Utilities Manager en City of Winter Springs

About the Department

The Utilities Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, planning, and management of the City’s water, wastewater, and stormwater utility systems. This position oversees the daily operations, maintenance, and regulatory compliance of the utilities division, including water distribution, wastewater collection, lift stations, and stormwater infrastructure. The Utilities Manager ensures the delivery of safe, reliable, and efficient utility services to the community while maintaining compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
This role involves supervising and supporting a team of utilities foremen maintenance workers; managing budgets and capital improvement projects; coordinating with engineering and public works departments; and serving as a key liaison with regulatory agencies and the public. 
This position is designated as “essential personnel” and will serve as a member of the Emergency Management Team, required to report for duty during emergencies, natural disasters, or other critical events.

Position Duties

• Plan, direct, and manage the operations and maintenance of the City’s water distribution, wastewater collection, and stormwater systems.
• Oversee the operation, maintenance, and performance of all lift stations, including pumps, motors, control systems, and backup power systems.
• Oversee the inspection, maintenance, and repair of the City’s stormwater infrastructure, including retention/detention ponds, swales, culverts, storm drains, and outfalls.
• Ensure proper inspection, cleaning, and repair of the wastewater collection system, including gravity mains, force mains, manholes, and service laterals.
• Develop and implement stormwater maintenance programs, including street sweeping, vegetation control, and erosion prevention.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance programs for lift stations and collection system infrastructure to reduce downtime and extend asset life.
• Respond to and coordinate emergency repairs for sewer overflows, pump failures, and other critical lift station or collection system issues.
• Supervise and support utility division staff, including foremen and maintenance crews; provide leadership, training, and performance evaluations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations, including FDEP, EPA, and OSHA requirements for wastewater systems.
• Develop and manage budgets for utility operations, maintenance, and capital improvement projects; monitor expenditures and ensure cost-effective service delivery.
• Coordinate with engineering and contractors on lift station upgrades, sewer rehabilitation projects, and new infrastructure installations.
• Review and approve utility plans for new developments, ensuring proper integration with existing lift stations and collection systems.
• Monitor system performance using SCADA, GIS, and other technologies; analyze data to identify inefficiencies or potential failures in lift stations and sewer lines.
• Prepare reports and documentation for regulatory compliance, asset management, and operational planning.
• Serve as essential personnel during emergencies, including hurricanes, flooding, or major utility failures, and lead emergency response efforts for utility systems. 
• Regular in-person attendance during City and department business hours, since face-to-face interaction and coordination of work with other employees, residents, or vendors, and all immediate access to documents or tools, or other resources located at the workplace is required.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of wastewater collection systems, including gravity and force mains, manholes, and service laterals.
• In-depth understanding of lift station operations, including pumps, motors, SCADA systems, electrical controls, and backup power systems.
• Strong knowledge of stormwater management systems, including drainage basins, culverts, swales, retention/detention ponds, and NPDES requirements.
• Knowledge of utility system design, construction, and maintenance practices.
• Understanding of asset management principles, preventive maintenance programs, and capital improvement planning.
• Working knowledge of GIS, SCADA, CMMS, and other utility management software.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills, including team coordination, staff development, and performance management.
• Skilled in interpreting engineering plans, technical drawings, and utility maps.
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills, especially in emergency or high-pressure situations.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, for interacting with staff, contractors, regulatory agencies, and the public.
• Ability to plan, organize, and manage complex utility operations across multiple infrastructure systems.
• Ability to diagnose and troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic issues in lift stations and stormwater systems.
• Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, and safety protocols for utility operations.
• Ability to respond effectively to emergencies, including sewer overflows, pump failures, and storm-related flooding.

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related field. 
• Five (5) years of related manual labor and technical experience in infrastructure maintenance. 
• Additional related experience may be substituted in lieu of degree. 

Other Qualifications

• Must possess and maintain a valid FL Driver’s License. 
• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) preferred, or the ability to obtain a CDL within six (6) months is required.

• Must be available to work after hours, On-Call assignments, and perform Call-Back services.
• This position will work in both an office environment and outdoors and may include exposure to inclement weather and other hazardous conditions. 
• This function may also involve the consistent performance of physically demanding work, typically involving some combination of reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, climbing, walking, and the lifting, pushing, manipulation, and carrying of heavy objects up to 50lbs. 
• This function may also include the need to climb a ladder, traverse uneven terrain, climb stairs, etc.