Director, Process Optimization and Technical Services

The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) believes in Our Communities, Our Environment and Our People. As a trusted partner to municipalities, First Nations communities, businesses, governments and institutions across Ontario, we provide our clients with total solutions in water and wastewater. We are dedicated to working closely with our clients to help them build healthy sustainable communities and organizations and provide safe and reliable drinking water to thousands of Ontarians each day.

Join the management team at the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) in an exciting opportunity to lead and inspire a multi-disciplinary to deliver multiple and/or complex engineering projects, services and programs to achieve results that meet the Ministry's mandate, goals.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

• Practice professional engineering as defined by the Professional Engineers Act by designing, evaluating, advising, reporting, directing, or supervising applying engineering principles and concerns to safeguard life, health, property, economic interests, and the public welfare or the environment.
  
• Provide technical water, wastewater and biosolids process-related QA/QC and technical advice to internal and external stakeholders through the successful delivery of projects, program initiatives and technology-related studies.
  
• Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team for multiple projects, services and programs of significant technical complexity to support Operational activities.
  
• Lead, direct and support Operations excellence by reviewing technical capability and assessing performance of water/wastewater treatment processes and directing analysis to identify opportunities that achieve industry best practices and standards.
  
• Understand emerging trends and best management practices in the water sector to provide innovative technology solutions.
  
• Participate and lead the process optimization portfolio for Safety, Process Compliance Group.
  
• Provide expertise to direct overall project planning, resourcing, monitoring, reporting, to support delivery of the divisional strategic framework and business plan, management and evaluation of human resources, financial budgeting and general administration.
  
• Manage, forecast, and plan the financial resources and operating budget (salary and operating expenditures) for the delivery of services. Analyze, advise, and forecast financial requirements.
  
• Identify technical tools to support all OCWA teams and develop optimization plans and proposals to promoting efficient, cost-effective operations for new and existing clients.
  
• Develop priorities, objectives, and work plans, monitor performance of the work, promote team building and contribute to skill development through the provision of functional guidance.
  
• Communicate work and performance expectations when setting priorities, assigning and review work and identify areas for improvement, competencies, and assess performance requirements by providing regular feedback on work performance to employees.
  
• Address all aspects of employee relations and conflict management, recognize and reward achievements, promote innovation and drive change.
  
• Establish and promote a healthy, safe, respectful, diverse, inclusive, fair, and engaged work environment.
  
• Present and participate in leading industry conferences with a focus on the process optimization innovation of water, wastewater and biosolids advocating organisation's position at various events
  
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with key partners and stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate information flow and identification of issues.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• A valid 'G' driver's licence or equivalent as recognized by the province of Ontario.
  
• Required to travel including to remote locations through various modes of transportation.
  
• Licensed member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario in good standing
  
• Chemical/Civil/Environmental Engineering degree from a well-recognized engineering university will be considered as an asset.
  
• Carry and maintain assigned OPS assets.
  
• Work outside in varied weather and climate conditions when required in the field.
  
• In prescribed circumstances/manner, use all prescribed safety materials, equipment, devices, and clothing.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Practical knowledge and experience with human resources management techniques (including organizational capacity and requirements), collective agreements, succession planning, talent, retention and performance management to ensure an inclusive, safe diverse respectful workplace.
  
• Knowledge of practices and techniques of risk management, cost-benefit analysis to plan, manage, review, and approve budgets.
  
• Technical evaluation and skills necessary to design and develop solutions to respond to operational challenges and facilitate troubleshooting.
  
• Strong analytical and evaluating skills to assess administrative and technical needs and capabilities.
  
• Ability to identify, assess and evaluate new, or improved, technologies, systems, and methods for potential Agency use for projects and services and/or for the programs with consideration to impacts.
  
• Knowledge of advanced theories and principles of environmental engineering science to define, develop and deliver engineering projects, services, and programs, to assess advice provided by engineering and technical specialists.
  
• Sound knowledge of related MECP and federal legislation related to water/wastewater (OWRA, SDWA, Nutrient Management Act and Federal Fisheries Act) including master planning and environmental assessments, codes, standards, policies and practices and client service practices and principles to prepare presentations, programs proposals and reports.
  
• Ability to oversee projects, services and programs, provide authoritative advice, direction and guidance to employees, clients, colleagues, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders and to identify budget for and resolve risks inherent with managing multiple complex projects, services and programs.
  
• Ability to review and comment on conceptual and preliminary designs to recommend the acceptance or rejection of completed work ensuring proper integration with other segments of the projects, services and programs, compatibility with engineering standards and compliance with acts, regulations, and codes.
  
• Ability to plan and establish objectives, priorities, operational policies, for multiple projects, services and programs implementation, develop alternative strategies and define technical solutions.
  
• Proven ability to maintain a robust and effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts including employees, consultants, senior management, central agencies, ministries, project managers, other levels of government industry regulatory bodies special interest groups, Indigenous communities, and the public and the media.
  
• Ability to influence the actions or behaviours of both internal and external partners and stakeholders with diverging and contradictory views through authoritative advice and direction, persuasion, negotiation, and/or sector-based relationship building.
  
• Well-developed priority setting and time management skills, superior interpersonal skills.
  
• Excellent written and oral communication and ability to represent OCWA in many scenarios.

What is in it for you?

• Flexible learning and development opportunities.
  
• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization with the largest provider of water and wastewater services in Ontario.
  
• Work with the partner of choice for more communities than any other water and wastewater service organization in Ontario for over 30 years.
  
• Work with an organization committed to innovation and advanced technology.
  
• A defined benefit pension plan; Comprehensive Health Plan; Life and Disability Insurance.
  
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits including for adoptive parents.

Ontario Clean Water Agency is an inclusive employer.

We will accommodate your needs under the Ontario Human Rights Code

The Ontario Clean Water Agency is an agency of the Province of Ontario, reporting to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. In 2023, OCWA staff treated water and wastewater, and provided other technical services for 318 clients in the province including 169 municipalities, 16 First Nations, 108 commercial and industrial clients and 25 government and institutional clients. Municipal clients range in size from populations as large as 1.5 million in the Region of Peel to as small as 2,400 in Moose Factory. This broad scope of experience ensures OCWA has the expertise to solve any issues that may arise, in any size or type of treatment process in the province. Our Agency has grown its municipal client base every year over the past 30 years is proof of this value. We continue to focus on our people and strategies to attract and retain competent staff.

Note: Thank you for your interest, we will contact you only if we choose you for further screening or an interview.