Compliance Manager - Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Overview

This role ensures that water and wastewater plants, facilities, and associated utility infrastructure projects adhere to all relevant local, state, and federal regulations as well as departmental standards. The position involves developing quality assurance protocols to ensure regulatory compliance and consistency across projects. It supports the Engineering Division with technical reviews, project coordination, and resolving issues related to water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, including those under the Capital Improvement Program.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership by supervising and evaluating assigned staff, including hiring, termination, scheduling, training, disciplinary actions, and performance appraisal.
• Ensure all departmental units have proper tools and training to comply with applicable state laws and regulations.
• Support the Engineering Division by reviewing RFQs and RFPs and conducting technical plan evaluations.
• Lead utility master planning, long-term capital planning, and strategic infrastructure planning efforts for the Utilities Department.
• Provide administrative and technical assistance for the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
• Coordinate project activities with various city departments, consultants, contractors, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders.
• Facilitate multi-departmental collaboration to advance utility planning and infrastructure improvement projects.
• Utilize technical expertise to manage asset management, capital project monitoring, and infrastructure reporting.
• Develop and maintain forecasting models considering system growth, water demand, regulatory changes, land use, zoning, population, and growth projections.
• Evaluate infrastructure capacity, service levels, asset conditions, and infrastructure resilience needs.
• Align capital investment decisions with system requirements, funding priorities, regulations, and strategic goals.
• Assist with procurement processes including RFQs, RFPs, contract administration, amendments, and change orders.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation and ensure compliance with departmental and regulatory policies.
• Monitor project schedules, budgets, permits, insurance, bonds, and closeout documentation.
• Perform detailed reviews of contractor payments and consultant invoices for compliance and completeness.
• Prepare and present reports and presentations for management, boards, committees, City Council, and regulatory authorities.
• Support billing and meter reading divisions by providing customer service and contract adjustments as necessary.
• Organize meetings related to capital projects and planning and document follow-up actions.
• Engage the public in long-term planning and infrastructure improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to funding prioritization through data analysis and scenario modeling.
• Monitor adherence to regulatory and contractual obligations.
• Respond to information requests from internal and external stakeholders.
• Regularly interact with consultants, stakeholders, and city departments to communicate complex utility initiatives.
• Offer strategic insights on long-term utility planning, infrastructure resilience, and capital priorities.
• Drive city vehicles as needed for business-related activities.

Knowledge and Skills

• Comprehensive understanding of water and wastewater systems, equipment, operations, and processes.
• Proficiency with office software, including Excel, GIS, InfoWater, Cit-E-Bid, and InfoAsset.
• Familiarity with regulatory forecasting, population growth modeling, hydrological analysis, and CIP management.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and conflict resolution abilities.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to foster relationships and represent the city professionally.
• Capability to lead, advise, and support team members and collaborate across multiple departments.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Work occurs predominantly in office environments but frequently involves outdoor settings, construction sites, and street environments near moving traffic.
• Physical demands include occasional lifting up to 35 pounds and regular movement of objects; work is mostly sedentary with occasional walking and standing.
• Environmental exposures include occasional extreme heat, loud noise, hostile individuals, and outdoor weather conditions; rare exposure to hazardous chemicals or confined spaces.
• Travel is required locally, regionally, and nationally, with occasional international trips possible.

Minimum Qualifications and Additional Information

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Engineering, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of seven years’ experience in accounting, auditing, management, finance, or a related area.
• Must possess a valid Texas Driver License or obtain one within six months if currently holding an out-of-state license.
• Successful candidates must pass a comprehensive background check, provide certified transcripts, and clear pre-employment drug and alcohol screening, with ongoing random testing if in safety-sensitive roles.
• The City of Laredo is an equal opportunity employer valuing diversity in gender, race, ethnicity, disability, and other backgrounds, encouraging all qualified applicants to apply.
• Applicants requiring accommodations during the selection process should contact Human Resources prior to testing or interviews.