Description

Charlotte’s local government, with more than 9,000 employees and a total budget of $3.65 billion budget, works hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn, and play.

Charlotte Water is an enterprise department of the City of Charlotte and one of the largest public water and sewer service providers in the southeast, with over 330,000 customer accounts and over 1100 employees. Our service area includes the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the towns of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mint Hill, Matthews, and Pineville. Charlotte Water’s FY 26 budget is $651 million and a five-year capital program of $2.2.28 billion. We enjoy the highest credit ratings from Moody’s and S&P Global as a result of sound financial planning and management, and strong support from our City Council. We value competent, skilled candidates with a customer service focus to work in a team environment.

Salary: 

The salary for this position is: $175,714.20 - $195,237.99, Commensurate with Experience. 

Summary: 

The Deputy Director serves as a member of the Charlotte Water Executive Leadership Team and reports directly to the Charlotte Water Director to provide overall leadership and management of the department. This position will manage two divisional managers who serve on the Charlotte Water Leadership team.   The specific areas of focus are with Field Operations and the Customer Service Divisions.  Field Operations is the largest division with over 350 employees and a budget of close to $40 million.  The Charlotte Water system includes: 4500 miles of each water distribution mains and sanitary sewer collection mains. Areas of responsibility in Field Operations include administration; four operation centers (zones); a rehabilitation and replacement engineering group; a critical assets group; a utility locating group; and a water quality assessment.  The Customer Service Division has a staff of 150 employees and a budget of approximately $13 million. 

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Member of the Charlotte Water Leadership Team participating in the overall management of the department. 
Ensures activities, functions, and operations are aligned with the City’s and the Department’s Purpose, Core Values, Strategic Plan and direction of the City Manager and the Charlotte Water Director
Develops and executes operational plans to ensure achievement of assigned strategic priorities and projects; establishes capital investment priorities.
Ensures activities, functions, and operations are aligned with the City’s Goals and policies and the Department’s Strategic Plan.
Plans for optimal use of staff and material resources of the organization.
Negotiates contracts and agreements related to system expansion, operation, and maintenance; partners with the Charlotte Water leadership team on department-wide strategic operational, budgetary and policy issues.
Partners with the Charlotte Water leadership team on department-wide strategic operational, budgetary and policy issues.
Assists the utility in responding to increasingly complex technical standards and regulations.
Represents Charlotte Water in work with elected officials, other City leaders and staff, state and federal regulators, regional partners, consultants, and contractors; regional partners, consultants, and contractors; coordinates with internal and external service providers to assure support services and other needs are met to establish and sustain efficient, effective operations; negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant and controversial issues.
Exercises considerable independent judgment and initiative; and acts on behalf of the Director in the Director's absence.
Manages two divisional managers that serve on the Charlotte Water Leadership team.   The specific areas of focus are with Field Operations and the Customer Service Divisions.  Responsibilities in this area include working with all residential, commercial and industrial customers related to overall customer care, new service connections,  billing assistance, service investigations,  meter maintenance, repair and replacement and associated engineering functions. 
 

Licenses, Certifications, or Registrations: 

Requires a valid Driver’s License.
Must obtain and maintain a City Driver’s Permit.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

Experience in water and wastewater operations management. 
Thorough knowledge of utility management, especially related to front-facing operations, asset management, organizational management, workforce, community relations, and finance. 
demonstrated skill in workforce management and work leadership of an organization employing large numbers of diverse professional and technical personnel.
Proven ability to strategically guide high-level management staff who have responsibility for large and diverse staff and areas of operations. 
Exceptional and proven communications, negotiation, and relationship-building skills. 
 

Preferred Qualifications: 

Knowledge of Distribution and Collection Systems Operations.
Knowledge of Utility Customer Service functions, water meter operations, and technology.
 

Minimum Qualifications: 

Requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering or other Science/Technical field related to utility operations and management; requires a thorough understanding of water/sewer system management, operation, maintenance, and engineering principles and practices.
10-plus years of progressive experience managing water /sewer utility operations and/or engineering; demonstrated skill in workforce management and work leadership of an organization employing large numbers of diverse professional and technical personnel