The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with more than 5,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system's 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City. DEP annually collects $3.8B in revenues, primarily through customer billing. These funds support DEP’s operations and its $31B Ten-Year Capital Construction Plan.

DEP is seeking a dynamic, visionary executive with experience in the water and wastewater sector to serve as Chief Operating Officer and/or First Deputy Commissioner (COO/FDC). The COO/FDC will be responsible for the daily operational performance of the water utility function of DEP, including overseeing the key operating bureaus as well as capital construction. Depending on the candidate, and through discussion with the Commissioner, the role may be expanded to include oversight of key administrative functions and thus be designated First Deputy Commissioner.

Over the next two years, the COO/FDC will be expected to partner on a daily basis with the leaders of the operating bureaus to solve operating challenges, deliver capital and other major projects, and ensure that the Agency meets all of its customer service and regulatory requirements. In addition, the COO/FDC will be expected to implement a thoughtful, metrics-driven management approach that can feed into, and then implement, the findings of the Agency’s strategic planning effort which is now underway. The COO/FDC will be the Commissioner’s closest advisor and will be a key partner in interagency projects and in interactions with the Mayor’s Office, other levels of government, and elected officials.

THE POSITION:

The COO/FDC reports directly to the DEP Commissioner, the senior executive of the Agency. The COO/FDC is primarily responsible for managing the Agency’s day-to-day water and wastewater utility functions in an efficient, safe, and compliant manner. The COO’s area of responsibility spans approximately 4,800 employees and an annual operating budget of $1.4 billion.

The COO/FDC provides leadership, direction and oversight to eight of DEP's divisions, each of which is led by a Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner:
- Bureau of Water Supply
- Bureau of Water & Sewer Operations
- Bureau of Wastewater Treatment
- Bureau of Engineering Design & Construction
- Bureau of Police & Security
- Bureau of Environmental Planning & Analysis
- Office of Environmental Health & Safety
DEP's website https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/index.page provides detailed information on each of these divisions.

The COO/FDC works closely with the DEP Commissioner, the Chief of Staff, the Chief Financial Officer, and the General Counsel to ensure policy and operational alignment and deliver cross-agency initiatives. The COO/FDC also provides briefings to staff at the Mayor’s Office and the City Council.

The COO/FDC is responsible for the following duties and functions:
- Monitoring and evaluating DEP’s operational performance, and recommending and implementing corrective measures across DEP’s operational divisions to ensure efficient and responsive service to New Yorkers;
- Leading change management efforts and fostering a culture of innovation, using data-driven decision-making to drive performance improvements;
- Advising the DEP Commissioner on all matters related to the operational management of the utility, including serving as incident commander during extreme conditions and emergency events;
- Participating in the development of executive level strategic planning and ensures overall implementation of the plan;
- Participating in, alongside the Chief Financial Officer, the development of DEP’s expense budget and capital plan to ensure efficient and effective operations, protection of Agency assets, and delivery of Agency objectives;
- Developing strong working relationships with community representatives, elected officials, leadership at regulatory organizations, staff at other City agencies, and with leaders of labor unions; and
- Representing DEP in community town halls and in meetings with representatives of industry groups and advocacy organizations.

Given the large number of DEP operating facilities, the COO/FDC is expected to frequently travel between sites to provide real-time feedback on operations to confer with managers and employees. Off-hour site visits are occasionally necessary. The COO/FDC will also represent the Agency at meetings with community officials and the public, some of which occur during evenings and weekends.

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college with major course work in engineering, business administration, public administration, public policy, or a closely related field, or its equivalent, is required; a Master's degree is highly desirable.

At least 10 years of experience in a senior leadership role in the water and/or wastewater industry, or a combination of 10 years’ experience in other public-serving infrastructure or process-management operations, with a proven track record of successful change management initiatives, strategic planning, performance measurement, and continuous quality improvement.

The selected candidate will be subject to a background check and vetting by the Mayor’s Office of Appointments.

The ideal candidate has a track record of demonstrated leadership, proven accomplishments, and superior performance in a public agency, public or private utility, or a closely related organization with an emphasis on water and/or wastewater management, including operations, maintenance, and capital projects delivery. The ideal candidate will possess: - Understanding of the core operational functions of the water and wastewater utility, including dam safety, water and wastewater conveyance, laboratory operations, permit compliance, water and wastewater treatment, asset management, environmental planning, employee safety, and capital construction - Experience supervising both office and field staff, including demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with labor in union environment, a commitment to staff development, and strong interpersonal skills - Experience leading a diversely staffed organization, consistent with executive direction and agency principles and values - Familiarity with the applicable laws, regulations, legal mandates, guidelines, and standards affecting public agencies, particularly relating to water and wastewater - Experience navigating the social, political, and environmental issues influencing and affecting the organizational climate, including employees and the surrounding community - Tools to balance conflicting objectives and policies diplomatically identify, negotiate, and administer effective resolutions and - Strong written and oral communication skills. Finally, the selected candidate will be a confident leader and manager with strong interpersonal and staff relationships skills. Candidate must also be flexible to adapt to the changing workforce environment and engage staff in developing skills and attributes for future leadership roles.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.