Director, Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Management

The Role

Directs growth planning through capital plan development and delivery of infrastructure projects, including the response to water capacity constraints, finding new water supply sources, source water protection, development engineering and water conservation. 

Directs asset management for water and wastewater infrastructure ($2.5B) and develops projects to keep water and wastewater services to provide a safe, efficient, healthy supply of potable water and wastewater treatment. Works with the Director of Design and Construction, who delivers the projects, and the Director, Water and Wastewater Operations, who operates the assets.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Supervises a Manager of Hydrogeology and Water Programs; Manager of Engineering and Planning; Manager of Infrastructure and Program Planning; Manager of Development Engineering; and Division Assistant. Indirectly supervises unionized and non-unionized staff. 
• Leads the Region's response to water capacity constraints, including in the Mannheim Service Area. Acts as the Division's main point of contact on water capacity, with project management oversight and accountability for the related infrastructure projects. Oversees the Interim Risk Management Framework working group. Ensures decisions are risk-based and protective of the Region's drinking water system.
• Directs the creation of operational and performance reporting policies, systems, and procedures, and compliance, particularly in source water protection and the Clean Water Act. Develops evaluation systems and programs to measure performance. 
• Directs the Division’s compliance with legislation, regulations, standards, specifications, health and safety, and legal requirements.
• Acts as the Director/team chair for project teams and studies, including multidisciplinary groups of consultants and municipal staff, with engineering, planning, environmental, financial, and legal input. This includes corporate-wide teams to support climate adaptation and mitigation, asset management, capital project delivery, and strategic planning.
• Chairs multidisciplinary project teams for high profile issues involving regional and area municipal staff, members of council, Ministry representatives, and consultants.
• Represents the Division and Department on the emergency management team. In the event of an emergency, ensures the protection, compliance, and recovery of water and wastewater systems. 
• Approves staff reports for Environmental Coordinating Committee and Council.
• Develops business plans and directs the completion of manager workplans to inform the development and control of capital and operating budgets ($134M+).
• Acts as media contact on complex, high-profile divisional issues. Resolves escalated concerns and complaints. Interacts with officials and the public to represent the Region's interests and views.
• Directs/conducts townhalls, open houses, and public meetings for capital projects. Presents, develops surveys, analyses data, and prepares reports. Directs education programs.
• Provides professional advice to senior management, other engineering-related divisions, the CAO, Regional Chair, and Council. 
• Negotiates approvals and funding, and exchanges technical and policy information with area municipal engineering staff, planning staff, elected officials, Ministry officials, engineering and planning consultants, and developers. Provides information to individuals, groups, and committees. 
• Works with the MECP and Government Relations to request regulatory relief or expedited timelines for key infrastructure projects as necessary.
• Participates in intermunicipal groups and comments on reports and policies as requested. 
• Directs major planning and strategic studies to set the long-term direction for water and wastewater development. Directs the planning, development, and monitoring of infrastructure maintenance to maintain a state of good repair, capital programs, and contracts. Directs current and 10-year capital programs, including condition inspections, priority ranking, needs analysis, information management systems, preliminary design reports, and research and development of products and applications.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Develops and makes recommendations to the water and wastewater capital plan with the Director of Water and Wastewater Operations for approval through the Commissioner of Water and Wastewater Services. Coordinates the handover of approved projects to the Director of Design and Construction for design and construction delivery. Provides expertise on the maintenance and operation of water supply wells, water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, biosolids management facility, and transmission and watermain distribution systems. Ensures asset management plans and core plans are completed and inform capital plans/projects and budgets.
• Directs the Development Engineering section’s review of, and comments on planning and development applications for plans of subdivision, official plan amendments, zone changes, severances, site plans, and various studies. Participates in civic design studies and other area planning studies. Leads negotiations with the private sector on approval clauses in development agreements. 
• Collaborates with Planning heads to determine regional long-term population growth feasibility. Partners on legislation implementation where regional growth and water/wastewater intersect. Works with Planning to allow development to proceed as capacity becomes available.
• Directs expert advice to develop shovel-ready lands for economic development and growth. Prepares water and wastewater servicing feasibility reviews and advises on possible solutions. Works with the Build Waterloo Region team.
• Directs the managing of well infrastructure and drinking water sources and protection. Directs wellfield capital project studies, ensures permit compliance, oversees well level and quality monitoring, conducts water supply exploration, and coordinates rehabilitation and replacement. 
• Directs technical support for well capacity, permit trigger levels, spill impact assessments, operation of aquifer storage systems, and water quality reviews. Directs assistance with planning-related functions, including policy development and amendments, and review of technical reports submitted through development applications. Directs technical support on EA and construction projects. 
• Directs Clean Water Act technical assessments, including wellhead protection area delineation, issues identification, and threats inventory. Directs amendments to the Source Protection Plan (SPP) as required by legislation. Directs Clean Water Act requirements, including Risk Management Official and Risk Management Inspector responsibilities, screening and policy implementation, reporting, and education and outreach.
• Directs delivery of conservation programs (residential, commercial, industrial, institutional). Directs education and programming. Directs intensive water conservation campaigns to support low water use. Directs support to engineering and planning groups to achieve target water demands and ensure compliance with water conservation by-law.
• Directs the hydrogeology team in finding new water sources to support growth. Directs the strategic direction of water supply strategies including modelling and calibration.
• Directs annual water quality reviews within the watershed as they relate to wellhead protection. 
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are normally acquired through a bachelor’s degree in engineering, plus significant progressively responsible leadership experience in municipal water and wastewater management including infrastructure planning and capital program management.
• Must be licensed and in good standing as a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario. For those trained outside of Canada, equivalency will be determined by the PEO. Participates in activities to maintain professional license.
• Knowledge of water hydrogeology and source protection, and the design and development of water and wastewater engineering, administrative, and financial planning.
• Knowledge of water operations and management principles, provincial standards, the Regional Official Policies Plan, Municipal Act, Planning Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Environmental Assessment Act. 
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, and collective agreements.
• Ability to make complex decisions and continuous improvements involving interpretation of legislation, regulations, policies, procedures, and scientific data which carry health impact, political, legal, and financial implications. Ability to develop solutions requiring quick responses (often with partial information) to handle crisis situations where the public may be at risk.
• Ability to synthesize unique, complex issues regarding engineering, economics, planning, environmental concerns, public perceptions, and politics, and make inquiries to obtain information to form opinions, make decisions, and advise. Ability to monitor news media to keep current on local and national issues, policies, and developments. 
• Leadership, human relations, and negotiation skills to develop, motivate, direct, and support supervised staff; defend priorities and balance objectives in a political environment; present to the public, politicians, senior staff, and provincial ministries; present reports to Standing Committees and Regional Council; and participate as an effective team member.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
  Experience, knowledge, and skill using equitable approaches to developing operational plans,
  service development, and delivery. Ability to apply an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and decolonization
  lens to identify best practice in municipal service and community engagement.
• Ability to lead transformative change in line with the vision and values of senior leadership while delivering on the expectations of an evolving workforce and regional residents. Is able to discern when to inquire, advocate, drive or resolve more decisively.
• Ability to write comprehensive technical reports to Standing Committees and Regional Council; compose policies, reports, letters, and other documents requiring complex descriptions and explanations to provincial Ministries, engineering and planning consultants, developers, and the public.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office and databases. 
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region. 
• Ability to adjust schedule or work additional hours on weekends and evenings to respond to emergencies, Councillors, and for public open houses and information sessions.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.