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Assistant Department Director - Water Management

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Assistant Department Director - Water Management

Salary

See Position Description

Location

Durham, NC

Job Type

Full time with benefits

Job Number

.

Department

Water Management

Opening Date

04/30/2025

Closing Date

5/29/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

+ Description

+ Benefits

Position Description

To apply for this position, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on Assistant Director, Water Resources, City of Durham, NC. You can select which position you are interested in within the application.

+ All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the City of Durham’s employment application portal or any other external website.

+ Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.

+ Applicants should apply by May 29, 2025.

+ The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to virtual interviews and skill evaluations on June 24-25, 2025. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.

+ Direct inquiries to [email protected].

The City of Durham’s Department of Water Management Seeks Two Assistant Directors

The City of Durham, North Carolina — a growing and forward-thinking community — is seeking two experienced and trustworthy water resources professionals to join the leadership team in the Department of Water Management (DWM). The Assistant Director – Plant Operations & Maintenance and the Assistant Director – Water Distribution & Wastewater Collection are supported by a knowledgeable and dedicated staff and offer the chance to make a real difference in public service. These are exceptional opportunities for skilled professionals who wish to play key roles in managing and advancing critical water infrastructure systems in a well-funded and highly supported department.

Both Assistant Directors will demonstrate outstanding project management competencies, lead with a customer service focus, and effectively coordinate with all internal departments in the City, external stakeholders, etc. for all projects including planning and funding the renewal and replacement of the City’s aging water/wastewater infrastructure and the DWM’s asset management program.

About the Community:

The City of Durham is located in the Research Triangle Region of North Carolina and is the County seat of Durham County. The City is grounded in research and development from the region’s major research institutions and many private and federal labs, which have fueled business and economic growth and made the region a world leader in life sciences, information technology, and clean technology.

Consistently ranked among the top places to live, work, and play, Durham is a magnet for talent, which helps attract innovative companies working in high-growth industries. Durham, the “City of Medicine,” has long been known for world-class medical facilities, including top-ranked Duke University Medical Center, and an industry-leading pharmaceutical sector. The healthcare industry in Durham County includes more than 300 medical and health-related companies and medical practices with a combined payroll that exceeds $1.2 billion annually.

More recently, Durham County has become a hotspot for entrepreneurs and high-tech startups, propelled by the launch of American Underground, a startup incubator and accelerator, and the Durham Innovation District, a planned, mixed-use residential/retail/lab and workspace in Downtown Durham. Durham boasts a premier performing arts center and the Durham Bulls AAA baseball team. In addition to Duke University, Durham is home to North Carolina Central University, the nation’s first public Historically Black College and University, now a major center for biotech and bio-manufacturing R&D, and Durham Technical Community College, a key partner in preparing a competitive workforce. Private investment is flourishing, redeveloping former tobacco and textile warehouses and historic buildings into exciting, mixed-use developments filled with diverse and popular housing options, restaurants, artist studios, retail spaces, and small businesses.

The population of the City of Durham is 317,467 (https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/durhamcitynorthcarolina/PST045223) and highly diverse. Much of Durham County’s growth occurred within the City of Durham, where most of the County’s community members reside. The County's population grew from 267,587 to 324,833 during the period 2010-2020, representing a decade-long increase of more than 20%. Current expectations are that the population is projected to grow by 30% by 2050. Centrally located, the City of Durham is a few hours’ drive from the beautiful North Carolina coast to the East and the Appalachian Mountains to the West.

About the Organization:

The City of Durham operates under a Council/Manager form of government. The City Manager, along with three Deputy City Managers, leads approximately 2,500 employees working across 25 departments. The City has aFY25 general operating budget (https://www.durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/57292/FY25-COD-Adopted-Budget-Book) of $668 million — an increase of 9.5% from last year — AAA bond ratings, and a tax rate of 59.62 cents per $100 of property value, up from last year’s 55.77 cents. The generated tax bill is $1,517 on a house valued at $254,421, the median home tax value according to the Durham County Office of Tax Administration. The City’s day-to-day management and plan for future growth are managed by its Strategic Plan Durham: Level (https://durhamnc.gov/183/Strategic-Plan) Up Durham , which was updated in 2024 and guides how the City serves its residents, invests in its future, and creates opportunities for all.

A 2024 Resident Survey (https://www.durhamnc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3593&ARC=5318) indicates that 79% of respondents rated the city as an excellent or good place to live, while 74% are satisfied with the overall quality of life in their neighborhood. Initiatives in the strategic plan have set a high bar to increase those percentages over time and to achieve Council goals of: Shared Economic Prosperity, Creating a Safer Community Together, Connected, Engaged and Diverse Communities, Innovative & High Performing Organization, and Sustainable Natural and Built Environment.

The City prides itself on community engagement and offers multiple ways for the community to become involved and stay informed, from 27 Advisory Boards and Commissions, to state of the art communication tools such as an open data Web platform, and social media, to community surveys. Learn more about the City of Durham here (https://durhamnc.gov/183/Strategic-Plan) .

Duties/Responsibilities

About the Department and Positions:

The City of Durham’s Department of Water Management (DWM), with an operating budget of nearly $71 million and over 382 water professionals, delivers clean drinking water to the Durham community. DWM also collects and treats wastewater at water reclamation facilities before safely returning it to the environment. The DWM operates and maintains a vast and complex infrastructure that provides these essential services around the clock. Highly trained response teams are on call 24/7 to fix water main breaks, sewer overflows, and other emergencies.

With consistently high-performing operations and an outstanding compliance record, the DWM is recognized as a regional leader in water resource management, driven by the continued development and implementation of the Jordan Lake Regional Water Treatment Facility and the Mist Lake Facility—a state-of-the-art center focused on employee wellness, training, and professional development. The DWM’s strategic initiatives and commitment to excellence have been recognized through several prestigious accolades, including:

+ WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award (https://www.durhamnc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3735) – Awarded to the Durham Department of Water Management in both 2023 and 2024

+ Best Tasting Water in North Carolina– Awarded to Durham Water for the third consecutive year in November 2021

+ WaterSense Partner of the Year– Awarded in Fall 2024 for the ninth consecutive year

The Assistant Directors are two of the three Assistant Director positions who work collaboratively under the general direction of the Water Management Director. The Assistant Director – Plant Operations & Maintenance is responsible for the safe, efficient, and effective operation and maintenance of the City’s drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities and programs. The drinking water facilities include the Lake Michie and Little River Reservoirs; the Brown and Williams Water Treatment Facilities (combined capacity of 64 million gallons per day); and the new Jordan Lake Regional Water Treatment Facility, which is currently under development. Wastewater management facilities include the North and South Durham Water Reclamation Facilities (combined capacity of 40 million gallons per day). This Assistant Director has six direct reports (five Superintendents and a Senior Engineering Manager) and oversees a budget of ~$31.7M with 132 FTEs.

The Assistant Director – Water Distribution & Wastewater Collection is responsible for the efficient and effective operation and maintenance of the City’s water and wastewater conveyance systems, which include 1,269 miles of water pipe ranging in size of 4-54 inches; water storage facilities; the cross-connection control program; 1,367 miles of wastewater collection pipe ranging in size of 4-42 inches; 63 wastewater pumping stations; and the fats, oil, and grease control program. This Assistant Director has four direct reports (two Superintendents, a Senior Engineering Manager, and a Cross Connection Control Administrator) and oversees a budget of ~$23M with 170 FTEs.

Key Priorities for both vacant Assistant Directors positions include:

+ Develop positive and productive relationships with DWM staff, other City departments, and regional utility partners.

+ Promote a team culture of safety, training, and professional development.

+ Engage with staff to gain a thorough understanding of the personnel, facilities, and infrastructure in his/her area of responsibility.

+ Support the development of the Jordan Lake Regional Water Treatment Facility.

+ Work with staff and other stakeholders for the orderly renewal or replacement of aging infrastructure.

+ Engage with staff to develop and implement SMART goals focused on efficiency and performance excellence.

+ Ensure full compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

+ A bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Hydrology & Water Management, Environmental Engineering, or related field is required ; a master’s degree is preferred.

+ At least 6 years of experience in upper-level management with a minimum of 4 years of budget development/management experience is required, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

+ Certified Professional Engineer (PE) and/or Water/Wastewater related certifications is highly desired but not required.

+ Must possess a valid driver’s license.

+ Experience with the operations and maintenance of water and/or wastewater treatment plants with capacity greater than 10 million gallons per day is preferred (Asst. Director Plant Operations and Maintenance).

+ Experience with the operations and maintenance of greater than 1,000 miles of water and/or wastewater piping with a staff of 100+ employees is preferred (Asst. Director Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection).

Additional Preferred Skills

The Successful Candidates Are:

+ open, honest, trustworthy, and approachable leaders committed to building a cohesive team throughout the department, as well as to developing individual employees;

+ proactive in building collaborative relationships with City departments, developers, engineers, architects, community, and business leaders to effectively meet City and DWM goals;

+ adept at developing an excellent customer service culture for internal and external customers while supporting and advocating for employees and the department;

+ experienced in proactively leading water utility services and programs.

+ knowledgeable of theory, principles, practices, and techniques of water and wastewater utilities;

+ knowledgeable of applicable federal, state, and local law, codes, and regulations governing public utilities functions and activities;

+ outstanding ability to interact with people from diverse backgrounds;

+ experienced project managers who are adept at overseeing utility-related projects;

+ resourceful in finding or developing innovative solutions to meet workload demands with reduced staff in a tight budget climate;

+ effective listeners who seek input from relevant parties, realistically assess plans, and consistently communicate;

+ principled leaders who value accountability while holding realistic and fair expectations of self and others;

+ effective communicators, including one-on-one communications, small groups, and public speaking, who confidently and persuasively engage citizens, community groups, staff, and elected officials; and,

+ lifelong learners who maintain knowledge of trends and initiatives regionally and nationally.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for these positions is $123,251-$160,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The City offers a comprehensive benefits package (https://durhamnc.gov/725/Employee-Benefits) , including a comprehensive wellness program. The normal work week is 37.5 hours, with required attendance for after-hours community meetings as needed.

To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on Assistant Director, Water Resources, City of Durham, NC. You can select which position you are interested in within the application.

+ All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the organization’s employment application portal or any other external website.

+ Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.

+ Applicants should apply by May 29, 2025.

+ The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to virtual interviews and skill evaluations on June 24-25, 2025. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.

+ Direct inquiries to [email protected].

Benefits – General Full-Time Employees

+ 12-13 paid holidays per year

+ 13 standard work days of vacation per year

+ 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement

+ 2 weeks paid military leave per year

+ Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans

+ State and City retirement plans

+ Short and long term disability plans

+ Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions

+ City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System

+ Paid funeral leave

+ Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling

+ Paid life insurance equal to annual salary

+ 48 hours for volunteer work each year*

+ 4 hours parental leave each year

+ Workman's Compensation Insurance

+ 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

+ 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)

+ State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

+ 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)

+ State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire

+ Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire

+ Dental and life insurance, after one year of service

+ Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service