Deputy Bureau Chief - (Engineering Manager I) - Public Works, Bureau of Utilities

Deputy Bureau Chief Of Utilities

Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 83 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties.

NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.

• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

The Deputy Bureau Chief of Utilities works in the Department of Public Works (DPW), Bureau of Utilities and serves as the Technical Services Division Manager responsible for managing the Bureau's technical and engineering programs supporting the County's water distribution, wastewater collection, and the water reclamation plant. This position oversees Bureau-wide support functions, including operational budgeting, financial management, purchasing, procurement coordination, contract administration, and administrative operations.

The position works closely with Division Managers, the Bureau of Engineering, the Department of Finance, Regulatory Agencies, Consultants, Contractors, Elected Officials, Developers, and Regional Utility Partners to advance the DPW's strategic priorities. The position performs the duties of the Bureau Chief of Utilities during their absence.

This is a Classified position, meaning that it is a part of the Howard County Classified Service upon completion of a probationary period of at least six (6) months.

This position has been designated as "essential personnel," meaning an employee is expected to report for regular work shift during inclement weather, emergency situations, County holidays and on an on-call basis.

This position is not tele-work eligible.

Leadership & Management

• Serves as Acting Bureau Chief of Utilities, in the absence of the Bureau Chief, and assumes full responsibility for the leadership, administration, and management of the Bureau, including decision-making, operational oversight, personnel management, emergency response, regulatory compliance, financial management, and representation of the Bureau before County leadership, regulatory agencies, and external stakeholders.
• Manages subordinate personnel responsible for daily water and sewer system operations and inspections, budgeting, purchasing, accounting, and other Bureau support activities.
• May perform special projects as needed with or without advance notice.
• This position is considered emergency personnel and may be required to report for regular and emergency operations.

Infrastructure & Asset Management

• Works closely with DPW's Enterprise Asset Manager to oversee long-range infrastructure replacement and renewal strategies, asset condition assessments, lifecycle planning, and risk-based investment priorities to ensure the reliability, resilience, and long-term sustainability of the County's water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Coordinates the preparation of the Water and Sewer Master Plan.
• Coordinates Water and Sewer Capital Project implementation.

Regulatory Compliance

• Provides oversight of the Bureau's…