Chief Operating Officer

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Cleveland, OH

THE ORGANIZATION

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District protects public health and the environment by leading effective wastewater and stormwater management. As the largest wastewater treatment provider in the State of Ohio, the Sewer District spans 380 square miles, serves 63 communities and one million residents, and treats 90 billion gallons of wastewater a year.

In addition to its award-winning treatment plant and laboratory performance, the Sewer District’s Project Clean Lake construction program will reduce annual Lake Erie pollution by 4 billion gallons by 2036, while its Regional Stormwater Management Program addresses widespread inter-community problems like flooding, pollution, and erosion.

For more than 50 years, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has served the public and protected the environment through our innovation, collaboration and strategic planning. Our region’s water resources are healthier and our agency is a nationally renowned leader in the utility world.

THE POSITION

Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), provides leadership and strategic management of the Operation & Maintenance (O&M), Engineering & Construction (E&C), Technical Services, Security, Operational Readiness and Sustainability groups. Ensures operational effectiveness while driving implementation of policies and standards to ensure alignment of organizational vision and operational philosophies. Ensures effective implementation of organizational business strategies, growth plans and budgets in support of short- and long-term business direction. Develops and ensures operational systems and controls are in place to assure proper monitoring of performance against plans and budgets. Ensures operations and performance culture comply with approved financial, business, risk management objectives and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Monitors and directs members of the leadership team to effectively deliver on functional programs, assuring achievement of set targets and improvement of overall performance. Reports regularly to the CEO and Board of Trustees on performance target achievements including financial results and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Performs duties of a similar nature as may be required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

- Prepares the annual budget, monitors and reports on the performance of all budget centers of the departments and groups reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).

- Directs a staff of technical, professional and union personnel in the daily operations of the Sewer District’s Treatment and Collection Facilities and the execution of the Sewer District’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Develops, tracks and reports on KPIs. Provides change leadership and talent development.

- Works collaboratively across all Sewer District departments, to achieve performance targets. Builds cross-functional relationships to support continual improvement.

- Oversees associated regulatory programs to ensure maximum compliance. Facilitates compliance and other related process implementation and/or improvement initiatives. Develops and monitors departmental compliance with best management practices. Updates and develops new programs as needed due to regulatory changes and changes in organizational policies. Monitors related metrics, including incidents and energy consumption, and provides management with regular feedback. Evaluates process performance data and alternatives.

- Contributes to the development of the Sewer District’s strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall management of the organization. Sets strategic direction for developing departments and groups overseen by the COO. Executes business plans and evaluates progress against goals and targets.

- Empowers the Sewer District’s Sustainability, Operational Readiness, Technical Services and Security groups, including the monitoring of energy consumption, carbon footprint, residuals management, process control and efficiency, asset renewal and asset and personnel protection. Sets targets for energy reduction, waste reduction, climate change resiliency, maintenance KPI’s, and business process improvements.

- Performs other duties of a similar nature as may be required.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

- Candidate must possess bachelor’s degree in Civil, Mechanical or Sanitary Engineering or a closely related field.

EXPERIENCE

- Candidate must possess ten (10) years of experience in the development, administration or management of wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal facilities and engineering and construction projects.

- This experience must include five (5) years of high level administrative or executive capacity involving responsibility for planning, organizing, and directing programs with intergovernmental relations.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS

- Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license with a driving record in accordance with the Sewer District’s acceptable guidelines.

- Professional Engineers (PE) license is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

- Candidate must possess effective written and verbal communication, organizational skills and decision-making abilities.

- Candidate must possess effective planning, listening, data collection, and prioritization skills.

- Candidate must be able to effectively build and maintain positive relationships through interpersonal sensitivity, building effective teams, diversity and inclusion awareness, and conflict management.

- Candidate must possess negotiation, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills to address issues and opportunities for improvement.

- Candidate must have the ability to empower and develop others through motivating, delegating, and appraising people and their performance.

- Candidate must establish priorities and optimize performance through problem solving, setting goals and standards, decision making, and managing and measuring work.

- Candidate must demonstrate a history of fostering an inclusive culture where all employees feel valued, respected and able to contribute fully. This includes modeling inclusive behaviors, promoting unbiased recruitment and retention practices, developing diverse talent, championing equitable policies and practices and fostering a safe and respectful work environment.

- Candidate must manage the vision and purpose of the organization through high impact communications and demonstrating managerial courage.

- Candidate must demonstrate the ability to make decisions and think strategically.

PHYSICAL & MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

During the course of performing the essential functions of this position, the employee must be able to analyze, communicate, comprehend, coordinate, make decisions, possess general intelligence, interact, interpret, negotiate, possess numerical intelligence, organize, problem solve, have resilience and perform tasks. Physical work will need to be performed, such as driving, sitting, standing, talking, typing and walking. Repetitive movements will need to be performed such as simple grasping, with one or both hands. Ability to push, pull and lift from floor to waist up to 20 lbs. on an occasional basis may be necessary. Position will require visual demands of accommodation, color vision, depth perception, far acuity and near acuity. Ability to withstand extremely loud noise exposure for fifteen minutes or longer on an infrequent basis is required.

Pay Range: USD, Commensurate with Experience

$172,313 - $224,006

NEORSD, an Equal Opportunity Employer

 The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, recognizing the full range of human differences and similarities. Through our unwavering efforts to leverage the potential of our diversity, we continually strive to build and foster an environment that respects each individual. We encourage and promote innovation, and provide opportunities for all employees to interact, communicate, and realize the full potential of their talents.


Our Employee Benefits & Wellness Programs
We offer a comprehensive employee benefits package including Health Insurance Coverage, Various Retirement Planning Options (Ohio Public Employee Retirement System and Deferred Compensation Plans), Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Free Parking at our facilities, Corporate Discounts, and more! We also have an active Health & Wellness Program that promotes a life/work balance.

DISCLAIMER:  The information outlined in this job description indicates the general nature and type of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not intended to provide a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities or competencies required of employees within this classification.