The Director, Production (Water/Wastewater Operations) provides strategic leadership and direction for the Production Team, overseeing key functional areas including water and wastewater operations, maintenance of industrial assets, asset management, systems and process control, laboratory services, water quality management, and biosolids management.
This role emphasizes both operational excellence and regulatory compliance, ensuring efficient, reliable, resilient, and high-quality service delivery. The Director plays a critical role in shaping and optimizing operational processes and maintenance programs to meet customer needs and service expectations.
A strong advocate for health and safety and workforce development, the Director fosters a culture of continuous improvement, professional growth, coaching and engagement across the team to enhance the overall employee experience. The Director also serves as the primary point of escalation for emergencies and is on-call 24×7×365 to respond to water and wastewater operational incidents, providing on-site leadership and coordination during critical events.
Essential Functions
•Plans, directs, and oversees the delivery of water and wastewater services—including dams and reservoirs, treatment plant operations, distribution and conveyance systems, pumping, water storage and other essential facilities—while ensuring, safety, regulatory compliance, promoting sustainability, and supporting long-term capital planning initiatives.
Ensures a strong organizational commitment to health and safety by establishing and implementing policies and practices that protect employees, contractors, and the public and promotes ‘Safety is Mission Critical*’ culture through leadership, training, risk assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with regulatory standards and best practices.
•Champions WSSC Water strategic priorities and directs the implementation of assigned annual priorities, including leading project teams.
•Establishes and provides strategic guidance in the development of programs, procedures, and methods to ensure efficiency, reliability, and resilience of water and wastewater processes, systems, and related facilities.
•Is responsible for supervising direct reports, including selecting or recommending selection, assigning work, setting performance expectations, and conducting or approving performance evaluations, counseling, disciplining, and/or termination or recommending termination.
•Provide strategic oversight and direction on personnel matters such as training, coaching, professional development, counseling, and disciplinary actions for their direct reports ; ensures that supervisory practices across the department align with organizational policies, fostering a consistent, fair, and high-performing work environment.
•Develops and manages the departmental budget, analyzes operational costs, and implements cost-optimization measures to ensure efficient and cost-effective service delivery.
•Directs the asset management program for Production including effective use of Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Geographical Information System (GIS) and other technology solutions.
•Optimizes maintenance programs by evaluating and establishing best practices in predictive, preventive, and corrective maintenance.
•Assist in preparing water and wastewater meter plansand facilities plans and collaborates with the Chief Engineer to implement the planning and design of repairs and improvements to water and wastewater production facilities.
•Monitors WSSC Water compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations concerning drinking water quality, wastewater discharge, air quality and beneficial reuse of bio-solids.
•Drives a vehicle to conduct WSSC Water business.
Other Functions
Performs other related duties, as required.
Work Environment And Physical Demands
Business casual office setting with frequent visit to water/wastewater plants.
Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
•Ability to motivate and build a strong and resilient workforce, with transparency and trust at its core.
•Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of the design, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems.
•Thorough knowledge of materials, equipment, processes, and techniques used in the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems and processes.
•Strong analytical, planning and project management skill sets.
•Thorough knowledge of business administration as applied to the operation of water and wastewater facilities.
•Ability to effectively plan and supervise varied maintenance projects.
•Ability to perform as a leader/coach in the development of staff.
•Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private officials, employees and the general public.
•Ability to keep records and to prepare clear, concise reports of water and wastewater operations.
•Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
•Excellent interpersonal and change management skills.
Minimum Education, Experience Requirements
•Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years’ experience in water and wastewater utility systems operations
•5+ years experience at the level of a Plant Superintendent, deputy director or department head.
OR
•High School diploma (or equivalent) with 14+ years’ experience in water and wastewater utility systems operations
•5+ years at the level of a Plant Superintendent, deputy director or department head.
Production Dept. Director
full time
$213,750-$213,750Laurel, MD7 days ago
