Director of Water & Sewer Operations

Statement of Duties:

The Director of Water and Sewer Operations is in charge of field operations for both the Water and Sewer Divisions. The City of Somerville is a member community of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) for both water and sewer. The Director is responsible for functioning of the City’s water distribution system and the quality of the City’s drinking water, ensuring it meets all guidelines and mandates of the MWRA, DEP, EPA, and other governmental agencies. The position is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City’s sewer, drainage and combined collection, conveyance and discharge systems, including compliance with MWRA, DEP, EPA, and other governmental agency permit requirements. The Director supervises employees directly or through subordinate Superintendents and Foremen in the performance of their duties.

This position is subject to 24-hour call.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Responsible for the continuous operations of water distribution and sewer and drainage collection systems serving approximately 15,000 customer accounts and approximately 80,000 constituents.
• Ensures public health and safety through the responsible provision of potable water and adequate fire protection and through the proper discharge of sewerage.
• Ensures compliance with all State, Federal, and local mandates and standards of operation and maintenance of a local water/sewer system.
• Responsible for ensuring that the Division and staff possess the proper licensure and for all proper reporting to the state for regulatory compliance.
• Coordinates field work and assignments of the Water and Sewer Divisions in collaboration with the Water Superintendent and the Sewer Superintendent. Reviews work schedules and deployment of equipment.
• Manages on-call contracts for execution of any work not self-performed by the Department. Works with the Procurement and Contract Services Division to bid and contract such services.
• Assists in recruitment, screening and orientation of new employees.
• Responsible for staff development, including training for job safety and obtaining required licenses in accordance with best industry practices and to reduce dependency on outside contractors.
• Develops and implements Standard Operating Procedures.
• Oversees the lead sampling program as mandated by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA).
• Formulates written policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance and ability to meet volatile conditions in the office and in the field.
• Assists in the development of annual budgets based on departmental goals and objectives and tracks annual spending against those budgets Works as part of a team with the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Infrastructure & Asset Management, focused on proficient operation and maintenance in water and sewer systems.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree, in a directly related field, and ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in the maintenance and repair of water distribution system and wastewater collection systems, four years of which were in a supervisory or management role; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform essential functions.

Special Requirements:

• Massachusetts Drinking Water License Grade 3 “In Full” preferred.
• Wastewater Collections Certificate Grade 4 is preferred but not required

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Excellent technical knowledge water and sewer infrastructure and treatment systems and best practices for aging urban environments.

Ability: Ability to work well independently and with teams; ability to handle problems and emergencies effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to exercise reasonable care and judgement consistent with the required level of experience and training; ability to deal appropriately with City employees, City officials and members of the general public.

Skill: Excellent organizational skills; demonstrated skill in the operation, monitoring, controlling, evaluation, and troubleshooting of water distribution and sewer collection system; excellent data processing skill in the use of personal computers and office software including word processing, database and spreadsheet applications; consistent responsive and respectful customer service and managerial skills.

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings or to coordinate response to emergency situations.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes and routinely reviewing maps and blueprints with a need for color vision.

Hours: Full-Time 
Salary: $120,000 annualized, plus benefits 
FLSA: Exempt
Union: Non-Union
Date: May 11th, 2026

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The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.

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