Engineering Manager - Development Services

OWASA seeks an enthusiastic Engineering Manager to lead our Development Services team. This position ensures that external projects affecting OWASA water, sewer, and reclaimed water systems are designed and constructed appropriately, and that water and sewer system capacities are adequate to meet the planned growth envisioned by the Towns and UNC.

Key responsibilities:

• Manages a six-person Development Services team which includes two Engineering Associates, two Engineering Technicians and two Construction Inspectors.
• Ensures that all expansion, extension, and relocation work performed by external entities (developers, contractors etc.) on OWASA’s water, sewer and reclaimed water systems are accomplished in accordance with local, state and federal regulations, and OWASA’s Manual of Standards, Specifications, and Design, ordinances, policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and administrative guides. Regularly meets with internal staff and external project teams to clarify requirements, facilitate resolution of design challenges, and help prevent and resolve constructability and other issues.
• Maintains strong relationships with appropriate staff at the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill, Orange County, and NCDOT to ensure coordination with the Towns’ and UNC’s plans and policies for growth and development, and to facilitate mutual understanding and efficient coordination of program activities, interests, policy and requirements with those of the partner agency.
• Develops and manages financial partnership utility agreements with developers, the towns, UNC, Orange County, and NCDOT for OWASA utility improvements through completion and reimbursement for betterment.
• Ensures that water and sewer system capacities are adequate for new development construction by tracking and monitoring new wastewater flows or water demands.
• Provides Professional Engineering oversight and sealing of OWASA’s Manual of Standards, Specifications, and Design, including managing all activities to ensure this document is up to date and in accordance with all local, State and Federal guidelines for water, sewer, and reclaimed water construction.
• Recommends changes to fee policies, structures, and rates to ensure that fees charged for plan review and construction observation reflect OWASA’s cost-of-service.
• Provides annual near-term forecasts of new meter equivalents based on available information from project submittals.

Qualifications:

• Six years of experience, including two years in a supervisory role, working with engineering practices used in the design, permitting, and construction of public water and wastewater projects.
• Professional Engineer license.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with members of the public, regulators, developers, consultants, contractors and government staff. 
• Ability to solve problems creatively and collaboratively, to make timely decisions in a consistently fair manner, and to communicate the rationale behind decisions effectively.
• Ability to set clearly defined goals, evaluate progress, and change course as necessary to fulfill the mission while ensuring all safe work practices are followed. 
• Be a steward of the environment, our natural resources and OWASA’s financial resources.

Have a service-oriented attitude, responsiveness, professionalism, and a passion to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Team members are our most important resource. Benefits and pay include: 

• Salary range is $114,570 - $171,856
• Membership in the NC Local Government Employee Retirement System (pension plan)  
• 5% Employer 457 plan contribution   
• Retirement health savings account  
• Employer paid Health, Dental, Vision, Life insurance, Long-term Disability   
• 12 Paid Holidays  
• Vacation, Sick, Personal, Bereavement, and Parental Leave  
• Monthly Cell Phone Stipend  

• Educational Reimbursement  

• Bonus Pay for Additional Certifications and/or Education    

• Ability to transfer unused sick leave from previous NC Local Government or State agency employer   

• Much, much more!  

OWASA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diverse experiences. We provide competitive pay and benefits in a safe, rewarding work environment. Visit www.owasa.org to apply for this excellent opportunity. This recruitment closes on November 14, 2025.