The Director of Engineering provides strategic vision and leadership for all engineering functions supporting water supply, treatment, pumping, distribution systems, storage, and facilities. This role drives the delivery of high-quality innovative solutions through project delivery and technical services while maintaining operations, maintenance, and community relationships to ensure the reliability of the water system. The Director collaborates with leaders across divisions on organizational goals and initiatives. The Director of Engineering reports to the General Manager and is responsible for managing the performance of the employees within the Division.
Pay range for this position is $200,000/yr to $265,000/yr. Compensation for the selected candidate will depend on candidate qualifications and experience as related to the position requirements..
Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Director of Engineering Essential Functions
- Leads the development and implementation of the 40-Year Master Plan, Capital Improvement Plan, and Asset Management Plan, forecasting future needs related to water system growth, rehabilitation, replacement, and regulatory changes. Assesses risks, prioritizes improvements, and identifies opportunities to enhance the reliability and efficiency of water treatment and distribution systems.
- Oversees project planning, design, and construction, ensuring sound engineering principles and alignment with operational goals for the organization.
- Collaborates with Divisions to implement projects and deliver technical services that support overall operations, strategic initiatives, and goals.
- Advises the General Manager, WaterOne Board, and senior staff on engineering matters that impact strategic objectives.
- Ensures project quality by evaluating proposals, contracts, scopes of work, schedules, budgets, contractor and vendor performance.
- Oversees complex engineering analysis and programs, including water modeling and SCADA. Leverages enterprise data to assess capacity, identify deficiencies, and develop solutions, using insights to drive improvements and plan future projects.
- Oversees public engagement efforts on projects, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to address project impacts, benefits, and requirements.
- Oversees the development and review of policies, procedures, and engineering standards for project management, design, and construction.
- Leads disaster recovery efforts in the event of a catastrophic occurrence.
Standard Essential Functions for Director Positions:
- Ensures alignment and consistency with organizational and team policies; contributes to the development of organization-wide policies and approves or endorses team-level policies.
- Provides guidance or addresses inquiries and complaints from customers or stakeholders that cannot be resolved by managers, or those requiring a high degree of urgency or severity.
- Researches new strategies, brainstorms possible solutions, communicates and ensures implementation of process changes, and ensures consistency across the organization.
- Supports the exploration, development and implementation of new and innovative technologies, systems, and methods to increase efficiency, cost savings, enhanced security, and improved customer experiences.
- Plans, coordinates, oversees and evaluates the organization, functions and activities of the Division to ensure effective and efficient operations and quality service to all customers and stakeholders.
- Develops and maintains internal relationships within WaterOne, as well as stakeholder relationships within the community, and various governmental entities.
- Oversees the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of both operating and capital budgets. Evaluates historical spending and assesses future resource needs to ensure alignment with Division goals and WaterOne’s overall financial framework. Authorizes Division expenditures in accordance with WaterOne policies.
- Develops and maintains industry relationships with vendors, other utilities and professional organizations like the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Participates and encourages staff to participate in water industry research and activities providing awareness to WaterOne on leading edge technologies and practices.
- Attends Board and Committee meetings as well as other public or staff meetings. Delivers presentations to the Board, employees, public, and other stakeholders.
- Contracts with vendors to ensure compliance with project or service requirements and WaterOne business practices.
- Available during specific emergency situations as outlined in the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) or when operational decisions require input from the Director.
Standard Supervisory/People Leader Responsibilities for Director Positions:
- Provides vision, direction and goal setting for the Division in alignment with WaterOne’s mission, vision, values and strategic plan, and in coordination with organization-wide and cross-divisional priorities.
- Provides guidance to Managers on departmental tactical strategies, metrics, and key performance indicators, while taking ownership of achieving Division goals and aligning with the organization’s mission. Regularly reviews and interprets performance data to ensure strategic adjustments are made as needed.
- Drives work performance of the Division, and provides appropriate training, mentoring and coaching to Managers to enhance the overall operations of the Division. Provides consultation to Managers for the application of employee corrective actions.
- Conducts annual performance evaluations, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and employee development plans. Cultivates leadership skills in direct reports at intermediate to advanced levels and mentors high-potential employees to support their leadership growth.
- Conducts interviews and evaluates talent for hire in accordance with WaterOne interview standards. Makes hiring decisions for the Division.
- Performs or oversees other leadership and administrative duties such as timesheet approvals, time off requests, training authorizations, and other recordkeeping tasks.
- Provides strategic vision and leadership in the development and management of the Division’s budget, business plans, financial forecasts, and long-term staffing needs.
- Fosters strong relationships with employees, inspiring and motivating them to achieve success. Champions a positive, inclusive workplace culture that promotes belonging and engagement.
- Monitors and reviews work assignments to identify and solve operating difficulties, personnel or customer problems, and to ensure adherence to policies, procedures, regulations, etc. and to provide supervision and technical advice. Responsible for working with Division managers and staff to determine the most economical method for utilization of the workforce, equipment, and materials.
- Actively engages in senior leadership activities, providing executive direction to advance WaterOne’s Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategic Goals. Plays a key role in the development and coordination of strategic planning and goal-setting efforts.
- Leads and guides efforts to foster a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.
Other Duties
- Performs other job duties as assigned.
Customer Service Commitment
WaterOne employees shall continuously strive to meet or exceed the expectations of both their internal and external customers. Questions and concerns shall be acknowledged on the same day whenever possible, but no later than the next business day. Issues shall be resolved as promptly as possible, with the goal of maximizing customer satisfaction.
Qualifications
Required Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Chemical, Environmental, Mechanical, or related field).
- Registration to practice as a Professional Engineer in the state of Kansas is required. Licensing from another state will be accepted if comity exists with the State of Kansas. If so, a license in Kansas must be acquired within one year of employment.
- Twelve years of increasingly responsible experience in the water utility industry relating to potable water production, distribution operations, and maintenance, with an emphasis on engineering design and construction contracts, leveraging both internal and external teams.
- Seven years of progressive leadership responsibilities that included experience with employee performance reviews and coaching and managerial administrative tasks like timekeeping approvals.
- Experience designing, permitting, constructing, and commissioning water utility infrastructure.
- Experience negotiating and managing contracts for products and services.
- Experience managing vendors who provide both products and services.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- High standards for quality and quantity of work produced, including the ability to provide technical support, correct and timely forecasting, progress, and procedural reports
- Ability to effectively communicate with the WaterOne Leadership Team and all other levels of employees, as well as the ability to deliver high quality communications to the WaterOne Board. This includes the ability to present ideas in business-specific language appropriate for the target audience.
- Ability to function effectively as an internal consultant for all parts of the business.
- Ability to make critical decisions and apply good problem-solving skills.
- Ability to plan, evaluate, motivate and manage the performance of teams, and to provide appropriate leadership and oversight of their continued professional development.
- Ability to collaborate with senior management to achieve WaterOne goals and objectives.
- Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills.
- Exceptional service orientation.
- Ability to motivate in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
- Ability to effectively communicate with the WaterOne Leadership Team and all other levels of employees, customers, political, governmental and business leaders, contractors, developers, and other stakeholders.
- Cooperative attitude and ability to exhibit diplomacy and judgment when working with government agencies and the public.
- Knowledge of safety issues in underground work including open trench and trenchless operations, traffic control and confined spaces, as well as water treatment facilities, while exercising good judgment and concern for workers and workplace safety.
- Knowledge of working in right-of-way and easements.
- Ability to effectively plan, schedule, and direct multiple projects/activities through project and asset management.
- Knowledge of the principles, methods, and standard practices applied in water treatment, water distribution systems, and asset management.
- Knowledge of State and Federal drinking water regulations.
- Knowledge of water facilities design, construction, operations, and maintenance.
- Knowledge of security issues that affect water utilities and ability to recognize hazards to water quality, personnel, and facilities.
- Strong computer skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office suite of software with emphasis in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Knowledge of SCADA and computer control systems. Ability to learn and use WaterOne software programs.
Preferred Qualifications
- Postgraduate degree in Management, Business Administration, or Engineering (Civil, Chemical, Environmental or Mechanical) or related field.
- Seventeen years of progressive leadership responsibilities that included experience with employee performance reviews and coaching and managerial administrative tasks like timekeeping approvals.
- Demonstrated senior leadership experience and the ability to effectively work with the other senior leadership team members, internal and external stakeholders, consultants, and boards or governing bodies.
- Experience with enterprise software, including SAP S4/HANA, Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA), ESRI Geographic Information System (GIS), and Automated Information Mapping System (AIMS).
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
An employee in this position will rarely lift or move up to 5 lbs, work in outdoor weather conditions, and tolerate noise levels that are generally minimal but may be excessive for brief periods of time (hearing protection is provided). Employees in this position must be able to remain in a stationary, standing and/or sitting position for up to several hours a day, move from one location to another, and constantly operate office productivity machinery such as a copy machine, telephone, and computer. Employees must be able to position themselves to stoop, kneel, or crouch, move through elevators, stairways, ramps and rough terrain, as well as move from one location to another. Employees must also be able to wear personal protective equipment and navigate construction sites.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The work environment for this position is a typical office setting. Employees will be expected to work in a professional office environment that includes tasks performed at a desk, using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, and filing systems. This job duties for this position sometimes takes place in the field and/or plant environment where exposure to various environmental factors such as chemicals, noise from machinery, and fluctuating temperatures is likely and personal protective equipment may be required. The noise level when working in the field and/or plant environment is usually moderate to maximal.
WaterOne provides a total compensation package that includes:
- Competitive base pay
- Medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, and LTD insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Company funded Cash Balance Plan
- Company match Defined Contribution Plan
- Comprehensive wellness program
- Educational assistance program
- A variety of other benefit programs and activities
Equal Opportunity Employer
WaterOne is an equal opportunity employer and upholds a non-discrimination policy. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, military status, or marital status in making employment and business decisions. We also prohibit harassment and retaliation in the workplace and in our dealings with the public. We encourage and welcome diversity of backgrounds in our workforce. WaterOne complies with the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA).
Complete job description is available upon request and will be provided during the selection process.
