Job Description
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 nearly 6,000 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.
New York City has approximately 152,000 catch basins, 114,000 hydrants, 90,000 valves, 14 gatehouses, 3 reservoirs, 68 groundwater wells, a 100 million gallon underground storage tank and 7,000 miles each of both sanitary sewers and water mains. The responsibility of maintaining these vast networks falls under the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations (BWSO).
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations (BWSO), Division of Field Operations, seeks a highly motivated and experienced Superintendent of Water and Sewer Systems to serve as the Manager of the Coastal Resiliency Team. This position is responsible for the management, operation, maintenance, and performance oversight of critical coastal resiliency infrastructure and stormwater assets throughout New York City. The selected candidate will oversee citywide resiliency gate operations and maintenance, coordinate outfall inspection programs, and will manage arterial highway catch basin cleaning and maintenance activities. The position plays a vital role in protecting public infrastructure, reducing flood risk, and ensuring the reliability of the City's stormwater and sewer systems. The Superintendent will lead a multidisciplinary workforce of more than 50 employees and supervisors and will be responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating field operations to ensure the achievement of annual performance objectives and requirements.
This position requires a combination of office and field work and may involve responding to emergency operations during adverse weather events, coastal flooding incidents, and other infrastructure-related emergencies. The selected candidate must be able to travel throughout the five boroughs to oversee operations and inspect infrastructure assets.
This position is critical to DEP's efforts to protect New York City's communities and infrastructure from flooding and climate-related impacts. Through the management of resiliency gates, outfall inspections, and arterial highway drainage maintenance, the Superintendent will help ensure the reliability and resilience of the City's water and sewer infrastructure systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the Bureau's Coastal Resiliency Team and oversee all associated operational and maintenance programs.
- Direct the coordination, inspection, operation, testing, repair, and maintenance of resiliency gates located throughout New York City.
- Oversee the planning and execution of citywide outfall inspection programs to ensure the integrity and functionality of stormwater and sewer discharge infrastructure. Coordinate with internal CSI, Emergency Construction and Capital Planning groups as required.
- Manage arterial highway catch basin cleaning and maintenance operations across all designated arterial roadways citywide.
- Develop, implement, and monitor preventive maintenance schedules for resiliency and stormwater infrastructure assets.
- Establish operational priorities, work plans, and resource allocation strategies to maximize efficiency and service delivery.
- Monitor work performance, productivity metrics, and program outcomes to ensure compliance with agency goals and performance standards.
- Track and report key performance indicators, maintenance activities, and annual operational objectives.
- Coordinate emergency response operations related to flooding, coastal storm events, and infrastructure failures for flood gate activation as required.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable safety regulations, environmental requirements, and agency EHS policies.
- Collaborate with internal DEP bureaus, external agencies, contractors, and stakeholders on resiliency initiatives and infrastructure projects.
- Manage budgetary resources, equipment utilization, and workforce planning to support operational objectives.
- Prepare reports, presentations, and recommendations for executive leadership regarding program performance and infrastructure needs.
SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SE - 10081
Minimum Qualifications
1. Eight years of full-time experience acquired within the last ten years in the construction, operation, repair, or maintenance of water supply distribution, sewer and/or drainage systems, four years of which must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity; or
2. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. However, all candidates must have the four years of supervisory or managerial experience as described in "1" above.
License Requirements
All candidates must possess a Motor Vehicle Operator's License valid in the State of New York.
Preferred Skills
- Extensive experience in the operation, maintenance, and management of water, sewer, drainage, stormwater, or coastal resiliency infrastructure. - Demonstrated experience supervising large field operations and managing a diverse workforce. - Strong knowledge of municipal infrastructure maintenance practices, asset management principles, and preventive maintenance programs. - Experience developing and managing maintenance schedules, performance metrics, and operational reporting systems. - Ability to lead emergency response and incident management activities. - Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills. - Experience working with labor-management issues, workforce development, and employee performance management. - Familiarity with city, state, and federal regulations governing water, sewer, stormwater, and environmental operations. The successful candidate will demonstrate: - Strategic planning and operational leadership. - Strong personnel management and team-building skills. - Commitment to safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. - Ability to manage multiple citywide programs simultaneously. - Data-driven decision-making and performance management. - Effective communication and stakeholder coordination.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/
Residency Requirement
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.
Additional Information
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.
Job ID
806015
Posted until
2026-10-29
Title code
10081
Civil service title
SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SE
Title classification
Competitive-1
Business title
Supt. Water & Sewer Systems M1/Resiliency Manager, Field Operations
- Manager
Job level
M1
Number of positions
1
Work location
106-36 180th Street
- Engineering, Architecture, & Planning