directs and implements appropriate changes. Plans, directs, and coordinates work plans; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures; meets with key staff to identify and resolve problems. Determines and recommends to the Board of County Commissioners all user charges, fees and assessments for potable water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services. Formulates and implements short and long-range plans for providing and expanding water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services. Formulates and implements short and long-range plans for the County landfill and other waste management sites. Ensures that product and services are adequate, continuous, economical, and safe for all county residents and are provided in accordance with all laws, rules, regulations, and standards to enhance public health and to protect the environment. Directs preparations of and management of the capital improvements, renewal and replacements, and annual operation and maintenance budgets. Directs and coordinates systems finance, design, construction, permitting, start-up, and operation. Directs the acquisition and oversees usage of materials and equipment. Directs the preparations, acquisition and accounting procedures for federal, state and county grants and matching funds. Serves on various local, regional and state-wide committees for water, reclaimed water, wastewater, and solid waste services. Attends and participates in professional group meetings. Interfaces with regulatory agencies. Stays abreast of new trends and innovations for future utility needs. Makes presentations and recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners and citizen groups and issues news releases. Hires, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements coaching, discipline and termination procedures. Evaluates the work of county employees, consultants and contractors engaged in design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and solid waste systems. Directs the maintenance of complex files, accounting, billing, and revenues systems and procedures. Directs and coordinates the negotiation of detailed and complex utility agreements with divergent interests for use of water, wastewater treatment and solid waste capacity. Develops and implements departmental policies, guidelines, goals, objectives, procedures, and priorities for each assigned program area. Assists in providing senior level management to the entire County. Regular attendance. County employees are required to report for work during a state of emergency and are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations which may include duties other than those specified in this job description. Minimum Qualifications: Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Business, Public Service or related field. Master's Degree in Engineering, Business, Public Service or related field is preferred. Experience: Ten years of increasingly responsible experience in water or wastewater utility and/or solid waste activities including five years of supervisory experience. Skills: Proficient use of computers and various software including data processing, spreadsheets, and mapping technology. Ability to effectively communicate within all spectrums of responsibility. Licenses, Certifications, or Registrations: Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License and be insurable by current insurance carrier. Required Competencies: Knowledge of the practices, procedures, techniques, equipment and program development used in water, reuse, and wastewater treatment. Knowledge of the practices, procedures, techniques, equipment and program development used in the management and disposal of solid waste. Knowledge of rules, regulations, codes, and standards pertaining to water, wastewater, and reclaimed water. Knowledge of sciences and regulatory concerns related to the Florida environment. Knowledge of engineering standards, practices and techniques for design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment, and reuse facilities. Knowledge of accounting practices and utilities financing. Skill in interacting with the public, the news media, and local, state, and federal boards, committees, agencies, and their staff. Ability to create and guide implementation of capital improvement plans or programs and major construction projects. Skill in interacting with and motivating professional, technical and administrative staffs. Ability to plan, organize, direct and supervise the work of professional, technical and administrative staff engaged in the construction, operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, treatment, reuse and disposal systems. Ability to express oneself clearly, both orally and in writing. Financial Responsibilities: Accountable for inventory/property management; manage or administer grant funds; make recommendations that impact the budget; manage the budget within assigned unit/division; determine allocation of budget among departments; determine allocation of budget among divisions; and manage the budget within assigned departments. Ability to use independent judgment resulting in sound decisions. Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project goals and consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals. Knowledge of principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation. Ability to determine the value of utility systems, equipment and appurtenances. Physical Demands: Skills: use of hands, hearing, mental acuity, speaking, and visual acuity. The work is light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Environmental Conditions: Works inside and outside, in groups and alone. Works in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs. Equipment Used: Computer and general office equipment. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle. Hernando County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, gender, orientation, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, or any other protected characteristic as defined by law. Hernando County is a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to drug testing in accordance with Federal and Florida State Law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must provide notification to the BOCC in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.
The Director of Utilities is responsible for complex administrative, management, and technical work in directing and overseeing the activities of a comprehensive Hernando County Utilities Department which includes: Water, Reclaimed Water, and Wastewater/Sanitary. This position also serves as the responsible-in-charge for the Hernando County Solid Waste Department which manages the collection and disposal of solid waste and recycling in the County. The following statements describe the principal functions of this job and its scope of responsibility but shall not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including working in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload. Serves as full management responsibility for all functions, programs, and operations of the County's Utilities (water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services) and Solid Waste. Provides staff assistance and support to the County Administrator and Deputy County Administrator. Explains, justifies, and defends department programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues. Establishes appropriate service and staffing levels; monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of programs, policies and operational needs; identifies opportunities for improvement; directs and implements appropriate changes. Plans, directs, and coordinates work plans; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures; meets with key staff to identify and resolve problems. Determines and recommends to the Board of County Commissioners all user charges, fees and assessments for potable water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services. Formulates and implements short and long-range plans for providing and expanding water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services. Formulates and implements short and long-range plans for the County landfill and other waste management sites. Ensures that product and services are adequate, continuous, economical, and safe for all county residents and are provided in accordance with all laws, rules, regulations, and standards to enhance public health and to protect the environment. Directs preparations of and management of the capital improvements, renewal and replacements, and annual operation and maintenance budgets. Directs and coordinates systems finance, design, construction, permitting, start-up, and operation. Directs the acquisition and oversees usage of materials and equipment. Directs the preparations, acquisition and accounting procedures for federal, state and county grants and matching funds. Serves on various local, regional and state-wide committees for water, reclaimed water, wastewater, and solid waste services. Attends and participates in professional group meetings. Interfaces with regulatory agencies. Stays abreast of new trends and innovations for future utility needs. Makes presentations and recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners and citizen groups and issues news releases. Hires, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements coaching, discipline and termination procedures. Evaluates the work of county employees, consultants and contractors engaged in design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and solid waste systems. Directs the maintenance of complex files, accounting, billing, and revenues systems and procedures. Directs and coordinates the negotiation of detailed and complex utility agreements with divergent interests for use of water, wastewater treatment and solid waste capacity. Develops and implements departmental policies, guidelines, goals, objectives, procedures, and priorities for each assigned program area. Assists in providing senior level management to the entire County. Regular attendance. County employees are required to report for work during a state of emergency and are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations which may include duties other than those specified in this job description. Minimum Qualifications: Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Business, Public Service or related field. Master's Degree in Engineering, Business, Public Service or related field is preferred. Experience: Ten years of increasingly responsible experience in water or wastewater utility and/or solid waste activities including five years of supervisory experience. Skills: Proficient use of computers and various software including data processing, spreadsheets, and mapping technology. Ability to effectively communicate within all spectrums of responsibility. Licenses, Certifications, or Registrations: Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License and be insurable by current insurance carrier. Required Competencies: Knowledge of the practices, procedures, techniques, equipment and program development used in water, reuse, and wastewater treatment. Knowledge of the practices, procedures, techniques, equipment and program development used in the management and disposal of solid waste. Knowledge of rules, regulations, codes, and standards pertaining to water, wastewater, and reclaimed water. Knowledge of sciences and regulatory concerns related to the Florida environment. Knowledge of engineering standards, practices and techniques for design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment, and reuse facilities. Knowledge of accounting practices and utilities financing. Skill in interacting with the public, the news media, and local, state, and federal boards, committees, agencies, and their staff. Ability to create and guide implementation of capital improvement plans or programs and major construction projects. Skill in interacting with and motivating professional, technical and administrative staffs. Ability to plan, organize, direct and supervise the work of professional, technical and administrative staff engaged in the construction, operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, treatment, reuse and disposal systems. Ability to express oneself clearly, both orally and in writing. Financial Responsibilities: Accountable for inventory/property management; manage or administer grant funds; make recommendations that impact the budget; manage the budget within assigned unit/division; determine allocation of budget among departments; determine allocation of budget among divisions; and manage the budget within assigned departments. Ability to use independent judgment resulting in sound decisions. Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project goals and consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals. Knowledge of principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation. Ability to determine the value of utility systems, equipment and appurtenances. Physical Demands: Skills: use of hands, hearing, mental acuity, speaking, and visual acuity. The work is light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Environmental Conditions: Works inside and outside, in groups and alone. Works in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs. Equipment Used: Computer and general office equipment. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle. Hernando County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, gender, orientation, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, or any other protected characteristic as defined by law. Hernando County is a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to drug testing in accordance with Federal and Florida State Law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must provide notification to the BOCC in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.