Assistant Commissioner of Technical Services

Job Description
Sumter Local Government Consulting is pleased to be assisting the City of Atlanta, GA in conducting a recruitment for their next Assistant Commissioner of Engineering, Consent Decree, & Watershed Protections.

Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and the economic, cultural, and transportation center of the Southeast. As the core of a metropolitan region of more than 6.3 million residents, the city blends global connectivity with a diverse economy, vibrant neighborhoods, and a rich historical legacy shaped by innovation and the Civil Rights Movement. Atlanta offers an exceptional quality of life, blending a vibrant urban core with expansive parks, trails, and natural spaces.

The Department of Watershed Management (DWM) is one of the City of Atlanta's largest and most essential service providers, delivering safe, reliable drinking water and effective wastewater and stormwater services to more than 1.2 million customers each day. Half of the utility's customers are located in the City of Atlanta, with the other half residing outside the city but within the utility's service area.

Its mission centers on protecting public health, advancing environmental stewardship, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region's critical water infrastructure. DWM oversees a vast portfolio of operational and capital programs, including treatment facilities, pumping stations, distribution and collection systems, stormwater assets, water quality programs, permitting, regulatory compliance, and major construction initiatives.

The Assistant Commissioner serves as a senior executive leader within the Department of Watershed Management, responsible for guiding engineering strategy, regulatory compliance, environmental protection, and major capital project delivery. Reporting directly to the Commissioner, this role provides strategic direction across several high-impact functions, including the Office of Engineering Services, the Office of Watershed Protection, and the Consent Decree Program. The position plays a pivotal role in shaping the City's long-range water infrastructure program, ensuring the reliability and performance of Atlanta's water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.

This leader oversees complex engineering design and construction programs, manages permitting and development review functions, and ensures that capital improvement projects are delivered effectively, efficiently, and in alignment with citywide and regulatory requirements. The Assistant Commissioner also oversees the City's consent decree compliance efforts, stewarding the federally mandated Clean Water Atlanta program and coordinating with state and federal regulators, consultants, and legal partners to ensure ongoing adherence to environmental mandates.

Salary
The compensation range for this role is between $129,799 and $216,765.

For more information on this position, including supplementary documents and resources, visit the recruitment webpage at:

The first review of resumes will take place on December 23, 2025.

Please refrain from communicating with the staff or elected officials with the City of Atlanta. Please direct inquiries to Sumter Consulting.

Please contact the Executive Recruiter with any questions or concerns:
Warren Hutmacher
Email:
Phone:
Website:

Requirements

The position requires advanced expertise in water and wastewater engineering, urban infrastructure systems, environmental compliance, and large-scale capital program management.

Success in the role also relies on strong leadership, strategic planning, decision-making, and communication abilities, along with deep understanding of municipal operations. A background in engineering, environmental policy, or public administration-paired with extensive leadership experience in utility operations or capital infrastructure-is essential. Professional engineering licensure, advanced credentials, and experience managing consent decree or environmental compliance programs are highly desirable.

Benefits

The benefits guide can be accessed at the link below:

City of Atlanta Benefits Guide