Description
Who We Are
The Chesterfield County Department of Utilities is a leading public water and wastewater utility committed to delivering exceptional service through the use of state-of-the-art technology and industry best practices. Our culture is deeply rooted in public service—we are dedicated to protecting the James River and the Chesapeake Bay while consistently meeting or exceeding all water quality standards.
We are also proud of our strong financial stewardship. The Department is one of only a select few water and wastewater utilities nationwide to have earned AAA ratings on its revenue bonds from all three major rating agencies. This distinction reflects our long-standing commitment to operational excellence, fiscal responsibility, and sustainable infrastructure investment.
What You Do and How You Do It
This position oversees the Utilities Department’s Technical Support Center, an engineering team dedicated to delivering advanced technical expertise to the Operations and Maintenance Division. This is not an Information Technology role and does not involve computer help desk responsibilities. Instead, the position provides leadership and direction to a team of Principal Engineer project managers responsible for executing a wide range of internally funded Utilities Department projects.
These projects span critical infrastructure and facility improvements, including upgrades at wastewater and water treatment plants, pump station enhancements, pipeline replacement and rehabilitation, finished water storage tank design and restoration, facility and building upgrades, dam maintenance, and initiatives focused on security, safety, and system resilience. The work is diverse, high impact, and essential to ensuring the continued reliability and performance of the County’s utility infrastructure.
In this position, you will:
This position plays a key leadership role in developing and managing the department’s Capital Improvement Program, guiding the design, construction, replacement, rehabilitation, expansion, and increased capacity of critical water and wastewater infrastructure. Responsibilities include negotiating complex agreements, preparing and evaluating highly technical reports, and establishing goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs.
Strong communication skills are essential, as this role regularly coordinates department initiatives with a wide range of stakeholders, including consulting engineers, heavy construction contractors, and internal partners.
Direct reports for this position include four Principal Engineers, a part time Senior Administrative Support Specialist, and supervisory oversight of a team of Construction Inspectors, a part time Project Coordinator, and the department’s Environmental, Health, and Safety Coordinator.
You will assist the department in:
Regularly meet with the managers from Water Treatment, Water Distribution, Wastewater Treatment, Wastewater Collection to determine their needs
Attend design charettes with staff and outside consultants
Oversee work from a team of Principal Engineer Project Managers and assist in providing direction
Schedule work to be completed in the Capital Improvement Plan
Review and approve invoices from engineering consultants and contractors
Monitor overall status of construction problems and intercede to help resolve issues
Perform other work as required.
Requirements
Here’s What You Need
Bachelor's degree in engineering or a closely related field; seven years of increasingly responsible experience in professional engineering including two years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Professional Engineer license preferred. PLEASE NOTE: Must maintain personal mobile technology as a condition of employment.
The ideal candidate will be a proactive, driven professional with outstanding technical aptitude and exceptional verbal and written communication skills. We are seeking someone who brings enthusiasm, initiative, and a strong sense of ownership to their work. Success in this role requires a collaborative spirit and the ability to build positive, productive working relationships across the organization. If you thrive in a fast paced environment and are excited to contribute to meaningful, high impact projects, we want to hear from you.
Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check, and education/degree verification are required.
What's In It For You:
You will have the opportunity to lead and contribute to some of the region’s most ambitious and impactful engineering projects. Notably, the Utilities Department is in the initial planning and design phases of a new 27 MGD greenfield water treatment plant—an extraordinary and rare undertaking. With a 10 year Capital Improvement Plan exceeding $2 billion, the Department offers an exceptional breadth of work and project variety. This role provides ample opportunity to apply your full range of technical expertise while collaborating with dedicated Utilities staff and nationally recognized consultants to solve complex challenges. No two days are the same, and you will experience the reward of addressing real world issues that directly strengthen and support the community.
If you are passionate about public service and eager to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to join our team. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, including participation in the Virginia Retirement System and both long and short term disability coverage. While we are committed to achieving our mission, we also prioritize work life balance through generous paid time off (PTO) and opportunities to earn compensatory leave. Employees accrue 7 hours of PTO during 24 of the 26 annual pay periods, with unused hours eligible to roll over up to the maximum carryover limit. Additionally, new hires receive 40 hours of PTO in their second paycheck.
The salary range for this position is $88,924-$151,171
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. We are deeply committed to your growth and success, offering robust professional development opportunities through our tuition reimbursement program, our award winning Learning and Performance Center, and clear pathways for advancement within the organization.
To learn more about the impactful work we do, please visit the Chesterfield County Department of Utilities.
We Would Love to Talk with You
Click the “apply” link above to complete and submit an application.
PLEASE NOTE: It is required to submit a résumé and cover letter with your online application. Please be sure to attach the required material to the application prior to submitting. Position is open until filled (first review to begin June 8, 2026).A Chesterfield County application is required and must be submitted online by deadline. Visit chesterfield.gov/careers to view instructions and to complete and submit an application. (804) 748-1551.
An Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
