Drainage & Irrigation Manager

Under general supervision of the Public Works Assistant Director for Utilities and Roads, manages and directs the activities of the Drainage and Irrigation Section of the Public Works Department.  Manages and supervises Drainage and Irrigation Supervisor and other staff in all aspects of drainage and agricultural irrigation engineering, operation, and maintenance, including preventative maintenance, equipment/material replacement and repairs, budgeting, scheduling, planning, organization, etc. Oversees Community drainage issues including system construction, maintenance, planning, compliance, etc. Manages section budgets including irrigation enterprise fund.  This job class is treated as FLSA Exempt and considered a DRIVING position.

Examples of Tasks

Distinguishing Features:  The Drainage & Irrigation Section Manager provides leadership, management and technical expertise on all matters related to agricultural irrigation and drainage throughout Public Works.   Consistently demonstrates a high level of skill in managing irrigation and drainage staff and facilities.  Ensures compliance with the Community’s Goals and Vision and that all work meets or exceeds standard practices.  Maintains effective and positive relationships with staff, agency representatives, and contractors to ensure the highest quality work is performed within the Community.  Possesses a diverse technical and management background in engineering, drainage, agricultural irrigation, and preventative maintenance related activities.
 
Essential Functions:   (Essential functions may vary among positions, but may include the following tasks, knowledge, abilities, skills, and other characteristics.  This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of tasks performed by all positions in this classification.)
 
Tasks:
1.  Plans, organizes and directs the activities of the Drainage and Irrigation Section.  Develops and maintains policies, procedures, guidelines and short and long term goals and objectives for the section.  Oversees and directs all administrative functions including quarterly and annual reports, training, payroll, and leave requests.  Prepares, implements, and monitors the annual operating and irrigation enterprise fund budgets for the section. Provides administrative and managerial support on section matters to the Public Works Director and Assistant Directors as needed.  

2.  Provides leadership, mentoring and technical guidance to allow staff to perform independently and further career progression goals.  Provides direct supervision for irrigation staff, including but not limited to the Irrigation Supervisor.  Supervises and evaluates the work of assigned staff and conducts timely performance evaluations.  Monitors staff work volume, prioritizes work, and assigns staff appropriately to ensure all section assignments are accomplished within established timeframes.   Responds to staff problems and concerns related to work assignments or performance issues.  Coordinates and oversees the recruitment and hiring of employees to backfill vacant positions as necessary.

3.  Manages activities of the Civil Engineer (Drainage) including developing and maintaining operation and maintenance plans for Community owned regional drainage structures and outfalls and working with appropriate jurisdictions and agencies (Scottsdale, Mesa, MCFCD, SRP, ADOT, etc.) to insure proper coordination of drainage operations.  Works with Civil Engineer (Drainage) to develop capital improvement plan for drainage system and manage the Community drywell program.  Coordinates with ECS and Community Development Departments in management of drainage studies and capital improvement projects.

4.  Oversees the planning, organization, and direction of personnel by working with Supervisors to ensure that projects and activities are scheduled efficiently, adequately resourced, and properly prioritized.  Works closely with Supervisors to ensure efficient planning and scheduling of work activities and consistent completion of work order and equipment documentation.  Develops and maintains Operation & Maintenance Program for the drainage and irrigation systems.  

5.  Reviews and evaluates proposed drainage and irrigation maintenance projects and provides recommendations on ways to accomplish program objectives.  Evaluates proposed plans and coordinates labor, material, and equipment necessary for various construction and maintenance projects.  Coordinates and schedules maintenance projects with customers, contractors, utility companies, applicable sections, and departmental staff. Ensures that all required plan reviews, permits, and necessary clearances are obtained.  Monitors schedule, activities, and status of construction/maintenance projects and provides written and oral reports as required.

6.  Supervises and oversees preventive maintenance projects to ensure they are safely executed within budget and on schedule.  Performs activities such as project planning, design/review, prepare scope of work and specifications, cost estimates, on-call contractor selection, contract negotiation and administration, project scheduling/monitoring, inspections, quality control, and project closeout.  Effectively communicates project goals, expectations, progress reports and other pertinent information to team members and project stakeholders.

7.  Develops and maintains operation and maintenance plans for Community agricultural irrigation system.  Develops capital improvement plan for irrigation system.

8.  Establishes and maintains effective relationships with commercial farming companies and Salt River Project (SRP).  Establishes and enforces roles and responsibilities for interaction between irrigation staff and commercial farming and SRP staff.

9.  Manages and coordinates irrigation water billing process, including tracking of irrigation delivery tickets, volume of water delivered, and billing amounts.   Manages irrigation water rates and conducts studies as needed to set rates.  Coordinates with Water Resources Section in the management of the Community Water Settlement Agreement.

10.  Observes and monitors construction/maintenance activities to ensure that work requirements are preformed according to established agreements. Monitors and ensures section and contractors are in compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, polices, procedures and guidelines.  Initiates action to correct deviations or violations regarding safety, budget, or compliance issues.  

11.  Manages Community irrigation SCADA system.  Researches, recommends, and coordinates improvements and maintenance for SCADA system. Works with IT Department to maintain and upgrade the SCADA system.

12.  Performs other job-related tasks as assigned by the Public Works Director or Assistant Directors to enhance departmental operations.  

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics: 

• Knowledge of the history, culture, laws, rules, customs, and traditions of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
• Knowledge of Community’s procurement policy.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision and personnel administration.  
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to drainage and irrigation construction, maintenance, and repair activities.
• Knowledge of SRPMIC Code of Ordinances, MAG standards and SRPMIC supplements, Community Vision Statement, local practices and various technical references.
• Knowledge of OSHA requirements and applicable safety practices. 
• Knowledge of the drainage and irrigation management needs of the Community.
• Knowledge of civil engineering, construction and maintenance principles, concepts, methods, techniques, and practices relating to drainage and irrigation structures.
• Knowledge of developing and maintaining budgets.
• Knowledge of preparation of plans, specifications, cost estimates, schedules, and construction documents for a variety of drainage and irrigation maintenance activities.
• Knowledge of construction industry standard contract documents.
• Knowledge in the principles and methods of construction management, contract administration, materials testing and inspection.

• Skill in use of personal computers, including software applications such as Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office Professional software.
• Skill in developing Department standards, policies, procedures, and standard practices.
• Skill in supervising, training, and evaluating assigned staff.
• Skill in planning and assigning the work of assigned staff to ensure projects are completed in accordance with established standards, guidelines, and time frames.        
• Skill in establishing and assigning priorities, measuring accomplishments, and managing deadlines.
• Skill in preparing reports of project costs, including estimates of materials, supplies, and labor. 
• Skill in managing multiple tasks and assignments including drainage and irrigation maintenance and construction projects.
• Skill in evaluating irrigation and drainage construction and maintenance work, including plans, feasibility recommendations, specifications, cost estimates, and completed work.
• Skill in negotiating terms and conditions of contracts and sensitive agreements.

• Ability to make decisions, work independently and exercise sound judgment. 
• Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work from management level requests, under oral and/or written instructions with minimal guidance and little hands-on supervision, and at remote locations when necessary.
• Ability to interact with Council, boards, senior staff, outside organizations and the general public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, co-workers, management, contractors, vendors, and Community Members. 
• Ability to manage, direct, supervise and evaluate staff.
• Ability to understand, follow, and give oral and written directions.
• Ability to observe, review and check work of staff to ensure conformance to standards.  
• Ability to effectively and efficiently resolve conflict.
• Ability to assemble data, interpret and compile detailed and clear reports and graphs.        
• Ability to produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts.  
• Ability to prepare and administer budgets.  
• Ability to establish and maintain preventative maintenance programs for Community irrigation and drainage systems.
• Ability to monitor a job site which may include walking, stooping, climbing, bending, reaching and lifting.
• Ability to work according to safety standards under potentially hazardous conditions.  

Education & Experience:  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or closely related field and four (4) years full-time experience in agricultural irrigation and/or drainage and two (2) years of experience in a supervisory capacity.  Licensure equivalent to Registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of Arizona is required within one (1) year of hire.  Master’s degree may substitute for two (2) years of experience.  Additional training in personnel management and supervision preferred.
 
Equivalency:  Any equivalent combination of experience and education that would enable the candidate to satisfactorily perform and meet the duties and responsibilities required may be considered in meeting the stated minimum qualifications.

• Requires working after hours, weekend, and holidays in response to emergencies.
• Requires responding to after hour calls from Salt River Public Safety Dispatch and alarm service for security and fire alarms.  
• May require responding to the scene to command Public Works response to emergencies or natural disasters.   
• Must possess and maintain a valid Arizona Driver’s License.