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Portsmouth Water and Fire District

Location: PortsmouthRI 02871 Document ID: AB042-52B8 Posted on: 2017-02-0202/02/2017 Job Type: Regular

Job Schedule:Full-time
Minimum Education: Not Specified2017-03-04
 

General Manager And Chief Engineer

TITLE:  General Manager and Chief Engineer
REPORTS TO:  Elected Administrative Board

RESPONSIBILITY: 

  • Management of all water system operations and business functions
  • Engineering
  • Long range planning

MAJOR DUTIES:   

  • Overall management of water system operations and business office functions
  • Direct management of Water Distribution System Manager and Office Manager
  • Overall management of District personnel (non-union) including recommendations to the Board on hiring, termination, promotions, merit pay for:
    • Office staff
      • Office Manager (1)
      • Senior Accountant (1) (employment contract)
      • Senior Clerk (1)
      • Clerk I (1.5)
    • Operations staff
      • Distribution System Manager (Operations Manager) (1)
      • Senior Distribution System Operator I (2)
      • Distribution System Operator I (1)
      • Distribution System Operator II (2)
      • Engineering Technician II (1)
      • GIS Analyst (1) (Employment contract)
  • Understand and apply the principles of professional water works practices in the operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of utility assets and infrastructure
  • Ensure compliance with Department of Health, Center for Drinking Water Quality Rules and Regulations and relevant EPA Safe Drinking Water Act Rules and Regulations
  • Prepare annual Operating Budget, Capital Budget and Schedule of Rates and Charges
  • Generally advise and make recommendations to the Board
  • Engineering
    • Prepare engineering reports
    • Prepare engineering drawings
    • Review and approve drawings and specifications prepared for the District by consultants
    • Review and approve applications for water main extensions
    • Review drawings for OWTS designs and recommend measures to mitigate conflicts between water and sewer facilities
    • Review and provide comment on drawings prepared by other utilities, Town of Portsmouth, RI-DOT or other agencies
  • Develop and recommend policies for review and approval by the Board
  • Develop and recommend rules and regulation for review and approval of the Board
  • Manage business relationships with:
    • Rate payers and taxpayers of the District
    • Wholesale water suppliers
    • Contractors
    • Vendors
    • Federal, State and Local regulators and officials
  • Coordinate, interface with and monitor activities of consultants including, but not limited to:
    • General legal counsel
    • Special legal counsel
    • Engineering
    • Financial auditors
    • Insurance
  • Ensure excellent customer service relationships and manage and resolve customer complaints
  • Undertake projects and perform analysis as directed by the Board
  • Maintain office compliance with legal requirements in:
    • RIGL 46 – Open Meetings
    • RIGL 38 – Public Records
  • Provide expert testimony as required, before the RI General Assembly, the Public Utilities Commission, RI Superior Court, and local planning and zoning boards.
  • Attend Administrative Board meetings during the day and evenings as required by Board schedule
    • The Board’s regularly scheduled meeting are on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM
  • Any other duties that may be assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Education:
    • Bachelor of Science degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering
  • Registrations:
    • Professional Engineer (RI)
    • Distribution Operator Class 4-Full (RI) within 1-year
    • Treatment Operator Class 2-Full (RI) within 1-year
    • Revised Total Coliform Rule - Level 2 Assessment Certification  (RI) within 1-year
  • Experience:
    • Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant, combined experience in civil engineering, water distribution, water treatment, utility design and construction, project management and construction management.
    • Minimum of five (5) years of direct supervisory experience
    • Minimum of ten (10) years of experience working with micro-computer hardware and engineering and business software
    • Experience with SCADA, hydraulic modeling, cross-connection control
    • Desirable experience includes:
      • Working within a utility, particularly a water utility
      • Working for an engineering consulting firm
      • Working knowledge of accounting and budgeting
      • Exposure to PUC rate filings and rate making theory and practice
      • An understanding of water law
      • Hands-on experience using GIS software to develop database and mapping
  • Necessary Skills and Abilities:
    • Strong supervisory skills
    • Strong time management and organizational skills
    • Thorough knowledge of engineering mathematics
    • Strong engineering and hydraulics skills
    • Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals and software manuals.
    • Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form
    • Proficiency with selecting, operating and maintaining IT equipment
    • Strong verbal and written communication skills in English language
    • Ability to understand and follow written or verbal instructions
    • Ability to communicate written or verbal instructions
    • Ability to read maps and plans in print and on computer
    • Ability to multi-task
    • Ability to professionally respond to inquiries from the public, regulatory agencies and media
    • Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions
    • Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form
    • Detail oriented and follow-through oriented
    • Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality at all times
    • Proficiency with MS Office suite
    • Highly proficient with developing analytical spreadsheets and organizing and analyzing data
    • Ability to type with reasonable proficiency
    • Strong work ethic, available, dependable and commitment to job
    • Ability to learn new duties:
  • Personal: 
    • Initiative, proactive
    • Good judgement
    • Attention to detail
    • Resourceful
    • Dedicated
    • Tactful
    • Problem solver
    • Positive thinker; positive speaker
    • Maintain professional, business casual attire
    • Ability to pass District’s medical physical
    • Ability to pass criminal background check
    • Ability to pass financial background check
    • Ability to maintain valid driver’s license

WORKING CONDITIONS:

  • Salaried Position with 40-hour to 45-hour work week at office
  • Extended hours of working at standard computer screen
  • Frequent telephone use
  • Frequent interruptions by phone calls, customers at counter, and staff
  • Extended hours of sitting
  • Significant hours of transition from sitting to standing position and walking within the office to perform duties
  • Frequent field site visits for meetings, gathering data, observing staff work or observing construction
  • Occasional travel for meetings off-site throughout Rhode Island and New England
  • Attend night meetings from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM or later, at least monthly

OFFICE CONDITIONS:

  • Natural gas fueled hot air furnace
  • Air conditioning, seasonal
  • Uneven heating and cooling; drafty
  • Standard, energy efficient office lighting
  • Single stall unisex handicap restroom and single stall women’s restroom (non-handicap)
  • Concrete slab on grade with carpet
  • No smoking on District property

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Occasionally required to lift and/or move 50 pounds unassisted without injury
  • Occasionally required to climb and descend step ladder to retrieve items
  • Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
  • Occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
  • Occasionally required to ascend 90-feet to top of water tank in a construction lift
  • Frequently need to hear and carry on verbal communications throughout office and while on the phone in busy, noisy office with office equipment and HVAC in operation
  • Occasional need to:
    • enter utility trenches 6-feet deep to observe conditions
    • traverse uneven and un-firm ground on construction sites
    • stand in the field to meet or observe work in the vicinity of noisy and moving construction equipment
    • stand in roadways to meet or observe work adjacent to high-speed, high-volume traffic
  • Ability to perform all duties while working under the “Working Conditions” and “Office Conditions” described herein

COMPENSATION:

  • Salaried position with employment contract: Salary based on experience and qualifications
  • Competitive fringe benefits package (listed herein)
  • One-year probationary period with dismissal at any time during probation for performance that does not comply with the job description requirements.

APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT:

  • Apply by detailed resume to include: 
    • All secondary and post-secondary education
    • Full employment history
    • Relevant experience and training
    • Relevant licenses
    • Salary expectations
    • Three professional references
  • Resumes will be received until the position is filled

Submit applications by mail or in person to:
(faxes and emails will not be accepted)

Personnel Director
Portsmouth Water and Fire District
1944 E Main Rd
PO Box 99
Portsmouth, RI  02871

Resumes will be reviewed and the top qualified candidates may be interviewed at the discretion of the Administrative Board.  All candidates will eventually be notified of the disposition of their application by mail.

EMPLOYMENT START:
It is expected that the new hire will begin employment on or before May 1, 2017 and train with the current General Manager and Chief Engineer for approximately 6-months.

BENEFITS SUMMARY:

  • Medical:         
    • Blue Cross and Blue Shield HealthMate - single coverage with cost sharing
    • Delta Dental Level 4 - single coverage with cost sharing
    • Currently 10% employee cost share (subject to and expected to change)
  • Sick:               
    • Ten days per year cumulative
    • Employee paid for 25% of a maximum of 100 accumulated days upon termination
  • Holidays:        
    • 12 paid days
  • Vacation:        
    • Negotiable based on experience and qualifications
  • Pension:          
    • Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Plan - Additional 11.9% of base pay contributed by PWFD to employee’s SEP, untaxed (similar to IRA).
  • Merit Pay:      
    • Employees are eligible for merit pay up to 6% of annual base pay after one full calendar year of service and with an annual performance review of “Exceeds Requirements”.

All pay and benefits are subject to review and modification by the elected Administrative Board

DISTRICT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Portsmouth Water and Fire District is a quasi-municipal corporation created in 1952 by Act of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island.  The District is not affiliated legally or administratively with the Town of Portsmouth, although the District and Town work cooperatively together to serve their common constituents.

The District was created to provide water supply for domestic use and fire protection within its legislated boundaries.  The District covers approximately ninety (90%) percent of Portsmouth on Aquidneck Island and presently services approximately 6,650 water customers.

The District is governed by a seven member Administrative Board that is elected by the registered voters of the District.  The Administrative Board organizes and presides over its annual election of officers.  The Administrative Board also has taxing and bonding authority. 

The District has an annual operating and capital budget of $4.67 million.  The District receives its revenue from water charges, miscellaneous charges and property tax charges.  Water use is billed and due quarterly and taxes are billed and due annually.  The Administrative Board annually sets its water rates and tax rate as part of the budget process. 

The District purchases all of its water from the City of Newport, RI, which is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission.  The District is not regulated by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.

The District has a total of thirteen full-time and one part-time, non-union employees.  The District’s General Manager and Chief Engineer is responsible for the day to day business functions and water system operations of the District.   

The employee pension system is a SEP Plan.  The District’s only OPEB is for medical and dental insurance for retired employees between the ages of 60 and 65 with 20-years of service and that retired from the District at age 60 or later.  The District performs the OPEB calculation.

The District maintains its water and tax billing and receipts on UMS (Utility Management System) software provided by Continental Utility Solutions, Inc. (CUSI) of Jonesboro, Arkansas.  The District maintains a GIS based work order and asset management system on Elements XS3 software provided by Novotx L.L.C. of Clearfield, UT.  The general ledger, sundry billing and receipts, and inventory are maintained on QuickBooks Enterprise 2016.  The general business software is MS Office.

     
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