Capital Projects Division Manager

City of Waco
Water Utilities

The City of Waco has retained Mackenzie Eason & Associates to help recruit a Water Utilities Capital Projects Division Manager. The Water Utilities Department seeks a highly skilled and experienced Engineer to lead the Capital Projects Division team. This pivotal role offers an opportunity to contribute to the growth and sustainability of the city's water infrastructure. As a CIP Division Manager, you will play a critical part in planning, designing, reviewing, and overseeing the development of essential water utilities projects, ensuring that Waco continues to thrive with reliable and efficient water services. If you are a forward-thinking engineer with a passion for public service and a commitment to excellence, we invite you to be part of our mission to enhance the quality of life for all Waco residents.

The Water Utilities Capital Projects Division Manager will oversee the team for planning, design, and construction of various water and wastewater capital improvement projects ranging from $50,000 to $75,000,000. This role requires strong leadership skills, technical expertise, and a commitment to ensuring the efficient and effective management of projects, both in-house and contracted. The Division Manager will lead a team of eight, ensuring timely and accurate engineering reviews, project execution, and adherence to city standards and regulations.
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This role plays a critical part in managing the impact of new developments on the city's water and wastewater infrastructure, facilitating responsible growth, and maintaining the quality and reliability of water services for the community.
 
 
At the City of Waco, we are committed to a lifetime of learning and growth as part of our goal to provide the highest quality service to our residents and visitors. As you can see from the tenure of many of our leaders, Waco is a place where management professionals come to build a career with continued opportunities for professional growth. Our vision is to make Waco a home where everyone belongs and thrives while moving forward together. Each member of this
organization has a vital role in helping us work.

City Manager- Bradley Ford
 
City of Waco Organizational Values
  • Promote EQUITY & INCLUSION in all that we do
  • Provide EXCELLENT & INNOVATIVE services
  • Serve with INTEGRITY
  • Invest in PEOPLE
  • Focus on TEAMWORK

Our Vision
To create a workplace where everyone belongs and thrives while moving forward together.

Our Mission
To provide exemplary municipal services in a collaborative and transparent manner while honoring the public's trust.

Our Strategic Goals
  • Facilitate Economic Development
  • Create a Culture of Equity and Inclusion
  • Provide a Safe and Resilient City
  • Improve Infrastructure
  • Build a High Performing City Government
  • Enhance Quality of Life
  • Support Sustainability​
The City of Waco Water Utility Services Department is committed to the protection of public health and to the quality management of water and wastewater services.

We do this through the divisions of:
  • Water Distribution
  • Wastewater Collection
  • Water Treatment
  • Water Quality Laboratory
  • Water Office/Meter Shop
  • Pretreatment
  • Wastewater Treatment
  • Lake Waco Wetlands
  • Lake Brazos Dam
  • Source Water Protection
The City of Waco has embarked on a Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which includes many individual projects. To date over $217 million in water and wastewater projects have been completed with over $124 million currently in construction and $139 million in design.   Building Waco is about renewing and building essential infrastructure that is necessary for our future, fundamental to maintaining quality of life, decisive in fostering economic growth and imperative for creating sustainability.

Each Building Waco project meets the core issues determined by the Water Master Plan and Wastewater Master Plan. The improvements serve as a basis for the design, construction and financing of facilities required to meet Waco’s water and wastewater capacity and system renewal needs. 

10 years of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) in Waco
The Building Waco Program is a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that will renew and build essential infrastructure necessary to maintain Waco’s quality of life, foster economic growth and increase long-term sustainability.  The program includes many individual projects that were carefully selected after extensive engineering studies determined which facilities and structures are in the most critical condition.

The City of Waco currently provides water service to more than 200,000 people. The population within the water service area is projected to grow by almost 40,000 people in the next 25 years. Building Waco is the City’s proactive plan to address growth and sustainability of water and wastewater services in Waco and surrounding communities.

Planned CIP:
2024 $41 million in Water Projects
2024 $58 million in Wastewater Projects
2025 Proposed $48 million in Water Projects
2025 Proposed $73 million in Wastewater Projects
 
Waco’s Infrastructure and Our Future
Waco is growing. Expectations for services are increasing with the growth. Much like everything else in life, buildings, structures, pipes and mechanical pumps do not last forever. They are built with an approximate, “life expectancy.” In some cases, the structures are intended to function for as long as 50 years. In spite of this, many cities across the country, like Waco, are still reliant on facilities and systems built during the 1940’s or earlier.

Infrastructure refers to all of the fundamental facilities and systems that are essential to enable, sustain and/or enhance living conditions and the economy in an area. Typically, this includes things like roads, bridges, tunnels, water treatment, storage and distribution, sewers and sewer treatment.
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Over the next ten years, Waco and McLennan County residents will see and benefit from infrastructure projects, including the replacement of the expansion of Bull Hide Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, a redundant 72” raw water line, the installation of new water and wastewater lines, an expanded Old McGregor Ground Storage Tank and a new pump station.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the City of Waco’s ambitious Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the Water Utilities Department. As the Water Utilities Capital Projects Division Manager, you will play a pivotal role in transforming Waco’s water infrastructure, overseeing a diverse portfolio of projects that will enhance the city’s water and wastewater systems for decades to come. This role offers the chance to work on high-impact projects, from modernizing water treatment plants to upgrading critical infrastructure, all while collaborating with city leadership, stakeholders, and the community to ensure the successful delivery of this transformative program. Your leadership will directly contribute to improving the quality, reliability, and sustainability of water services for Waco’s residents and businesses, making this a truly impactful and rewarding career opportunity.
 
The CIP Manager oversees a team that consists of 3 Senior Engineers, including one Development Engineer, 2 - Project Administrators, 1 -Engineer In Training, 2 Project Coordinators, and 1 – Construction Project Manager.
 
While Waco has completed over $217 million in projects, $124 million currently in construction, and $139 million in design, a recent update to the Water/Wastewater master plan has identified $281 million in projects through the next ten-year plan in addition to numerous development projects the CIP Division will oversee.
 
Projects included:
  • In Design - $75,000,000 Wastewater Treatment Plant
  • Design & Planned - $60,000,000 in water transmission lines
  • Design & Planned - $21,000,000 Water GST & Pump Station
  • Planned - $6,500,000 for a redundant raw water line
  • Planned - $52,000,000 in Water Plant Improvements
  • Planned - $13,700,000 in Pump & Storage Improvements
  • Planned - $47,000,000 in wastewater improvements
  • Planned - $52,000,000 in Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
  • Design - $42,000,000 in downtown infrastructure improvements
  • Design – $ 20,000,000 TXDOT Water & Wastewater Projects
  • Design – $27,500,000 in water and wastewater improvements on the West side of Lake Waco
 
The City of Waco is a values-driven organization responsible for the function and delivery of a broad range of services and infrastructure, and at our core, we are all connected by a service culture. As public servants, our residents must know they can trust us to make fair and honest decisions and effectively serve our community in an inclusive and equitable way. We value and include everyone and understand the benefits of bringing people with a wide variety of backgrounds together. We are intentional about ensuring our programs build trust and foster authentic connections.
 
Some challenges the CIP Delivery Manager will address in this role include:
In the first three years, priorities will include:
 
  • Managing project requests – Utilities versus Streets needing utilities replaced
  • People opposed to a proposed location for a future wastewater treatment plant (property has been acquired)
  • A wide variety of priority projects where stakeholders all consider them #1 priority
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Job Duties

  • The Water Utilities Capital Projects Division Manager will oversee the planning, design, and construction of various water and wastewater capital improvement projects ranging from $50,000 to $75,000,000. This role requires strong leadership skills, technical expertise, and a commitment to ensuring the efficient and effective management of projects, both in-house and contracted. The Division Manager will lead a team of eight, ensuring timely and accurate engineering reviews, project execution, and adherence to city standards and regulations.
    Key Responsibilities:
  • Project Management: Oversee the planning, design, construction, and occasional emergency repair projects of water and wastewater facilities, including water/wastewater plants, lines, lift stations, storage facilities, and power systems (generators, pumps).
  • Technical Oversight: Provide technical guidance and support for the review of development plans, engineering designs, and construction documents. Ensure projects meet scope, budget, and quality requirements.
  • Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and develop a team of eight professionals, including hiring, conducting performance evaluations, and leading training initiatives to enhance team skills and performance.
  • Engineering Plan Review: Direct the engineering plan review process, ensuring that submittals are reviewed accurately and in a timely manner. Communicate effectively with developers, consultant engineers, city management, and city council.
  • Contract Management: Oversee contracted projects, ensuring deliverables meet specified cost, quality, and time constraints. Collaborate with contractors and consultants to resolve project challenges.
  • Stakeholder Communication: Act as the primary liaison between the City and various stakeholders, including developers, engineers, city management, and council. Facilitate meetings and present project updates as needed.
  • Technical Proficiency: Read and interpret maps, easements, technical reports, and other relevant documentation. Utilize engineering software and tools to support project management and design activities.
  • Qualifications:
  • Experience: Proven track record of managing water/wastewater projects, including plant facilities, lines, lift stations, storage systems, and power design elements (generators, pumps). Experience with street and drainage design is a plus.
  • Leadership Skills: Demonstrated ability to hire, lead, mentor, and evaluate a professional team. Strong organizational and project management skills.
  • Technical Skills: Proficient in reading and interpreting engineering plans, maps, easements, and technical reports. Familiarity with relevant engineering software.
  • Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly to non-technical audiences, including city management and council.
  • Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure, particularly during emergency repairs.
  • Preferred Skills:
  • Experience in municipal water utility operations.
  • Familiarity with local, state, and federal regulations related to water and wastewater project management.
  • Knowledge of contract management, budgeting, and cost control

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for the Water Utilities Capital Projects Division Manager role is a highly skilled and experienced Professional Engineer with a strong background in managing complex water and wastewater projects. They possess at least five years of professional experience, including two years in a managerial role, with a demonstrated history of successfully overseeing the design, construction, and emergency repair of water infrastructure projects.

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with a proven ability to manage, mentor, and develop a team of professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment. They are adept at reviewing and interpreting technical plans, maps, and reports and have a keen eye for detail, ensuring project deliverables meet stringent quality and cost standards. With excellent communication skills, they are confident in engaging with developers, consultant engineers, city management, and city council to present complex information clearly to the various stakeholders. The ideal candidate is not only technically proficient but also possesses strong problem-solving skills, thriving in high-pressure situations such as emergency repairs. Their experience extends to working on water and wastewater plants, lines, lift stations, storage facilities, and power systems, with additional skills in street and drainage design being a significant advantage.

We realize your time is valuable, so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:

Education & Licensure: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field. Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Texas, or ability to obtain within six months of hire. A Master’s degree is a plus.
Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience, including 2 years in a managerial role, with a focus on water utilities, development review, or a related field preferred.
 
Mackenzie Eason & Associates is a performance driven retained executive search firm, focused on delivering measurable results.  We are boutique by design – allowing us to eliminate the conflict issues of larger firms and engage in a more collaborative search process. Our partners enter into engagements selectively, limiting the number of searches at any given time in order to maintain the highest level of accountability to each client.  We employ a unique methodology, utilizing a highly customized and targeted approach to each search, and a follow through process that further ensures client satisfaction and increased placement success. We also know the importance of diversity to creating long-term strength for an organization, and at MEA, we are committed to delivering a more diverse range of candidates to reflect today’s increasingly inclusive workforce. ​​
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