Salary: $90,490.00 Annually Location : New Bern, NC Job Type: Full-Time Job Number: 10488 Department: Water Opening Date: 05/13/2025 Closing Date: Continuous Primary Purpose Performs complex professional and difficult administrative work planning, organizing, and directing the county's public water treatment and distribution system. An employee in this position is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all aspects of the county's public water treatment and distribution system to include billing and customer service. Work involves providing technical advice and assistance to the County Manager and the Board of Commissioners in water system long-range planning; construction, and improvements; ensuring capacity management and environmental compliance; improving citizen and intergovernmental relations and maintaining water resources. Considerable independent judgement and initiative are required in accomplishing program objectives within a framework of established policies and applicable laws and regulations. Considerable tact and courtesy are required in frequent contacts with department heads, employees and the general public. Work is performed under the general supervision of the County Manager and is evaluated in terms of overall efficiency and quality of public water system's operations. Essential Functions Ensures the county's public water treatment and distribution system are operated and maintained in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations. Ensures adequate water quality, quantity, and pressure are maintained to meet customer expectations. Provides reports and responsible advice to County Manager and Board of Commissioners on water system projects, activities and water issues. Researches and recommends comprehensive short- and long-range plans and strategies for all aspects of the county's public water treatment and distribution system to include meeting customer needs, service levels, economic impact, fee structure and policy changes. Prepares and administers budgets, contracts and monitors expenditures. Prepares revenue projections for water sales and services; recommendations rates to management and the Board of Commissioners. Prepares requests for proposals and bids for engineering and other professional services; makes recommendations for contract awards. Researches and initiates the purchase of new equipment; approves all major department purchases. Manages staffing, organizational structure delegation of work; recruits, coaches, evaluates employee performance; recommends employee hiring, promotion, dismissal, and merit increases; takes disciplinary action in consultation with the HR Director and County Manager. Ensures department employees maintain required level of training or certification to perform position responsibilities. Directly supervises the Assistant Water Superintendent and the Customer Service Supervisor. Develops and implements standard operating procedures for the department. Ensures timely and efficient maintenance of all lines, facilities, and equipment. Consults with engineers, contractors, and equipment suppliers; reviews engineering specifications, architects and engineer's drawings, and electrical drawings. Responds to complex citizen and customer questions, concerns, and requests for service; meets with members of the community to assess issues and problems; identifies and recommends solutions. Interacts with senior executives, the media, citizens, regulatory agencies, other governments, contractors and suppliers to effectively support operations. Ensures county's water system is in compliance with state Central Coastal Plain Capacity Usage Area (CCPCUA) regulations. Responsible for the county water system's National Pollution and Discharge Elimination (NPDES) permit to include compliance with requirements and ensuring the permit is current and renewed every five years. Reviews water sample results. Determines appropriate course of action in the event adjustments are necessary. Develops 10-year Capital Improvement Plan for the water department; plans, executes and manages water treatment, storage, and distribution infrastructure capital and capital improvement projects. Plans for future maintenance and system growth; prepares or obtains cost estimates for capital projects. Oversees the design and construction of complex water capital projects. Develops emergency preparedness plans to provide 24/7 leadership during distribution system emergencies and operating exceptions; Evaluates emergency shutdown incident reports. Manages the preparation of plans and coordination of activities for scheduled water distribution shutdowns. Stays abreast of industry developments related to water distribution system operation, maintenance, and water quality. Plans for relevant changes in water regulations, safety and other related issues. Coordinates water department projects and activities with other departments such as Emergency Services and the public information officer. Maintains positive public relations through ensuring the timely dissemination of information and customer complaint resolution. Ensures water department provides excellent customer service. Prepares agenda items and presents to the Board of Commissioners. Prepares, completes and submits reports; analyzes reports. Minimum Education and Experience Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil or sanitary engineering, natural or environmental science, public utilities management, business administration, public administration or a related field, and five years of progressively responsible experience in the administration of water treatment and distribution systems, and five years of direct supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Possession of an "A Well" and "A Distribution" water treatment certification issued by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources or ability to obtain within 12 months of employment. Must be able to operate and transport small watercraft. Possession of a valid North Carolina Driver's License. Additional Information SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Residence in Craven County required. Must be established within 12 months of hire. May be required to serve during times of emergency or disaster. May require extended hours including weekends and holidays and responding to calls after regular work hours for water system-related emergencies. Performs other related work as required. Physical Requirements: This is sedentary work. Must be able to perform the physical life functions of reaching, fingering, pushing pulling, grasping, talking, walking, hearing and repetitive motions. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally; up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Must possess visual acuity to produce and review written reports and records including mathematical calculations, operate a computer terminal, analyze data, and to read maps, schematic drawings and plans. Occasionally, the essential duties of this position are performed in the field under various climatic and geographic conditions in an environment with exposure to high frequency and constant noise, dust, allergens, and other environmental irritants and around moving equipment and vehicles. Motor Coordination: Requires the ability coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using tools, public water system equipment, vehicles, and small watercraft. Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of office equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from supervisor and subordinates. Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of records, receipts, technical diagrams, work orders, etc. Requires the ability to prepare work orders, activity records and reports using prescribed formats. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence. Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in required water system terminology. Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to interact with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under medium levels of stress. Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Craven County offers regular full-time employees a wide variety of employee benefits including: Health Insurance Health Insurance is provided by ACS Benefits Services and covers a wide variety of healthcare services. Craven County pays 100% of Employee Only premium cost. Employees have the option to add child and spouse dependent coverage at their own cost. Dental Insurance Dental Insurance is provided through the Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier network administered by ACS Benefits Services. It covers a percentage of basic to major dental procedures, including orthodontia for children. Craven County pays 100% of Employee Only premium cost. Employees have the option to add child and spouse dependent coverage at their own expense. Life Insurance and AD&D Craven County provides eligible employees with $10,000 life insurance and accidental dealth and dismemberment coverage through OneAmerica AUL. Employees have the option to purchase additional coverage and/or dependent coverage at their own expense. Disability Insurance Craven County provides eligible employees with $50.00 per week in disability insurance through OneAmerica AUL. Employees have the option to purchase additional disability insurance at their own cost. North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the retirement system and must contribute 6% of their gross salary each pay period. Once eligibility requirements are met, employees will be able to receive monthly payments for life based on their salary, age, and years of service credit. NC401k Craven County contributes 2% of eligible employees' gross salary into the 401(k) account regardless of the employee's deferral amount. In addition, the County matches employee deferrals up to an additional 3%. Annual Leave Regular full-time employees earn annual leave based upon years of service. Eligible employees begin to accrue annual leave as soon as they start but must complete a six month probationary period before they are eligible to use annual leave. Less than two years of service earns 10 days per year. Two but less than five years of service earns 12 days per year. Five but less than 10 years of service earns 15 days per year. 10 but less than 20 years of service earns 18 days per year. 20 or more years of service earns 20 days per year. Sick Leave Regular full-time employees earn 3.69 hours of sick leave per pay period. Craven County accepts eligible sick leave from the State of North Carolina, any of its political subdivisions, any local government entity or authority, or municipality in North Carolina. Paid Holidays County employees receive 11-14 paid holidays annually. The Board of County Commissioners may adjust the holiday schedule as deemed necessary. Longevity Eligible employees earn $200 in longevity after five years of service by October 31 of the qualifying year. Longevity benefits increase $25 per year up to a maximum of $1,000. Merit Program Craven County offers a merit program. Up to 56% of eligible employees may receive a performance-based merit increase each year. Supplemental Benefits County employees are also offered a variety of supplemental benefits to select at their own expense such as Life Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Critical Care policies, Cancer policies, Long-term Care policies, Hospitalization policies, 457b Deferred Compensation Plan and Aflac. Employee benefits are subject to change or may be contingent upon funding availability. 01 Do you hold an A Well water treatment certification issued by NC Division of Environmental Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources or will you be able to obtain an A Well certification within 12 months of employment? Yes No 02 Do you hold an A Distribution water treatment certification issued by NC Division of Environmental Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources or will you be able to obtain an A Well certification within 12 months of employment? Yes No 03 If you do not currently hold A Well and A Distribution certifications, please describe the water certifications you hold. 04 How many years of experience do you have managing water services? 05 Are you willing to serve during times of disaster? Yes No 06 Do you currently reside in Craven County or are you willing to establish residency in Craven County within 12 months of hire? Yes No 07 Are you able to transport and operate small watercraft? Yes No Required Question