This unclassified position within the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities will lead the engineering department, reporting directly to the Senior Director. The role involves advising on existing Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and developing new products, requirements, and timelines. The preferred candidate should possess an engineering degree and extensive experience managing complex technical projects from start to finish, collaborating with internal teams, and implementing new systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, support, and direction to engineers and operations staff.
• Act as the City authority for Public Utilities, ensuring compliance with federal and state laws, codes, standards, and procedures in design, construction, and operations.
• Assist the Senior Director and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in implementing mayoral initiatives and directives.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of overall and specific project budgets, monitoring and controlling expenditures.
• Support interactions with state and federal regulatory agencies, including correspondence, commenting on draft regulations, and preparing compliance-related reports.
• Prepare and implement strategic and tactical plans, procedures, reports, and correspondence.
• Coordinate daily with internal and external engineers and project managers.
• Manage one water concept engineering teams and initiate or participate in major projects or initiatives from a divisional or enterprise perspective.

Qualifications:

Minimum Training and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in public administration or a directly related field.
• Eight years of progressively responsible related experience, including significant management and supervisory roles.

Preferred Training and Experience:

• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a positive, customer-focused attitude.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and nurture cooperative and professional relationships.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Project planning, budgeting, cost estimating, and fiscal management.
• Building design, construction, and maintenance principles.
• Engineering economics and sustainability design principles.
• Procurement laws, both for design consultants and contractors.
• Federal and state laws for project implementation.
• City procurement laws and business processes within and external to the organization.

Skills:

• Anticipating future needs and assessing operational concerns.
• Balancing conflicting priorities and coaching employees.
• Written and verbal communication, conducting research.
• Establishing effective working relationships and managing change.
• Performing data analysis, directing operations, and providing strategic oversight.
• Responding to public inquiries and concerns and working collaboratively across departments and agencies.

Abilities:

• Adaptability, decision making, and flexibility.
• Good oral and written communication and problem solving.
• Reasoning, self-management, and emotional intelligence.

Additional Details:

• This position is considered essential and may require work during inclement weather and emergencies.