Join the City of Chattanooga Team Chattanooga , a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College , our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation's first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City," the first of its kind in the United States. Our Organization As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:
Public Safety:
Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
Infrastructure & Utilities:
Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
Quality of Life:
Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
Transportation:
The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
Innovation:
Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead. Why Choose Chattanooga? The City of Chattanooga's workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:
Competitive Compensation:
Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
Work-Life Balance:
Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
Exceptional Wellness:
Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
Growth:
A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
The Great Outdoors:
Your Backyard Playground:
Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
Vertical Adventures:
Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
Water & Rapids:
From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River. Trails for
Miles:
Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges. In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets. Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you'd like to call Chattanooga home
- or maybe you already do!
- and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we'd love to talk to you.
____________________________________________________________________________
Salary:
WWFG.15E
$93,788.00
00 per year
Work Hours:
Monday
- Friday, 7:00 A.M.
- 3:30 P.M. (EST)
- Hours may vary due to work assignments, or projects.
Work Location:
455 Moccasin Bend Rd (Wastewater Treatment Plant)
FLSA Status:
This is an Exempt position.
Department:
Wastewater
SERIES LEVEL
The Director Engineering Wastewater is a stand-alone position.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
( The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.) May provide leadership and direction to the Wastewater Engineering, Sewer Maintenance, and Infiltration and Inflow (I & I) teams. May manage and help to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements for the programs involving the Interceptor Sewer System (ISS
- consisting of over 1,263 miles of sewer pipes and manholes), the Combined Sewer System (CSS
- an area of approximately 2,000 acres in downtown Chattanooga), and Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO
- reporting to various local, state, and federal governmental agencies).
May provide review and approval on behalf of the City for consultants' sanitary sewer projects, ensuring they meet the City and State of Tennessee design requirements for public sewer lines. May perform departmental managerial duties, including assisting with developing policies, operating procedures, rules, regulations, and work methods, and makes recommendations for their improvement. May formulate long
- and short-range goals and objectives for better operating efficiency.
May assist with preparing and implementing the annual operating and capital improvement budgets. May evaluate staff procedures on a continuous basis; recommends and implements improvements where necessary. Interprets rules, policies, and procedures for staff members. May assist in coordinating and preplanning emergencies with departmental personnel and various governmental departments/agencies. May supervise lower-level wastewater utility staff to include: prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staffs are trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and, making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations. May approve leave requests. May manage the day-to-day activities and operations of the Regional Wastewater Engineering and Collection System, which includes capital projects, Consent Decree projects, developing, planning, coordinating, administering, and evaluating programs, projects, processes, procedures, systems, standards, long and short-term strategic planning, and/or service offerings; and ensures compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and/or standards and/or performing other related activities. May perform activities for the City's Environmental Protection Agency Consent Decree program which includes but is not limited to related correspondence, reports, negotiations, meetings with consultants, contractors, regulators and the public; plans review; and monitoring project progress, preparing and evaluating specifications and requests for proposals for related capital projects, equipment, and services. May provide guidance, input and recommendations for innovative technology projects, including the City's smart sewer program. May forecast and assist in preparing various utility budgets; prepares cost estimates for budget recommendations; prepares and submits justifications for budget items; evaluates, monitors and controls expenditures. May represent the City and/or the Regional Wastewater System at a variety of internal and/or external meetings, public events, training sessions, on committees, and/or other related events or groups in order to receive and/or convey information to receive and convey information pertaining to City policy, projects or programs. May prepare, review, interpret and analyze a variety of information, data and reports; makes recommendations based on findings; communicates pertinent information to internal and external parties. May participate in developing and administering the division budget; approves expenditures; reviews financial statements. May serve as a technical authority for engineering projects and/or systems. Must meet regular attendance requirements. Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens. Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner. May perform other duties as assigned.
DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES
(if any): May manage a variety of different professionals such as engineers of Treatment Plant processes, pump stations, collection system, system modeling engineer, and environmental issues pertaining to sewage flows and treatment, and GIS analyst to maintain asset inventory. May oversee work toward Zero Net Energy for the wastewater system. May provide Consent Decree coordination with Consent Decree Program Manager including Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) and Projects to ensure Consent Decree compliance.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree in civil, environmental, mechanical or chemical engineering or a related field and six (6) years progressively responsible management experience in an engineering department focused on wastewater collection and treatment facilities or any combination of equivalent experience and education, including five (5) years in a supervisory position.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS
A valid Driver's License. Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee or the ability to obtain by reciprocity from another state within six (6) months of starting the job. Professional Engineer License must be issued in the State of Tennessee.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations; grant writing; budgeting principles; program management and development including supervisory principles; project management principles and practices; vendor management principles; personal computer; Microsoft Office and Google applications; and customer service principles. Skill in monitoring and evaluating the work of subordinate staff; responding to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies and business community; exercising independent and decisive judgment; presentations to administrators, public and boards.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Positions in this class typically require reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Sedentary work: exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. Incumbents may be subjected to fumes, odors, dusts, gases and infectious diseases.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Safety Sensitive:
Y Department of Transportation•
CDL:
N Child Sensitive:
N SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. KJS 06.03.2026
