Area Manager - Essential Utilities

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities.  If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. 

Are you looking for a fantastic career at Aqua?  We have a great opportunity for an Area Manager who will be accountable for the management and administration of all operational activities within our Central Texas division. The successful candidate will lead the team in delivering efficient operations to ensure quality customer and community service, effective employee and regulatory relationships and appropriate shareholder return. The Area Manager will also be responsible for growing the customer base and assisting the business development effort in acquiring additional systems to make company operations more efficient. The position is one of integrity and appropriate disclosure will be required.

Primary Accountabilities

• Develops plans, establishes priorities, and allocates resources to carry out company programs including, but not limited to: Long range planning, Annual operating and capital budgets, Growing customer base and acquiring additional systems where prudent, Other company goals, objectives, and programs

• Establishes goals and objectives for assigned functional area (customer service, distribution, treatment, or government relations).

• Ensures all work is performed in accordance with the Aqua safety programs and policies. Ensures appropriate financial and operational controls are in place for the safe, proper, and efficient operations of any water and wastewater systems including water supply, treatment, and distribution systems.  Ensure controls best utilize and protect company assets.

• Actively promotes the company’s position and image by establishing and maintaining positive communications and relationships with customers, communities, public officials, regulators, and media.

• Manages the departmental supervisors and associated staff. Interviews, hires, sets high performance standards, and manages performance in accordance with all applicable HR policies and procedures.  Creates an energized work environment, fostering an atmosphere that enables employee trust and engagement.  Inspires confidence and motivates others to perform at their best.  Develops and coaches’ staff while effectively addressing performance issues.

• Plans, assigns, and directs work providing oversight using technical software for work order management, and reviews accounts/billing accuracy.

• Drives company initiatives within the division for technology, process, and systems innovation for operational efficiency.

• Implements programs to ensure quality service is provided to customers, including compliance with all federal and state regulations, and compliance with state business and economic regulations for public utilities.   Seeks to deliver value to the customer through best management practices.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Experience, Education, Licenses, and Certifications

• Extensive knowledge in both operational and financial aspects of water and wastewater utility operations.

• Bachelor’s degree.

• A minimum of five years experience in water utility industry.

• A minimum of three years management experience.

• Strong leadership skills

• Computer literate and proficient with Microsoft Office applications, as well as other software applications used in the normal course of business.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; communicate effectively (clearly, concisely, and professionally) with internal and external customers.

• Strong customer service skills.

• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment- work well under pressure.

• A team player able to work effectively in a team fostered multi-tasking environment.

• A valid U.S. Drivers License.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Perform sedentary work- exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

• Frequent travel across division and moderate travel to the State Headquarters.

• Available for emergencies and consultation 24/7.               

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).  
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.