Utility Manager

Are you looking for a meaningful career that has a positive impact on the community? If you answered YES, come join the City of Sparks! Aside from working for an organization that is dedicated to the community, you will also receive a generous and competitive salary and benefit package. Some benefits may include tuition reimbursement, bilingual pay (when applicable) and retirement plans. People who come to Sparks, stay in Sparks.

Application Tips:

• COMPLETELY fill out and update your general online application before attaching it to any new job posting. HR reviews information listed on the application submitted to the specific job posting. HR does NOT use personnel files in the screening process. 
• Contact information: use an email address you can easily access at any time.
• The Qualifications section below is your guide to understand what the City is looking for on your application, use this to your advantage. It is up to the candidate seeking employment/promotion to include all relevant information for qualification purposes, on the application the candidate submits to be considered for the job.
• DO attach: licenses/transcripts/certificates that will demonstrate you meet the education or certification requirements (see qualifications section to determine what documents to attach) or preferred experience/education.
• DO NOT attach resumes or cover letters. The City of Sparks does not review these items with the application. 

The City of Sparks is currently seeking to hire one (1) Utility Manager in the Engineering Division of the Community Services Department.

This recruitment is scheduled to close on April 15, 2026 with the first review of applications scheduled for April 1, 2026. The posting may close early or when a sufficient number of applications are received and/or a hiring decision has been made. It is therefore, in the candidate's best interest to submit a fully completed application as soon as possible. 
 

If you have any questions, please email hrstaff@cityofsparks.us. The City of Sparks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

DESCRIPTION

Serve as the City’s professional expert, project manager and resident engineer in the field of public utilities, development, planning and engineering for utility or related capital improvement projects. Serves as the single point of contact for projects throughout the planning, budgeting, design, review, construction and inspection processes. Plan, organize and direct field, office and technical staff and support activities for the Utility Division. Manage the funding, maintenance and construction of all underground utilities within the City. Perform professional engineering work in area of assignment. Provide leadership and expert professional assistance to City staff.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This position is a working engineer and  Division Manager in the Community Services Department, capable of managing, leading and directing staff while coordinating multiple projects simultaneously. Daily decisions will greatly impact the quality of life, aesthetic appeal and functionality of the City and its infrastructure.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications to continue in the recruitment process:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in civil engineering or a field directly related to the essential functions of the job and five (5) years of experience in design, review and management of engineering projects. 

Licenses and Certificates:

Must possess within thirty (30) days of hire and maintain throughout employment, the equivalent to a valid Nevada Class C driver's license.

Must possess within six (6) months of hire and maintain throughout employment, a valid registration as a Professional Civil Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Nevada or reciprocal registration.

Must possess within ninety (90) days of hire and maintain throughout employment, Incident Command System (ICS) 100/200 and ICS 300 as soon as available.

Examples of Essential Duties

Manage, plan, organize and direct professional and technical staff. Supervise, train, and evaluate staff performance. Coordinate staff’s work with other departments, government agencies, utility companies, contractors and consultants. Provide for staff development and implement disciplinary actions when necessary. Participate in the selection of staff.  

Perform strategic and business planning for the operations and maintenance functions for the division. Develop and direct the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the division. Manage a multi-million-dollar utility budget for the  planning, estimating, construction and maintenance of all underground utilities in the City to ensure storm, drain, sanity sewer and effluent systems are maintained and operational.

Plan, organize, and manage the City’s CIP and CIP projects as related to the City’s overall utility goals and objectives including but not limited to capital utility capacity projects for the long-term viability of the sewer, storm and effluent systems. Coordinate with street projects and GIS functionality projects.  

Plan, organize and manage the City’s  CIP driven preventative maintenance, maintenance, repair projects, construction of infrastructure projects and ensure utility infrastructure is properly maintained and safe. 

Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials. Prepare and direct the preparation of public and private engineering plans, specifications, contracts, designs, cost estimates and legal descriptions for division and related projects. Prepare or initiate a variety of project-related studies and reports including but not limited to storm, sewer and effluent residential and commercial rate studies for the City Manager, elected officials, City staff and the public. 

Perform complex engineering work and contract administration activities, difficult technical research and analyze complex engineering problems, evaluate alternatives and recommend or adopt effective course of action. Prepare and evaluate engineering studies for engineering projects. Research new materials and techniques and monitor current developments in the field.

Prepare grant applications and submittals and administer grant funding for projects.

Manage City owned water rights, permits related to utility operations and operate as the signatory party. Read, understand and interpret federal and state regulations and ordinances, codes and applicable laws to ensure compliance and consistency of application to utility service provides. Direct industrial waste sampling and pre-treatment programs. Enforce discharge and pre-treatment regulations and ordinances.

Participate in the selection and monitoring of consultants and contractors. Develop and monitor systems and procedures for contract administration to ensure compliance to technical requirements. Review plans prepared by developers, consultants, utilities and others. Negotiate prices and prepare contract change orders. Approve progress payments on contract construction projects. Monitor project costs ensuring projects meet budget constraints. Update and ensure projects stay on schedule and that the schedule is regularly briefed within the City.

Effectively represent the City when working with the public to address concerns, complaints and comments dealing with area of assignment. Represent the City on various related committees. Work closely with citizen groups and public and private officials to provide technical assistance, directly or through subordinate staff. Represent the City in meetings with contractors, developers and other agencies. Facilitate the working relationships with the Regional Stormwater Committee, the Flood Authority, and other regional working groups.

Perform other duties which may be assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of federal and state laws, codes, ordinances and regulations pertaining to area of assignment, public works engineering standards and asset management programs, and emergency management
• Knowledge of principles and practices of civil engineering design and construction  
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision, selection, training, performance management, discipline, contract administration, project management, evaluation, and budget development and administration 
• Knowledge of theories, principles, techniques and equipment used in public works construction and maintenance 
• Knowledge of grant funding application processes and administration 
• Knowledge of and ability to use computer applications and software related to the work including but not limited to Microsoft Office
• Ability to arrange multiple projects effectively to be completed within expected deadlines
• Ability to independently maintain and manage tasks and responsibilities efficiently and effectively
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with those contacted during work
• Ability to have direct and tough conversations with others as needed
• Ability to reason logically and make sound decisions, to consider alternative and diverse perspectives, to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, to remain poised under all circumstances, and to interact effectively with people in a positive manner that engenders confidence and trust within general policy guidelines
• Ability to train others in work procedures

Physical Demands:

Requires ability to work in a typical office setting and use standard office equipment. Requires ability to work in various weather conditions and terrain.  Ability to lift and open manhole covers and evaluate maintenance needs.

SUPPLEMENTAL JOB INFORMATION

• This position is Exempt under FLSA guidelines
• This position is at-will and exempt from the Regulations of the Civil Service Commission
• This position reports to the City Engineer
• Supervision exercised: Plan, assign, direct and review the work of professional and technical staff. 
• Required to work during emergency circumstances or inclement weather conditions
• May be required to pass a pre-placement drug screen and background investigation

Application and Recruitment Information

Complete application information including all certifications and work experience are required to be submitted by the applicant at time of application in order for the application to be fully reviewed. Failure to submit the required and/or requested information may result in rejection of your application. 

Recruitment Communication:

Human Resources will be contacting you at various stages of the recruitment process via email, even if you have chosen U.S. mail for prior application processes or for applications with other agencies. Please make sure your email address is accurate.

Reasonable Accommodation:

Human Resources will make efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled candidates in the selection process. If you have special needs, please notify the Human Resources office when you turn in your application or at least three (3) business days prior to the examination/interview by calling (775) 353-2345.

Disclaimer:

The City of Sparks reserves the right to select applicants who demonstrate the best combination of qualifications for the position.

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