Public Utilities Assistant Director - Operations

CITY OF CLEARWATER IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

TARGET ENTRY SALARY:  $117,137 - $128,850 DOQ

Under the direction of the Public Utilities Director, the Assistant Director is a member of the Department’s executive leadership team and provides strategic leadership for assigned functional areas while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to support safe, reliable, compliant, and sustainable water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services.

Essential Functions: -- Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Operations Assistant Director
  • Provides strategic and operational leadership for day-to-day utility operations and operational readiness. Directs planning, coordination, and performance of operational services to ensure continuity and reliability of water distribution and treatment, wastewater collection and treatment, reclaimed water distribution, and related operational services, as applicable. 
  • Leads operational performance management, including establishing priorities, monitoring outcomes, and directing corrective actions as needed to maintain service levels.
  • Ensures operational policies, procedures, and standard work practices are developed, implemented, and consistently applied.
  • Leads operational safety practices; promotes safety expectations, incident review, and continuous improvement.
  • Coordinates operational readiness and emergency response planning; supports incident response and continuity of service activities in coordination with appropriate partners, as assigned.
  • Partners with engineering and administrative functions to support capital project delivery, operational impacts, commissioning readiness, and transition to ongoing operations.
  • Coordinates with regulatory agencies on operational matters as assigned; ensures operational responses align with requirements and departmental direction.
  • Oversees operational purchasing needs and equipment/service readiness consistent with City policy and budget guidelines.
  • Leads and champions operational use of enterprise asset management systems and related software programs; ensures field and plant teams consistently enter, maintain, and use high-quality data to support work management, preventive maintenance, reliability, and performance reporting.
  • Ensures effective day-to-day operational use of SCADA and related systems; partners with support teams to sustain functionality, improve usability, and ensure reliable monitoring and control to support safe operations.
  • Promotes consistent use of departmental software platforms, mobile tools, and reporting systems across operations to support effective decision-making and work execution.

Licenses, Certifications, and Equipment:
A valid State driver's license is required.
Experience supporting enterprise asset management and utility business systems—including SCADA and related operational technology (OT) support models—used to plan, track, monitor, and report on utility work, assets, and performance in a utility environment is preferred.

Assistant Director, Operations:
Certified Florida Department of Environmental Protection Water A, Wastewater A, Water Distribution 1, or the highest equivalent out-of-state license is preferred.
Demonstrated experience leading large-scale utility operations, including treatment operations, safety leadership, and emergency response coordination is preferred.

Education and Experience: 
Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business Management, or a related field; Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field is preferred; AND five (5) years of responsible experience in water and/or wastewater utility operations, engineering, project management, design, construction management, or related utility functions, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory or managerial capacity within utilities; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.
 

Knowledge of -

• Knowledge of enterprise asset management concepts and practices supporting work management, data quality, asset lifecycle planning, and decision-making.
• Knowledge of utility business systems, data governance principles, and SCADA/operational technology (OT) concepts sufficient to support safe operations, operational needs, and performance reporting.

Assistant Director, Operations:

• Knowledge of utility operations and maintenance practices supporting water treatment, wastewater treatment, reclaimed water, distribution/collection, and related service delivery requirements.
• Knowledge of operational safety principles, incident response coordination, and operational risk management.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements affecting day-to-day utility operations.

Skill in-

• Skill in preparing and delivering clear, professional briefings and presentations to executive leadership, regulatory partners, governing bodies, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with operations, engineering, finance, business systems, and compliance functions, and to communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, external agencies, consultants/contractors, and the public as assigned.

Assistant Director, Operations:

• Skill in leading large organizations, prioritizing competing operational demands, and allocating resources.
• Ability to maintain continuity of service during changing conditions and emergent events.

Salary : $117,137 - $128,850