Director of Operating Services - Western Lake Superior Sanitary District

Director of Operating Services

Pay: Salary Pay Grade 11; Range $115,376.86 - $150,834.65

Schedule: Monday - Friday Day Shift

FTE: Exempt, Full Time (40 hours per week)

Location: 2626 Courtland Street, Duluth, MN

Benefits of working with us!

• 12 paid holidays + 4 personal leave days annually
• Front-loaded vacation plan
• Hybrid Work Opportunities
• We promote professional development: tuition reimbursement, opportunities to attend development training courses, and more!
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Public Employer Pension Program (PERA)
• Minnesota State Retirement Services Program (MSRS)
• Group Life Insurance, Supplemental Life for employee and eligible dependents and Long-term disability
• Employee wellness programs that include Gym Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Health and Safety Education, Wellness Committee, Environmental Stewardship and more!

For a full list please visit our benefits page (click here).

Our Mission.

The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) is committed to preventing pollution and protecting the environment, including the region's most precious resource - Lake Superior. WLSSD treats all municipal and industrial sewage in the Duluth-Cloquet area.

What We Do.

Founded as a special purpose unit of government created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1971 to address serious environmental pollution problems in the lower St. Louis River Basin, WLSSD provides wastewater and solid waste services and oversight for a 530 square mile region around Duluth, Minnesota.

WLSSD has approximately 100 employees ranging from technical jobs (Engineers, Chemists, Planners, IT professionals) to skilled trades (Treatment Plant Operators, Maintenance Millwrights, Electricians).

Feel free to explore our website (click here) and get to know us more.

Join Our Team!

WLSSD is seeking a Director of Operating Services to join our team. The qualified candidate will have a Bachelor's degree with a major in Biology, Chemistry, Engineering or related field and eight years' relevant experience, preferably in utilities, water, wastewater infrastructure, operations or maintenance. Two years' supervisory experience is also required. A Professional Engineering (PE) license and a Class "A" Minnesota Wastewater Treatment Facility Operator Certificate are desirable.

The Director of Operating Services reports directly to the Executive Director and is accountable for managing all aspects of the District's operations and maintenance departments including the wastewater plant, biosolids program and the conveyance system. As a member of the District Executive Team, this position ensures the safe and effective operations of the entire wastewater collection and treatment systems and the land application program. This position is responsible for the leadership and planning activities necessary to meet short and long term environmental and economic responsibilities of the assigned areas.

The Director of Operating Services:

• Manages a diverse staff of operations and maintenance managers, setting performance expectations, monitoring progress, providing feedback, coaching and development
• Develops department goals and strategies in collaboration with District Board of Directors and the Executive Director to ensure operational, environmental and financial targets are met; works with Department managers to ensure set goals are achieved in a safe and effective manager
• Identifies opportunities for long-term operating and cost control improvements in the assigned areas and leads efforts to develop and implement these opportunities into sound strategic and capital plans for review
• Develops and allocates departmental and capital budgets necessary to adequately perform operations and maintenance functions; monitors these budgets to ensure they are completed in a manner consistent with the strategic plan and annual budget established by the District Board
• Promotes a culture of safety, respect and teamwork; leads by example to engage managers and staff in efforts to execute District mission and vision

*For a full list of Job Functions, please view the job description linked below

The ideal Director of Operating Services will have strong knowledge of operational and maintenance best practices and asset management, knowledge of wastewater treatment and collections systems and facilities management. Knowledge of emerging technologies and ability to implement continuous improvement strategies based on these technologies is desirable. The ideal candidate should have a strong ability to lead a team, be a change agent and engage staff in District initiatives.

The Director of Operating Services must be able to perform work that is in accordance with accepted wastewater industry standards, operational schedules, NPDES permit, air permit, land application permit and all local, state and federal standards and regulations.

Drug testing policy: Under WLSSD's drug and alcohol testing policy, prospective employees will be asked to submit to drug testing. No prospective employee will be asked to submit to testing unless an offer of employment has been made. An offer of WLSSD however, is conditioned on the prospective employee testing negative for drugs and alcohol.

Pre-employment physical: Applicants selected for employment must successfully complete a pre-employment physical examination.

Background checks: Offers are conditioned on passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic disqualification from the selection process.