Director, Utilities Engineering

Director, Utilities Engineering

Our client, Utilities Kingston, is a multi-utility model combining water, wastewater, gas and electrical services and a broadband networking business in one organization. An organization adapting and responding to the City of Kingston’s significant growth by being at the forefront of infrastructure design, development, and renewal.   

The Director reports to the CEO and is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Kingston is a stunning city, with incredible amenities, that consistently ranks as one the best places to live in Canada – come check us out!          

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides leadership, direction, and management of the Utilities Engineering Department.
• Participates as a collaborative member of the senior leadership team, providing key feedback and input in setting corporate direction and strategy, ensures consistent corporate messaging to staff
• Assists in developing corporate strategies around infrastructure management consistent with capital and operating budgets and the asset management program, and supports team members with their initiatives.
• Provides direction on financial and asset management activities within the engineering and the utility operations groups.
• Collaborates with Finance to develop long range financial expenditure plans and budgets.
• Coordinates proposed projects with other utility work, and City of Kingston Engineering staff, to ensure projects address, in a timely way, land use and development demands for infrastructure, economic development, and transportation priorities.
• Represents, resolves and communicates Utilities Kingston’s specific positions while providing utility information from preliminary contact to completion.
• Fosters a culture of respect, showing the value of other’s perspectives, supporting different perspectives and ideas.
• Motivate others withing the engineering team and garnering commitment to the vision of the department, increasing engagement and driving priorities forward.
• Communicates clearly and regularly ensuring the engineering team has the information and resources to do their roles effectively and efficiently.
• Provides coaching, guidance, and leadership to engineering management team regarding team development, annual performance, succession planning, compensation planning, and employee issues. 

Skills and Experience Required:

• Professional Engineer with a degree in Civil Engineering, Water Resource Engineering or equivalent professional engineering degree.
• Project management experience.
• Eight+ years of management experience in the utility sector responsible for leading infrastructure planning, asset management and budgeting in a unionized environment.
• Experience in a municipal setting is desirable, particularly knowledge of water and wastewater utilities. Knowledge of contract law and municipal by-laws.
• Excellent written, interpersonal, and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of project management and the application of various software tools.
• The ability to coordinate, organize, plan and contribute input into projects, budgets, asset management plans – then lead and execute.
• Familiarity with the municipal land and economic development approval process, municipal act and regulations dealing with land use. 

Interested in working in a community minded city and enjoying an outstanding quality of life? 

Submit your resume, in confidence, to Brenda Palmer:  

brenda@palmercareers.com 

Palmer & Associates

Executive Search Consultants

Venture Business Centre                                

556 O’Connor Dr. 

Kingston, ON K7P 1N3

613-389-1108