Executive Director

Operations & Maintenance

• Manages the planning and regional agreements to secure adequate amounts of source-water and the installation of distribution infrastructure to deliver a sufficient supply of high-quality drinking water to all customers, while managing system growth and maintaining regulatory compliance.
• Oversees the daily financial, engineering, operational and customer service aspects of the water company’s operation, maintaining proper staffing levels to accomplish this at all times.
• Anticipates challenges and emergencies before they arise and works with staff to adequately prepare for the unknown.
• Ensures the safety and security of PW personnel and establishes proper guidelines, policies and programs to accomplish this effectively.
• In conjunction with the Board of Directors, develops, coordinates, updates, and implements all aspects of PW’s strategic business plan.
• Monitors system supply and demand, storage and distribution system facilities to ensure that the proper measures are in place to adequately respond to emergency or crisis situations.
• Oversees operative functions by either serving as Operator of Record of the system or managing this person.
• Ensures operations personnel, equipment, supplies, and work areas are adequate to perform as efficiently and effectively as possible.
• Supports the Director of Finance & Administration, Operations Manager, Customer Service Manager and Engineer as necessary to properly allocate financial, physical, and human resources within the company.
• Ensures daily regulatory compliance with all governing agencies, including SCDES, SCDOT, SCLLR, SCDNR, SCORS, EPA, OSHA, County departments, etc.
• Meets all reporting requirements to maintain water system compliance, including those related to drought planning, vulnerability assessments, safety policies, drinking water regulations, encroachment permitting, water quality monitoring and others as they arise.
• Confirms that employees have necessary certifications and/or licenses. Provides opportunities for employees to gain certifications to meet future needs.
• Works to ensure system components are adequately maintained based upon established life cycles.
• Oversees and budgets for system rehabilitations and routine improvements of aging water infrastructure.

Engineering

• Manages staff overseeing daily design, permitting, administering and construction of private and capital improvement projects for new water system infrastructure.
• Manages staff overseeing development and construction guidelines and policies with developers, consultants, contractors and vendors to ensure that projects are constructed on time and on budget. Maintains good working relations with the construction and development community.
• Ensures adequate construction standards are established and required by all parties to maintain needed infrastructure throughout the distribution system.
• Monitors record drawings, ensuring all are current and entered properly in the GIS map.
• Provides for proper planning for future system needs to ensure system upgrades are constructed when needed.
• Foresees future regulations and ensures PW is ready ahead of time to comply with federal, state and local government requirements.
• Manages staff that study technical issues related to public water systems and provides planning to support adequate pressures, water loss control, quantity and quality of drinking water for future customer demand.
• Oversees staff administering construction contracts, funding agency requirements, construction inspections, processing payments and managing design consultants.

Finance

• Provides oversight to staff coordinating the development of the annual budget in a timely manner to include the approval of board committees in all cost-of-service model updates, rate forecasting and final budget recommendations (to include operations budget, CIP, staffing and debt schedule).
• Coordinates with financial institutions concerning loans, investments, bonds, etc.
• Supervises the coordination of regular updates of revenue projections and user rates. Ensures ancillary fees and rates are adequate and equitable.
• Ensures that financial reports are routinely reported to the Board and annually audited.
• Provides guidance to staff that handles daily accounting functions, including accounts payable and accounts receivable, as well as the staff that manages purchasing, service agreements and inventory control for PW.

Administration

• Maintains an effective relationship with the entire Board. Plans all Board meetings and committee meetings in conjunction with the staff and Chairman.
• Coordinates with the Board Secretary to ensure sufficient administrative support and information is provided to the Board and Advisory Committee in a timely manner.
• Ensures the safety and security of administrative offices and office systems.
• Ensures that the Board Policy Manual and Handbook are routinely updated and legally reviewed.
• Ensures office and field personnel, equipment, supplies, and office spaces are adequate to support PW operations.
• Provides adequate IT resources to support company needs, to include equipment, software and technical knowledge.
• Ensures communication and data control systems are adequate for daily operations and meet policies/standards.
• Develops new policies in conjunction with the Board when necessary.
• Oversees procurement procedures and inventory control for PW.
• Participates in appropriate local, state, and national committees and associations.
• Champions a continuous improvement mindset. Working with staff on a daily basis to evaluate and enhance business processes.

Human Resources

• Ensures full implementation of daily commitment to provide equal opportunity for all.
• Participates, when necessary, in the screening, interviewing and hiring of prospective employees.
• Maintains a positive and productive work environment throughout Powdersville Water.
• Manages employee performance, provide feedback, coaching, counseling, providing recognition, direction and discipline (or firing) as appropriate.
• Oversees the development and revision of all personnel related policies and procedures.
• Oversees the PW’s performance review and appraisal process and ensures that all positions are rated periodically for market value.
• Funds annual professional development opportunities and trainings for employees and the Board.
• Ensures the PW’s on-call and emergency procedures are in place at all times and effectively respond to all situations.
• Strives to provide growth opportunities for all staff.

Sales and Customer Service

• Ensures customer service work group is meeting customers’ needs in a timely and friendly manner.
• Ensures customer service functions in the field are adequate and the needs are met in a safe, secure, timely, and friendly manner.
• Assists as necessary to resolve any complaints, problems and concerns from customers.
• Establishes processes to effectively receive and record requests, concerns, and suggestions from customers and potential customers, as well as from vendors and suppliers.
• Ensures customer accounts and data are securely maintained and that all software/payment systems remain up to date.
• Ensures metering system is efficient, accurate and timely to enable collection of revenues to meet established standards.

• Ensures positive relations with the community and with customers.
• Serves as Spokesperson for Powdersville Water during normal operations and during any emergency situations.
• Routinely attends public events to extend the professionalism of PW to the community. Serves as guest speaker in a variety of settings.
• Proactively fosters positive relationships with all levels of political leadership to include local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials.

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, engineering, environmental science, or other related field is or equivalent combination of experience and education required for consideration.
• Five (5) or more years of experience with water distribution.
• Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience managing staff.
• Proven leadership within a utility provider.
• Experience in or knowledge of rural water infrastructure.
• Experience overseeing and monitoring financial resources to include finances related to capital projects, asset management, and state and federal grants.
• Experience overseeing the development and management of large budgets.
• Knowledge of day to day operations and maintenance of water distribution systems.
• Experience with long-range strategic planning.
• Understanding of regulatory and legal requirements of a water company.
• Ability to use and learn new technology utilized in water distribution and business management.
• Experienced Skilled in managing during times of crisis to include natural disasters or other similar events.