Operations Manager

Under general direction, plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, and reviews the work of staff responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of the District’s water distribution, recycled water, sewer collection, and treatment systems; oversees the construction, maintenance, and operations of water production and distribution systems, facilities, and infrastructure; ensures compliance with water quality and regulatory requirements; provides highly complex and responsible support to the General Manager in areas of expertise; and performs related duties, as assigned.

Essential Duties:
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions, and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Plans, manages, and oversees the daily functions, operations, and activities of the Operations Department, including the construction, maintenance, and operation of the water distribution, recycled water, sewer collection, and treatment systems.

Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned services and programs; identifies resource needs; recommends and implements policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with the District’s strategic and operational plans.
Participates in the development, administration, and control of assigned budgets; directs the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, and supplies; assists with grant submittals and preparation and submission of grant reports; monitors revenues and expenditures; recommends budget adjustments.

Identifies necessary improvements to existing facilities and systems and identifies new facilities required to solve deficiencies in existing systems or improve the ability of the District to deliver water to existing or future customers.

Selects, trains, motivates, and directs personnel; evaluates and reviews work for acceptability and conformance with department standards, including program and project priorities and performance evaluations; works with employees on performance issues; implements discipline and termination procedures; responds to staff questions and concerns.

Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high-performance, customer service-oriented work environment which supports achieving the department’s and the District’s mission, strategic plan, objectives, and values.

Recommends and administers procedure guidelines and design standards while ensuring that water quality, operational, financial, regulatory, and legal requirements are met.

Develops and manages requests for proposals for professional and/or contracted services; prepares scopes of work; evaluates proposals and recommends award; negotiates and manages contracts; supervises contractor performance to ensure compliance with applicable standards and specifications.

Meets and confers with contractors, engineers, developers, architects, a variety of outside agencies, and the general public in acquiring information and coordinating water production and distribution operations and maintenance projects, programs, and services; provides information regarding District requirements.

Manages the development and implementation of various operations and maintenance programs, including safety, loss prevention, water quality, emergency preparedness and response, environmental compliance, and asset management programs.

Supervises inspections and administration of testing backflow devices for the District’s backflow-prevention and cross-connection control program; ensures conformance with District, federal, state, and local backflow and cross-connection regulations; ensures timely completion of backflow and cross-connection testing and regulatory agency compliance reporting.
Supervises and coordinates complex testing and reporting duties related to the District’s water supply and recycled water systems.

Directs, coordinates, and oversees the inspection, installation, and repair of Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) water meters; communicates with vendor regarding equipment or programming issues.

Performs a variety of technically oriented tasks in the installation, operation, and maintenance of the District’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system; compiles reports and develops objectives using SCADA integration with other informational systems.

Manages all vehicle maintenance and facility maintenance programs.
Maintains a variety of records, logs, and reports; updates written manuals and instructions; ensures the timely completion of preventive and predictive maintenance programs.

Participates on and makes presentations to the Board of Directors and a variety of boards and commissions; attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of water production and distribution operations and maintenance.

Prepares, reviews and presents staff reports, various management updates, and reports on special projects as assigned by the General Manager.

Responds to and resolves various issues with residents, other District and public representatives, and outside agencies in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action.
Responds to emergencies as necessary.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of:

Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned area of responsibility.

Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.

Principles and practices of leadership.

Administrative principles, practices, and methods including goal setting, program development, implementation and evaluation, policy and procedure development, quality control and work standards.

Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and ordinances relevant to the area(s) of responsibility.

Principles and practices of sewer and water distribution and storage systems operations and maintenance program development and administration.
Practices of researching operations and maintenance issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.

Technical, legal, financial, and public relations problems associated with the management of sewer and water production and distribution operations and maintenance projects and programs.

Operations, services, activities, and basic legal requirements of backflow and cross-connection control programs.

Physical, biological, and chemical properties of water and related constituents.

Practices, methods, techniques, tools and equipment used in the reading, installation, testing, calibration, maintenance and repair of small, medium, and large water meters that utilize AMI components.

Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
Principles and practices of project management including oversight of contractors and consultants, contract administration, resource, and budget management.

Research methods and techniques.

Basic mathematical principles.

Principles and practices of technical report and business correspondence preparation.

District organization, rules, policies, and procedures in assigned areas of responsibility.

Principles and practices of risk management.

Principles and practices of record keeping.

Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.

Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and District staff.

The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.

Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.

Develop and implement goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.

Provide administrative, management and professional leadership for the sewer and water distribution and treatment programs, projects, and activities.

Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.

Perform highly complex tasks, studies, and special projects; evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.

Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.

Oversee and manage the work of project consultants.

Prepare, administer, and monitor complex project budgets; prepare cost and financial estimates.

Determine water-related problems and provide effective solutions.

Read, interpret, retrieve, and produce drawings, blueprints, maps, and specifications.

Understand the organization and operation of the District and outside agencies as they relate to the operation of the District.

Direct the establishment of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
Understand and follow oral and written instructions.

Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures and standards relevant to work performed.

Effectively represent the department and the District in meetings with governmental agencies; community groups; various business, professional and regulatory organizations; and in meetings with individuals.

Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines and follow-up on assignments.

Use tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.

Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.

Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Water/Wastewater Technology, or related field.

Experience:

Five (5) years of progressively responsible public sector experience in the operations and maintenance of water distribution and production systems, including (2) years of supervisory experience.
Licenses and Certifications:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Class A driver’s license by time of appointment

Possession of a Grade D5 Water Distribution Operator Certificate

Possession of a Grade T2 Water Treatment Operator Certificate

Possession of a Backflow Testing Certificate is desired, but not required

Possession of a Cross Connection Specialist Certificate is desired, but not required.