Deputy Chief Engineer

WSSC Water
Laurel, MD

At WSSC Water, we are passionate about our one water mission and devoted to delivering safe, seamless, and satisfying service to our 1.9 million customers. It takes teamwork to deliver the essential, which is why we proudly call ourselves Team H2O – working together, sharing our talents and creativity to safeguard public health and protect the environment.

WSSC Water seeks a Deputy Chief Engineer to work closely with the Chief Engineer to provide executive-level strategic support and to drive initiatives to improve performance within WSSC Water’s Engineering & Construction (E&C) Department. Responsibilities include assisting with managing the Department’s daily activities associated with the Capital Improvements Program (CIP), permitting, principles and practices of engineering, plumbing, gasfitting, industrial waste systems, and all aspects of the Department’s management of projects and/or programs. The Deputy Chief Engineer serves as a trusted advisor and helps to position the Department in achieving 100% successful execution of the CIP, superior customer service, integrity, commitment to innovation, efficiency, and fiscal and corporate social responsibility.


Key Functions:

·       Assists in overseeing the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget.

·       Assists and/or serves as a point of contact for E&C with Finance departments regarding E&C capital projects.

·       Assists in developing CIP reports, monthly CIP dashboards, CIP forecasts, contract status reports, ad-hoc capital analyses, and presentations for the Commissioners, General Manager, senior leadership, and internal and external stakeholders.

·       Gathers, reviews, and analyzes data, including but not limited to, project justifications, project scopes, schedules, and cost estimates for over 70 CIP projects.

·       Assists in performing varied and complex engineering and capital planning functions.

·       Assists in supervising a large diverse staff of engineers and technical team members including industry subject matter experts to include selecting or recommending selection, coaching, training, assigning, and evaluating work, counseling, disciplining, and/or termination or recommending termination.

·       Assists in directing the planning, design, and construction of water supply and sanitary sewage facilities and systems in the sanitary district.

·       Assists in directing and managing the retrofit and modernization of Commission facilities with deteriorated condition.

·       Helps ensure all plumbing and gasfitting conducted within the sanitary district are performed in accordance with WSSC Plumbing and Gasfitting regulations.

·       Assists in monitoring the administration of federally mandated industrial waste pre-treatment program.

·       Assists in evaluating and approving recommendations for rehabilitating deteriorating elements of the water distribution systems.

·       Assists in overseeing design, rehabilitation, and maintenance of process controls for water and wastewater treatment plants.

·       Participates in the consultant selection process of architects/engineers and associated contracts.

·       Assists in overseeing the issuance of permits for plumbing work and house connections.

·       Assists in overseeing surveying and mapping functions.

·       Assists in overseeing the direction of the Water and Sewer House Connection Reconstruction Program to replace defective sewer services responsible for sewage backups and to renew associated galvanized water services at the locations.

·       Assists in conceptualizing, directing, and managing crucial Commission engineering projects and programs.

·       Assists in overseeing the management of in-house engineering services for complex, urgent, and/or emergency projects.

·       Assists in evaluating infrastructure analysis and management of dams and pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe system.

·       Assists in evaluating the peer review of consultants’ designs and reports to ensure good engineering practices are used and are in compliance with WSSC Water standards.

·       Assists in ensuring the integrity of the WSSC Water system through an efficient development service process, which provides oversight.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline
  • 15+ years’ experience in planning and directing complex engineering projects and/or programs.
  • 7+ years’ work experience must be at a senior level.
  • Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Maryland or ability obtain Maryland registration within 18 months of hire.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of contemporary concepts, principles and practices in engineering, plumbing, gas fitting, and industrial waste systems.
  • Knowledgeable of methods and practices used in construction project management of heavy construction, fast track, or turnkey construction projects.
  • Skilled in working with Microsoft products, Trimble products (e.g., e-Builder software), smart sheets, and preparing data-driven reports, or the ability to learn to use the products.
  • Detailed knowledge of procurement and contract management associated with the capital projects delivery process.
  • Knowledge of the construction of water and wastewater treatment and distribution/collection facilities.
  • Knowledge code and contract law.
  • Ability to interact with managers of large and complex projects and programs for the purpose of improving CIP processes.
  • Ability to audit processes associated with project management: project estimates, schedules, cash flow, and other financial matters.
  • Ability to deal with sensitive situations and to maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, contractors, and the public.

Preference:  Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline.