Possibly Stale

Posted: November 10, 2025 (66 days ago)

Added to FreshGovJobs: December 4, 2025 (42 days ago)

This job has been posted for over a month. It may already be filled.

SENIOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (EXE LEV) - WASTEWATER OPERATIONS

City of Houston

Houston Public Works

Stale

Location

Salary

$6,487.07 - $7,039.04

per week

Closes

Not specified

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a large team in managing the city's wastewater treatment plants, lift stations, and sewer systems to keep everything running smoothly and meet strict environmental rules.

It's a senior leadership role focused on operations, compliance with legal agreements, and improving efficiency in a busy public works department.

A good fit would be someone with strong management experience in utilities or infrastructure, who enjoys teamwork and making a real difference in public services.

Key Requirements

  • Extensive leadership experience managing large teams (over 600 employees) in operations and maintenance
  • Knowledge of federal and state regulatory compliance, especially EPA/DOJ Consent Decrees
  • Expertise in wastewater infrastructure, including treatment plants, lift stations, and collection systems
  • Skills in developing and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) for service and financial goals
  • Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across departments like regulatory compliance, capital delivery, legal, and finance
  • Strong communication and public relations skills, including participation in professional organizations
  • Commitment to values like respect, ownership, communication, integrity, and teamwork

Full Job Description

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FROM: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

DIVISION: WASTEWATER OPERATIONS
REPORTING LOCATION: 4545 GROVEWAY DR.
WORKDAYS & HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY 8AM - 5PM*
*Subject to change

ABOUT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS
Working for the City of Houston and Houston Public Works is an exciting and challenging career choice that you will be proud to be a part of. Together, we build a strong foundation for Houston to thrive. The Houston Public Works Department is a team of talented, diverse staff that provides many of the basic services that affect the daily lives of everyone who lives and works in Houston and the surrounding region. Primarily, the department is responsible for all the things we take for granted daily: the administration, planning, maintenance, construction management, and technical engineering of the city's infrastructure. This includes the production and distribution of over 146 billion gallons of water per year and the treatment of over 90 billion gallons per year of wastewater. That is enough to fill the Astrodome four times per day with fresh water and over twice per day with wastewater. It also includes the maintenance of the city's over 16,000 lane miles of streets, over 60,000 stormwater manholes, over 100,000 stormwater inlets, over 1,100,000 street name and traffic control signs, over 17,000 freeway and under bridge light fixtures.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/ ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Houston Water has over 1500 employees and is made up of Drinking Water Operations, Planning, Regulatory Compliance, Customer Service/Account Services, and Wastewater Operations. Wastewater Operations has over 600 employees. The City of Houston is working under a wastewater Consent Decree, and this creates an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the city’s infrastructure and improve operations. You will be a part of a large interdepartmental team working together to meet the requirements of the Consent Decree and this will be both challenging and very rewarding and meaningful work.

The Senior Assistant Director will perform the following duties:
  • Leads over 600 very talented and diverse Wastewater Operations branch’s personnel, policy definition, adoption, and interpretation.
  • Promotes and aligns the branch’s practices with the purpose and values of Houston Water and Houston Public Works centered on Respect, Ownership, Communication, Integrity, and Teamwork.
  • Working with and leading a diverse and very talented multi-disciplinary (Regulatory Compliance, Capital Delivery, Legal, Finance, Consent Decree Group) team to ensure compliance with all federal and state regulatory requirements, including the EPA/DOJ Consent Decree, which is presently in year 5 of 15.
  • Responsible for the overall operations and maintenance of 38 WWTP, 382 lift stations, and over 6,000 miles of collection systems to ensure regulatory compliance.
  • Develops, analyzes, and monitors key performance indicators to meet service and financial objectives, balance resources, and improve overall effectiveness and organizational efficiency.
  • Build the branch’s public relations as well as participate in state and national professional organizations.
  • Develops an annual budget and ensures effective operations protection of public assets and ratepayers' interests.

    Must be able to lead and communicate and build relationships with entry-level front-line staff, plant operators, engineers, executives, elected officials, and members of the community from all walks of life.

  • Responds to the needs of the public, administration, City Council, and executive management. Directs the development, implementation, and evaluation of program initiatives across multi-functional lines. Implements various program initiatives.

WORKING CONDITIONS
This position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc. There are no major sources of discomfort, i.e., an essentially normal office environment with acceptable lighting, and temperature.

This is a Department of Houston Public Works Emergency Management position at the Tier I Level.

Requirements

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline would normally be obtained through a formal 4-year degree from a college or university and a professional certification/licensing is required.

Directly related professional experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
More than ten years of experience is required.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Valid driver's license and compliance with the City of Houston driving policy (A.P. 2-2).

Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates who possess:
  • Understanding of federal and state regulatory requirements, including the EPA/DOJ Consent Decree
  • Large scale operations and maintenance experience
  • Experience managing large scale budget
  • Experience working with elected officials

**Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.**

Additional Information

SELECTION / SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED
Department may administer skills assessment test.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION Yes
If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.

SALARY INFORMATION
Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification.

PAY GRADE 34

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during active posting period. Applications must be submitted online at: www.houstontx.gov.

To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm or call (832-393-0453).

If you need special services or accommodations, call (832-393-0453). (TTY 7-1-1)

If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627.

Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.

All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information provided.

EOE Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

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Posted on NEOGOV: 11/10/2025 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 12/4/2025

Source: NEOGOV | ID: neogov-houston-5139160