Public Utilities Director - City of Lake Alfred

Public Utilities Director

Lake Alfred, FL

Salary Range: $113,022 - $127,281

DESCRIPTION:

This is executive-level administrative and operational work directing the City’s Public Utilities functions, including water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, reclaimed water systems, utility maintenance operations, regulatory compliance, capital project delivery, and utility-related development services.

The Public Utilities Director provides strategic leadership, long-range system planning, regulatory oversight, financial management, and operational direction to ensure the safe, reliable, and compliant delivery of water and wastewater services to the City of Lake Alfred. This position operates under the general administrative direction of the City Manager and is designated as Mission Critical.

Public Works experience is preferred; however, primary emphasis is placed on water and wastewater utilities leadership and regulatory compliance expertise.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

  Executive & Strategic Leadership

1. Provides executive-level operational oversight of all water and wastewater utility functions, including treatment, distribution, collection systems, lift stations, reclaimed water systems, and utility maintenance operations.
2. Directly manages and oversees active utility and public works capital projects, ensuring projects remain on schedule, within scope, and within budget parameters established by the City Manager.
3. Serves as the operational lead for project execution, coordinating contractor performance, construction oversight, procurement activities, interdepartmental collaboration, and regulatory compliance.
4. Prioritizes and directs infrastructure replacement, rehabilitation, repair, and preventative maintenance initiatives to preserve system integrity and service reliability.
5. Monitors project performance indicators, construction milestones, and operational benchmarks; provides structured progress reporting and risk analysis to the City Manager.
6. Identifies operational constraints, compliance risks, and project delivery challenges; implements corrective action plans to maintain continuity of service and project momentum.
7. Functions as the primary execution interface between field operations and executive leadership, translating strategic direction from the City Manager into measurable project outcomes.
8. Ensures all projects and operations align with adopted budgets, approved capital improvement allocations, and administrative directives.

Regulatory & Operational Oversight

1. Ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing water and wastewater utility operations, including Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requirements.
2. Oversees operational performance of water treatment, wastewater treatment, distribution, collection, lift stations, and reclaimed water systems to ensure reliable and continuous service delivery.
3. Maintains direct field presence to monitor plant operations, infrastructure conditions, contractor performance, and crew activities; reinforces accountability, safety standards, and operational expectations.
4. Ensures timely and accurate completion of required regulatory reporting, inspections, testing programs, and corrective actions.
5. Directs response to operational failures, regulatory issues, and emergency conditions; implements corrective measures to protect public health, environmental compliance, and system integrity.
6. Enforces preventative maintenance standards and operational procedures to reduce service interruptions, equipment failure, and compliance risk.

Capital Projects & Infrastructure Delivery

1. Directs and manages utility and public works capital projects from design through construction and closeout, ensuring projects remain on schedule, within scope, and within approved budgets.
2. Oversees contractor performance, construction quality, procurement coordination, and compliance with approved plans and specifications.
3. Maintains active field presence to verify project progress, resolve construction issues, and enforce performance standards.
4. Evaluates change orders, monitors project expenditures, and implements controls to prevent cost overruns and scope creep.
5. Coordinates utility infrastructure work with roadway and street improvements to ensure system integration and operational continuity.
6. Provides structured progress reporting and issue escalation to the City Manager to maintain project transparency and accountability.

Financial & Administrative Management

1. Participates in the annual budget development process by identifying operational and capital funding needs and submitting recommendations to the City Manager.
2. Reviews departmental Revenue & Expenditure (R&E) reports on a quarterly basis with the City Manager to monitor budget performance and identify material variances.
3. Monitors project costs, purchase orders, and departmental expenditures to ensure alignment with approved budget allocations.
4. Prepares bid specifications, evaluates responses, and submits contract award recommendations to the City Manager in accordance with City procurement procedures.
5. Notifies the City Manager of any material budget impacts, cost escalations, or project changes affecting approved financial parameters.
6. Maintains appropriate administrative documentation, procurement records, and internal controls to support audit and compliance requirements.

Personnel & Organizational Leadership

1. Provides direct supervision and performance oversight to Utilities and Public Works personnel, reinforcing accountability, safety standards, and operational expectations.
2. Maintains consistent field presence and visible leadership to support crews and ensure service reliability.
3. Promotes cross-department collaboration in a small and growing organization where flexibility and shared responsibility are essential.
4. Develops and mentors emerging leaders to support succession planning and long-term workforce stability.
5. Cultivates a growth mindset culture grounded in continuous improvement, strengths-based leadership, and professional development.
6. Models the City’s service philosophy of treating employees, residents, contractors, and partners with professionalism and respect — including the expectation to “treat them better than they deserve.”
7. Actively rejects siloed or “lone ranger” leadership practices and builds cooperative relationships across departments to ensure unified service delivery.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:

• Performs related work as required.

QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION, TRAINING, & EXPERIENCE):

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering, Public Administration, Business Administration, Environmental Sciences, or a related field preferred.
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in water or wastewater utilities.
• Five (5) years of supervisory or administrative leadership experience.
• Municipal government experience preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must maintain a valid telephone number.
• Governmental operations experience preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of water and wastewater utility systems, operations, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of infrastructure planning, capital improvement programming, and development review processes.
• Knowledge of budgeting, financial administration, and public procurement practices.
• Knowledge of Florida Statutes and regulations pertaining to public utilities.
• Ability to analyze technical engineering reports, plans, and specifications.
• Ability to develop long-term system expansion strategies in a growing municipality.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex technical information to elected officials and the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, consultants, developers, regulatory agencies, and the community.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and organizational management skills.
• Ability to establish working relationships with city employees, other federal, state, and local governmental representatives, civic groups, consultants, vendors, and the public.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATION, OR REGISTRATION:

• Valid Florida Commercial Driver’s License (Class B) or able to obtain within one (1) year.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Water or Wastewater Operator certification required (Class “B” minimum; Class “A” preferred).
• Certified Public Manager (CPM) certification preferred or ability to obtain within three (3) years.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is primarily performed in an office setting with frequent site visits to treatment plants, lift stations, construction sites, and field operations. Position may require exposure to adverse weather conditions, construction environments, and operational utility facilities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. The City of Lake Alfred is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. IND3