• Education equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in engineering or an approved related field, and
• Eight (8) years of increasingly responsible experience in the engineering, operation, and maintenance of a water supply system, sanitary sewer system and/or solar energy utility, four (4) years of which shall have been in a management or supervisory capacity. 

Possible substitutions:

• Completion of an advanced degree in engineering, management, business administration, or public administration may be substituted for two (2) years of the qualifying engineering, operations, and maintenance experience requirement. 

Desirable qualifications:

• An advanced degree in engineering, management, business administration, or public administration is desirable. 
• Possession of, or the ability to obtain a valid certificate of registration from the State of California in civil or mechanical engineering is desirable.

The following are required at time of application and for the duration of employment:

• Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license. 
• Possession of a Water Distribution Operators Certificate D5 from the State Department of Health is highly desirable.  Possession of a Wastewater Collection System Maintenance Certificate from the California Water Environment Association, Grade 3    is desirable.

This is a Department Head position in the City’s Unclassified Service, responsible for the overall management  of the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities. 
The incumbent in this position will exercise the highest level of independent judgment and discretion in guiding the Utilities so that they continue to fulfill their mission statements.  The incumbent will possess competencies in a variety of areas, including:  management; public finance; written and oral communications; public relations; and regulatory issues.  The incumbent will have a good working knowledge of current and pending regulations concerning:  water, recycled water, and waste water quality; solar; worker safety; labor relations; public contracting; rate setting; and related matters.

Each position in this classification may not include all the duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties that may be performed.

• Manages the water, sanitary sewer, solar energy, and recycled water services provided by the City of Santa Clara;
• Plans and  organizes the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities in the planning, design, installation, operation, repair, and maintenance of the City’s  water supply and distribution system, as well as its recycled water system, the operation, repair, and maintenance of the City’s sanitary sewage collection system, and the planning, design, installation, repair, and maintenance of the City’s solar energy systems; 
• Coordinates departmental activities with other City departments and other governmental entities, contractors, developers, wholesale water suppliers, wastewater treatment facilities, joint powers authorities, and the utilities’ customers;
• Works with Assistant Directors and Division Heads in:  planning utilities improvements and other projects, deployment of personnel and other resources, solving organization and human resources problems; preparation and administration of annual budgets, rate setting, securing financing for projects, administering revenue bonds and other debt arrangements, ensuring regulatory compliance, reviewing and recommending official positions on Federal and State legislation, and in the preparation of reports on departmental activities;
• Makes presentations to the City Council and other boards and commissions; represents the department and the City as a member, alternate member, or staff liaison on a variety of outside agencies, boards, commissions, committees, and joint powers authorities, including the jointly-owned  Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Area (BAWSCA) and San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant;
• Researches, compiles and analyzes technical studies and reports, prepare staff reports and recommendations related to departmental activities;
• Investigates complaints and inquiries from the public and other agencies; recommends corrective action as necessary; and
• Performs  related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Engineering principles, practices, and methods as applied to planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance of municipal water and sewer systems and solar energy systems;
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and ordinances (e.g., Federal Clean Water Act, OSHA, DOT, Underground Service Alert (USA), California Title 22 water and resettled water requirements)
• Principles and practices of safety, including OSHA requirements;
• Principles involved in operating a large water distribution sewage collection systems;
• Principles and practices of human resources and public administration;
• Effective leadership and management principles and practices;
• Principles and practices of municipal labor relations;
• Principles of organization and management, including conflict resolution, and employee development;
• Office safety practices, procedures and standards; and
• Principles and practices of budgeting (operating and capital), communication, contracting, information technology, project management, outreach, performance standards, and records management, and the use of resources to achieve outcomes and expectations.

Ability to:

• Provide the leadership and management of the department through coaching, enabling and facilitating employees working in a team environment;
• Create a culture that is conducive to change and that is one that is able to select, recruit, retain, develop and motivate a skilled and talented workforce where everyone knows their mission, role, and job;
• Establish clear goals and objectives in order to create an organization that delivers excellent customer service through ethical leadership standards, establishes an atmosphere of respect for employees consistent with the City’s Code of Ethics and Values;
• Build constructive relationships by promoting effective partnerships with department peers, bargaining units, employees, citizens, and others contacted in the course of work;
• Represent and speak for the department and its work, e.g., presenting, explaining, promoting, defining, and negotiating to those within and outside the department by making clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals and groups, by listening effectively and clarifying information and by facilitating an open exchange of ideas;
• Prepare clear, complete, accurate, concise, and logical written and oral reports;
• Effectively handle multiple priorities, organize workload for self and others, and meet strict deadlines;
• Ensure compliance with complex legal environmental and code requirements;
• Work in a team-based environment to achieve common goals;
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Exercise good judgment in structuring and organizing work and setting priorities, and readily readjusting priorities to respond to current and future needs; and
• Walk or stand for extended periods of time and bend, stoop, crawl, climb, and lift as necessary to perform assigned duties.

Manages the Assistant Director of Water Utility, Assistant Director of Sewer Utility and other professional, technical, administrative support  staff, and consultants.