Senior Operations Engineer, Water Distribution

JOB SUMMARY

The Water Distribution Branch manages the operation and maintenance of City of Ottawa’s water distribution system to ensure the continuous and adequate supply of high quality potable water to customers at the lowest cost, including condition assessment, leak detection, operation, repair and maintenance of all mains, valves, and services within the distribution system; inspection, maintenance and repair of fire hydrants; and support to City capital and private development works related to water distribution buried infrastructure.

You are responsible for serving as the unit’s engineering specialist, and for the review, analysis and optimization of repair, maintenance, inspection and improvement programs, procedures and performance standards associated with the City of Ottawa water distribution systems and associated components*.  

You: provide project management, project oversight and design engineering support for various projects and contracts; maintain, review and provide documentation, guidance, training and technical support for water distribution staff and other internal and external branches and groups; and contribute to ongoing service delivery and service improvement initiatives in the branch.  

You are also responsible for: preparing, or ensuring the preparation of, reports and documents to meet Branch, regulatory and legislated requirements; supervising staff; and managing assigned projects.

* Drinking water distribution systems and components include water mains, water services, valves, fire hydrants, temporary pumping stations, water meters, cathodic protection and other associated appurtenances.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of 4 year university degree in Engineering (Environmental, Chemical, Civil or Mechanical) or related field

Minimum of 7 years of related experience in a public works or utility environment with progressive practical experience in water distribution system operation and maintenance, technical support, or water system design

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

KNOWLEDGE

• Federal, provincial and municipal legislation, including standards, regulations and guidelines pertaining to water distribution, water quality and potable water (Safe Drinking Water Act)
• City design guidelines and standard specifications and drawings
• Capital and operating budget processes
• Highway Traffic Act and applicable regulations and procedures including MOT Traffic Control Manual for Roadway Work Operations
• Operation and maintenance practices and procedures for water distribution systems
• Infrastructure performance rehabilitation techniques and asset management practices for large municipal water distribution systems 
• Preventive and corrective maintenance activities and programs 
• Knowledge of Maintenance Management and the use of Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
• Principles and techniques of project management 
• Risk assessment methodologies 
• Design, construction and commissioning methods of water distribution systems and associated  appurtenances
• Knowledge of applicable health and safety legislation, including the rights and duties of workers. 
• Must be familiar with applicable health and safety legislation, have knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the work place, and have knowledge of appropriate actions to be taken in order to ensure the health and safety of staff in accordance with applicable legislation and City policies and procedures
• Confined space entry policies and procedures 
• Engineering theories, principles, concepts, methodologies and models 
• MS Office Suite
• Report writing techniques
• Analytical and troubleshooting techniques
• General business practices

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Leadership Competencies:

The key competencies that describe the skills and behaviours expected to be demonstrated by managers and supervisors at the City of Ottawa are available on Ozone. The seven Leadership Competencies, which align with Servant Leadership, are:

• Strategic Leadership - Sets/implements the strategic direction, understands internal and external trends, the political sensitivities of the organization and applies this knowledge to support the long-term vision and success of the City
• Demonstrates Business Sense - Understands the impact of decisions on the business and the ability to strive to improve business performance; requires an awareness of business issues, processes and outcomes as they impact the community, the City’s reputation and strategic direction
• Builds Collaborative Relationships - Proactively communicates, builds and utilizes professional relationships and partnerships with all internal and external stakeholders
• Fosters Innovation and Change - Develops an environment that embraces innovation and efficiently integrates change into the organization
• Engages Employees - Leads, coaches, mentors and develops an engaged, diverse workforce of individuals and teams, where work is performed in a safe, respectful environment and successes are recognized and celebrated regularly
• Delivers Results - Creates effective plans and performance measures, holds themselves and others accountable for measurable, high quality, timely and cost-effective results
• Client-centric Focus - Serves the client interest through focusing individual, team and organization effort on identifying and meeting key and diverse client needs (the term “client” includes both internal and external clients)