Utilities Superintendent

About the Department

This is advanced professional, supervisory, and administrative work in the direction and operation of the municipal potable water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities, water meter maintenance and data collection, potable water distribution system, wastewater collection system, storm water collection system, hydroelectric generation plant, and all related facilities.

Work involves responsibility for planning, organizing, and directing through subordinate supervisors, the safe and efficient operation and maintenance of the City's Utilities Division, which includes the potable water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities, potable water distribution system, water meter maintenance and data collection, wastewater collection system, storm water collection system, and hydroelectric generation plant. Work is performed with considerable independence under the general direction of the Public Works Director and in accordance with City, state and federal policies, rules, and regulations applicable to specific areas of program activity. Supervision is exercised, through subordinate supervisors, over technical, skilled, and semi-skilled personnel. Work is reviewed through reports and conferences for overall program effectiveness and for compliance with standards of other governmental agencies.

Position Duties

Plans, develops, and directs the overall operations and maintenance of the water production facility and associated facilities, the two wastewater treatment plants and associated facilities, the water distribution system, the sanitary, combined and storm water collection systems, and the hydroelectric generation plant.

Responsible for overseeing the progress, completion, and compliance of the US EPA mandated Long Term Control Plan for the City's combined sewer overflows.

Provides advice on long-range and current capital improvement programs; reviews specifications or plans for projects; responds to complaints and inquiries.

Oversees the inventory of equipment and materials necessary for the effective operation and maintenance of the City's Utilities Division.

Prepares and administers the annual budget for the Utilities Division; prepares or approves requisitions for division expenditures.

Plans, develops, and implements safety procedures and policies; evaluates work procedures.

Communicates and coordinates division activities, as needed, with consulting engineers, contractors, other City agencies, and other governmental agencies.

Performs special studies and reports; keeps abreast of current developments in the field.

Maintains a safe work environment for employees; develops standards and procedures for safe work practices; instructs employees on safe work practices.

Provides effective and efficient customer services and promotes and maintains responsive community relations.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from a four year college with courses in environmental science, engineering, and chemistry; considerable experience in water production and sanitary treatment systems including supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the following knowledge, abilities, and skills:

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices involved in the operations and maintenance of water production and distribution equipment and facilities.

Thorough knowledge of the required standards of water treatment as specified by City policy and federal and state regulation.

Thorough knowledge of the required standards of wastewater treatment as specified by City policy and federal and state regulations.

Ability to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate division personnel programs and activities.

Ability to stay abreast of modern water and wastewater techniques and standards through current literature and seminars.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, employees, contractors, and officials of other governmental agencies.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Other Qualifications

Possession of a Class A Water Treatment Certificate as issued by the State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, or ability to acquire such certification within one year of hire date; possession of a Class 1 Wastewater Treatment Certificate as issued by the State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, or ability to acquire such certification within one year of hire date.

Possession of a Class D Illinois vehicle operator's license or an equivalent license issued by the employee's state of residence.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate tools and equipment as well as equipment controls reached with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to talk, hear, and smell. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works near moving parts; and is occasionally exposed to wet and slippery surfaces, humid conditions, extreme cold and heat.

Additional Information
Selected candidates must meet a residency requirement, which includes living in the state of Illinois or Iowa and maintaining a sixty (60) minute response time.