Public Utilities Director

The growing community of Kings Mountain, NC seeks an experienced Public Utilities Director to lead the City through unprecedented growth. This executive role will bring experience and expertise in developing long-term plans for the City that support growth, infrastructure and alignment with the needs of the community. The next Public Utilities Director will immerse him/herself in the community - passionately building connections and establishing respectful and trusting relationships with community members and stakeholders. Joining Kings Mountain at a time of significant growth, the Public Utilities Director will strategically lead and navigate the city through completion of $53M in capital projects ($40M+ water/sewer, $10.5M Electric, $2.5M Gas) including 20 major subdivisions and 5 million square feet of commercial development.

This role performs complex professional and difficult administrative work overseeing the design, installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of the City’s electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and dark fiber systems.  Work involves the development of policies and goals under the supervision of the Assistant City Manager and/or City Manager.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Asst. City Manager, the Public Utilities Director performs complex professional and difficult administrative work overseeing the design, installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of the City’s electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and dark fiber systems.  Work involves the development of policies and goals under the supervision of the Assistant City Manager and/or City Manager.

Work is performed in accordance with all established local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to management of electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater systems.  Work involves responsibility and oversight for staffing, budget development, and administration, assistance with and advising management and City Council on long range planning for public utilities infrastructure and system capacity as well as technical compliance needs, establishing and maintaining records and reports necessary for full compliance with all regulations and for effective management and decision-making, and insuring effective productivity of assigned personnel.

Work also involves significant experience in capital planning and construction management while incorporating innovation and research into the operations in response to the constantly changing environment as well as all laws and regulations.

The Public Utilities Director must be prepared to make considerable public contact, and exercise sound judgment. The employee may occasionally enter confined spaces and come in contact with other hazards. General administrative direction is received from the City Manager or Assistant City Manager regarding matters of policy, budgeting, long-range plans, personnel matters, and work priorities. Work is evaluated through conferences and reports for productivity, as well as compliance with required laws and regulations.

Key priorities for the next Public Utilities Director are:

• $88M Wastewater project replacing sanitary sewer lines, upgrading an existing 1960’s WWTP, and abandoning a small WWTP in the adjoining town of Grover
• $9.7M PHMSA Natural Gas Modernization Grant
  • Replacing all existing 12 natural gas regulator stations
  • Replacing 20 miles of “legacy” pipeline
  • Replacing 1/- 1,000 services that are unlocatable and 20 miles of plastic main that is currently unavailable
• Load switching on a nearly fully commissioned electrical substation
• Installing circuits for load growth on the Delivery 2 substation
• Slip-lining project to replace aged and failing sanitary sewer lines
• Redundant looping within the distribution system for drinking water
• Completion of a scheduled wage study for Electric and Natural Gas divisions

Qualifications:

Graduation from college with degree in environmental sciences, public administration, civil engineering technology, or related field and considerable experience managing electric, natural gas, water and/or wastewater systems, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Master’s degree or degree or certification as a Professional Engineer (PE) are preferred

Possession of a valid North Carolina Driver’s license.

Must possess visual acuity necessary to inspect schematic drawings, prepare and analyze figures and data, perform extensive reading, and operate a computer terminal.

Extensive experience leading a Public Utilities team in a similar sized organization

The Successful Candidate:

• Comprehensive knowledge of public utility organization, operation, planning, and administration; thorough knowledge of the materials, methods, practices and equipment used in the operation, maintenance and repair of utility systems; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, developers, industries, contractors, associates and the general public; ability to plan, assign and coordinate the work of the department; ability to prepare clear and comprehensive studies and reports; ability to communicate technical ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Principles and practices of water and waste water treatment, electric distribution systems, pump stations, metering, natural gas operations, utility billing and customer services.
•  Local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to management of electric, natural gas, water and waste water systems.
•  Effective Management practices including leadership, hiring, motivation, communications, delegation, discipline, and performance review.
• Knowledge of mechanical. electrical, and electronic trades as applied to electric, water, and waste water systems.
•  City budget, purchasing, and personnel policies and practices.
•  Principles and practices of civil engineering and the City's engineering standards for the water and sewer utility
•  Public speaking, customer contact, and collaborative conflict resolution.

• Prepare, present and interpret complex records and reports.