Development Services Manager

Development Services Manager

Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) seeks an enthusiastic professional to lead our Development Services team. This position ensures that external projects affecting OWASA water, sewer, and reclaimed water systems are designed and constructed appropriately, and that water and sewer system capacities are adequate to meet the planned growth envisioned by the towns and UNC.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage a six-person Development Services team which includes two Engineering Associates, two Engineering Technicians and two Construction Inspectors.
• Ensure that all expansion, extension, and relocation work performed by external entities (developers, contractors, etc.) on OWASA’s water, sewer and reclaimed water systems is accomplished in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations, and OWASA’s Manual of Standards, Specifications, and Design, ordinances, policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and administrative guides.
• Regularly meet with internal staff and external project teams to clarify requirements, facilitate resolution of design challenges, and help prevent and resolve constructability and other issues.
• Maintain strong relationships with appropriate staff at the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, UNC‑Chapel Hill, Orange County, NCDOT, and the development community to ensure alignment with the Towns’ and UNC’s plans and policies for growth and development, and to facilitate mutual understanding and efficient collaboration of program activities, interests, policy and requirements with those of the partner agency.
• Develop and manage financial partnership utility agreements with developers, the towns, UNC, Orange County and NCDOT for OWASA utility improvements through completion and reimbursement for betterment.
• Ensure that water and sewer system capacities are adequate for new development construction by tracking and monitoring new wastewater flows or water demands.
• Manage all activities to ensure OWASA’s Manual of Standards, Specifications, and Design is up to date and in accordance with all local, state and federal guidelines for water, sewer, and reclaimed water construction.
• Recommend changes to fee policies, structures, and rates to ensure that fees charged for plan review and construction observation reflect OWASA’s cost‑of‑service.
• Provide annual near‑term forecasts of new meter equivalents based on available information from project submittals.

Qualifications:

• Six years of experience, including two years in a supervisory role, working with engineering practices used in the planning, design, permitting, and/or construction of public water and wastewater projects. Professional Engineer license strongly preferred.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with members of the public, regulators, developers, consultants, contractors and government staff.
• Ability to solve problems creatively and collaboratively, to make timely decisions in a consistently fair manner, and to communicate the rationale behind decisions effectively.
• Ability to set clearly defined goals, evaluate progress, and change course as necessary to fulfill the mission while ensuring all safe work practices are followed.
• Be a steward of the environment, our natural resources and OWASA’s financial resources.
• Have a service‑oriented attitude, responsiveness, professionalism, and a passion to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Team members are our most important resource.

Benefits and pay include:

• Salary range is $105,899 – $158,848
• Membership in the NC Local Government Employee Retirement System (pension plan)
• 5% Employer 457 plan contribution
• Retirement health savings account
• Employer paid Health, Dental, Vision, Life insurance, Long‑term Disability
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Vacation, Sick, Personal, Bereavement and Parental Leave
• Monthly Cell Phone Stipend
• Educational Reimbursement
• Bonus Pay for Additional Certifications and/or Education
• Ability to transfer unused sick leave from previous NC Local Government or State agency employer
• Much, much more!

OWASA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diverse experiences. We provide competitive pay and benefits in a safe, rewarding work environment. This recruitment will close on March 18, 2026.

Engineering

Management