Senior Wastewater Director

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​  The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.  

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.

• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.

• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.

• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.

• Innovation: Leading-edge  smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.

• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .

• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.

• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground:  Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it.  As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim.  Whether you are an 

• adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.

• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.

• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.

• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

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Salary: $95,664 - $114,797 Annually (WWFG.15E)

Work Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. (EST)

*Hours may vary due to work assignments, or projects.*

Work Location: Wastewater Treatment Plant

FLSA Status:  This is an Exempt position.

Department:  Wastewater

SERIES LEVEL: The Wastewater Energy Program Manager is a stand-alone classification.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

Executive Coordination: Coordinates teams across all wastewater divisions to manage work, address inter-departmental problems, and set unified priorities.

Administrative Liaison: Supports the Administrator and Deputy Administrator in the execution of the division's mission and strategic plans.

Acting Authority: Acts on behalf of the Administrator or Deputy Administrator when required, serving as the senior official in charge of the department.

Strategic Integration: Formulates long- and short-range goals and objectives for better operating efficiency across the treatment plant, pump stations, and collection system.

Divisional Oversight: Provides high-level guidance and ensures the Director of Administration, Engineering, Maintenance, Collection Systems, and Operations are delivering results in safety and operations.

Budgetary Alignment: Oversees the development of the annual operating and capital improvement budgets to ensure fiscal responsibility and strategic allocation of resources across all cost centers.

Regulatory & Public Representation: Represents the City and the Regional Wastewater System at City Council meetings, public events, and with regulatory agencies such as the EPA and TDEC.

Policy Leadership: Leads the development and implementation of division-wide policies, operating procedures, and performance standards.

Innovation Advocacy: Champions the implementation of the City’s smart sewer program and other innovative technologies across all functional areas.

Collaborative Problem Solving: Facilitates innovative decision-making processes to address complex operational circumstances that span multiple divisions. 

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

Performs related duties as assigned. 

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):

N/A.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The Senior Director must meet the minimum qualifications of one of the following base Director roles:

Director Administration: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or related field and six (6) years of progressively responsible management experience.

Director Maintenance: Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and nine (9) years experience (including three (3) years supervisory) in general maintenance or contracting.

Director Engineering: Bachelor’s Degree in civil, environmental, mechanical, or chemical engineering and six (6) years management experience in an engineering department.

Director Collection System: Bachelor’s Degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering or related field and eight (8) years of progressively responsible management experience.

Director Operations: Significant supervisory experience and registration as the certified Operator in direct charge with TDEC.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS: 

A valid Driver's License.

Professional Engineer (PE) license in the State of Tennessee (if serving as Director Engineering).

Tennessee Grade II or IV Collection System Certification (if serving as Director Collection System).

State of Tennessee Grade IV WWTP Operator Certification preferred (if serving as Director Maintenance or Operations). 

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of advanced managerial and leadership principles, public administration, and strategic planning.

Skill in monitoring and evaluating the work of subordinate divisional directors.

Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, including Consent Decree obligations and NPDES permit compliance.

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills required to interact with City Council, community groups, and regulatory officials. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Typically requires reaching, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up-to 10 pounds of force frequently and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Safety Sensitive: Y

Department of Transportation - CDL: N

Child Sensitive: N

This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check, drug screening and HepB Titer.

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

260547 - KS/JC