DWM - Deputy Commissioner Watershed - Office of Linear Infrastructure and Operations (OLIO) en City of Atlanta

Deputy Commissioner - Office of Linear Infrastructure and Operations (OLIO)

Posting expires: September 29, 2025

Salary range: $157,528 - $197,058

Position Overview:

The Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Linear Infrastructure Operations (OLIO) is a senior leadership role within the Department of Watershed Management (DWM). This position reports directly to the Commissioner and is responsible for overseeing the efficient operation and maintenance of the City of Atlanta’s linear infrastructure systems, including the drinking water system, wastewater collection system, and stormwater infrastructure. The Deputy Commissioner will manage the maintenance and rehabilitation of over 2,700 miles of water mains, 1,900 miles of sewer pipes, and other critical infrastructure, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, enhancing service delivery, and driving operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Provide direction and oversight for OLIO, ensuring alignment with DWM's goals, focusing on water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, and infrastructure reliability.
• Operational Excellence: Develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures to ensure effective maintenance and rehabilitation of water and sewer infrastructure.
• Capital Improvement Projects (CIP): Lead and manage major capital improvement projects, ensuring compliance with the City’s Consent Decrees and Administrative Orders.
• Team Leadership and Staff Development: Supervise a team of directors, managers, and staff within OLIO, fostering professional growth through training and mentoring, and driving continuous process improvement.
• Budget and Performance Management: Oversee the OLIO operating budget, ensuring efficient resource allocation. Track and report performance against key operational indicators.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all OLIO operations comply with federal, state, and local environmental regulations (e.g., EPA, EPD).
• Emergency Management: Lead OLIO’s emergency preparedness efforts, ensuring timely and effective responses to infrastructure emergencies and service disruptions.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with other DWM Deputy Commissioners, City departments, regulatory agencies, and the public to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
• Asset Management: Oversee asset management practices for water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, ensuring the City’s infrastructure is maintained and rehabilitated according to established best practices.

Key Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in civil, sanitary, or environmental engineering, business administration or any combination of industry related experience is required.
• Experience:
  • A minimum of 10 years of experience in utility infrastructure operations, maintenance, and/or design, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or management role.
  • Proven experience managing large-scale utility maintenance and rehabilitation programs, preferably in a large urban water or wastewater system.
  • Experience in water and wastewater systems maintenance at a department or division head level, with demonstrated success in leading complex projects.
• Licenses and Certifications:
  • State of Georgia Water Distribution and/or Wastewater Collection Certification is preferred.
  • Registered Professional Engineer (PE) or certifications in relevant fields (e.g., EPA, FEMA)  is desirable, but not required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Leadership & Team Building: Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, motivate, and lead a diverse team. Ability to manage and inspire a team to achieve departmental goals and objectives.
• Analytical & Strategic Thinking: Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and recommend operational improvements to optimize system performance and resource allocation.
• Project Management: Exceptional project management skills, including experience overseeing capital improvement projects and managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Comprehensive knowledge of water or wastewater utility operations, including regulatory compliance with environmental agencies such as the EPA and EPD.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal, communication, and change management skills, with the ability to present complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making: Ability to make high-level decisions impacting infrastructure operations and the City’s water services, ensuring timely resolutions and service continuity.
• Customer Relations: Strong customer service orientation, with the ability to effectively engage with the public, respond to complaints, and improve customer relations.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• The position may require occasional work beyond a standard 40-hour work week, including weekend hours.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, maintain composure in stressful situations and work alongside frontline staff.
• Ability to adapt to changes in a dynamic work environment.