Utilities Operations and Maintenance Manager

Utilities Operations and Maintenance Manager

The Utilities Operations and Maintenance Manager plays a critical leadership role in ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the City's water distribution, wastewater collection, and stormwater systems. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Public Works and receiving occasional direction from the Director of Public Works, this position serves as a division head responsible for managing day-to-day operations, overseeing regulatory compliance, and leading a team of managers and field staff who maintain the City's essential utility infrastructure.

The ideal candidate is a proven leader with extensive experience overseeing complex municipal water distribution, wastewater collection, and stormwater systems. They are results-oriented and combine technical expertise with strong organizational leadership and a deep commitment to regulatory compliance, public safety, and environmental stewardship. They are familiar with Cal OSHA standards and are committed to cultivating a safety-first culture. They demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate both technical and political environments with integrity and confidence.

Duties may include but are not limited to the following :

• Directs the operation and maintenance of the City water distribution system, including the water pump stations, operation and maintenance of the City's sewer collection system and sewer lift stations and pump stations, and storm water pump stations.
• Ensures that all regulatory requirements related to delivery of drinking water are met and that the water delivered to customers meets applicable drinking water standards at all times.
• Ensures that all regulatory requirements related to sewer collection system operations and maintenance are met on a consistent and ongoing basis, including the reporting of all sanitary sewer overflows to the proper authorities pursuant to Regional Water Quality Control Board regulations.
• Ensures that sanitary sewer overflows are minimized and contained to the extent possible so that public waters are not impacted.
• Ensures that all fire hydrants (other than those clearly marked as "out of service") are properly maintained and in service at all times, and informs the Fire Department of any fire protection system components that may not meet flow and pressure requirements.
• Coordinates water and sewer collection operations with the needs of the public, outside agencies, and other City departments, and receives, investigates, and responds to public inquiries, concerns, and complaints, and requests for service.
• Assists the Director with budget preparation and performs other administrative work as assigned.
• Assists the Director with strategic planning activities to ensure that the water and sewer systems are prepared to meet current and future system demands.
• Utilizes modern technology and practices, e.g., SCADA Historian software and asset management, to their full capacity in all aspects of Utilities O&M.
• Works cooperatively with City staff, residents, businesses, property owners, and other utilities and outside agencies to address and resolve issues of concern.
• Ensures that the City's water and wastewater system standards are up to date, and confers with developers and contractors as needed to ensure that the standards are met.
• Identifies electrical and mechanical maintenance needs in the utility system and initiates proper action to resolve the problems.
• Identifies water mains and appurtenances maintenance needs in the utility system, and initiates proper action to resolve the problems.
• Ensures that emergency staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to take necessary action.
• Ensures that the meter reading program meets its goals with timely and accurate readings.
• Responsible for efficient meter repair and replacement, and services related to meter activation and shutoff.
• Oversees the testing and approval of backflow prevention devices.
• Oversees the development of schedules and establishment of assignment priorities for the water field maintenance and construction section, as well as the utilities operations and maintenance section.
• Develops and maintains specifications for water and sewer system equipment and recommends major purchases.
• Responsible for interaction with all regulatory agencies related to the operation and maintenance of the water distribution system and sewer collection system.
• Prepares and maintains records and forms, as well as all required reports to regulatory agencies, related to areas of responsibility. Prepares all correspondence needed to ensure effective coordination between the Utilities operations and maintenance, U&ES Department, other City departments, and the general public.
• Works collaboratively with Utilities Engineers to review and evaluate construction plans, drawings and specifications related to water and sewer system infrastructure projects including mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems. Prepares comprehensive written comments to clearly articulate issues and concerns.
• Responsible for operation and maintenance activities for transfer of water from Hetch Hetchy aqueduct turnouts to the City's distribution system, maintenance of emergency wells, water pump stations, reservoirs, emergency interties and pressure regulating stations.
• Ensures that the City's water system emergency assets, water wells, regional interties, local interties and emergency equipment are ready for deployment at all times.
• Participates in interviewing and selection of new employees, and training of employees in work procedures, standards and safety practices.
• Prepares at least annual performance evaluations for all directly assigned staff, and ensures that same is prepared for all staff under the position's indirect supervision.
• Prepares and provides input into employee performance evaluations, conducts counseling on work-related issues, and makes recommendations regarding discipline.
• Serves as the highest safety officer for U&ES, ensuring that all safety standards, including Cal OSHA requirements, are met in a thorough and efficient manner and striving to minimize workplace injuries. Chairs the U&ES Department's Safety Committee.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Core competencies include knowledge of water transmission and distribution operations and maintenance programs, principles of hydraulic theory, current methods, codes and regulations governing potable water disinfection, testing and reporting, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, mechanical and electrical equipment commonly used in water distribution and sewage pumping systems, underground installation and safe work practices, sewer collection system operations and maintenance, modern asset management processes, procedures, and equipment, modern work order development, execution, and final billing, modern processes, procedures, and equipment in inventory control and operations of a utility parts and supplies store, and principles of management and supervision including work planning, direction, training, and evaluation of work and staff performance.

Ability to direct the daily operation of a large municipal water distribution system, and sewer and storm water systems; and trace and correct mechanical or procedural errors, supervise, train and evaluate subordinate supervisory, technical and support staff; and coordinate shift schedules to insure the timely processing of the public's request, foster implementation of state-of-the-art water and sewer systems in all aspects of Utilities O&M, perform the duties of both the Utilities O&M Supervisor and Field Services Supervisor in their absence, communicate both orally and in writing to prepare clear and accurate maintenance and safety reports, lead discussions, and present information to City staff, contractors, and the general public, review and evaluate construction plans, drawings and specifications related to water and sewer system infrastructure projects including mechanical and electrical systems, analyze water and sewer system historical and current performance using a variety of data, formulas and equations, troubleshoot common SCADA problems and implement solutions; and recommend projects related to SCADA expansion, upgrade or new installations, make reasonable assessments as to repair or replacement of equipment; and advise Utilities staff, design consultants, engineers and contractors in acquisition and installation of new equipment, make informed judgments concerning operational parameters of water and sewer systems; and make independent judgments during em

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be : Experience : Five (5) years of progressively responsible supervisory experience in the installation and maintenance of a water system including two (2) year of responsible supervisory or management experience in a distribution system classified as a D4 system or higher by the California Department of Health Services. Education : Completion of twelfth (12th) grade or possession of GED, supplemented by college course work related to potable water, water distribution, wastewater collection, recycled water distribution, or a science field. Possession of an Associate's Degree in water distribution, wastewater collection, recycled water distribution, or in a science field may be substituted for the required coursework. Possession of a bachelor's degree is desirable. License : Requires possession of a valid Water Distribution Operator D4 Certificate issued by the California Department of Health Services. Alternative Certification - As an alternative to the D4 Certification requirement, a candidate may qualify for the position with : Possession and maintenance of a valid certificate of registration as a professional civil or mechanical engineer issued by the State of California; and Possession of valid Water Distribution D3 Certification issued by the California Department of Health Services with the ability to obtain a D4 Certification within eighteen (18) months of appointment to the position. Possession and maintenance of a valid Class C California Driver's License.

Supplemental Information

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