Public Utilities Director

Company Description Franklin County is part of North Carolina’s world-renowned Research Triangle Region, one of the most globally competitive areas for innovation and economic development. The county offers a mix of growing communities, rural character, and access to major research institutions and employers. Franklin County provides essential public services and infrastructure to support residents, businesses, and visitors. The organization values transparency, community engagement, and responsible stewardship of public resources.

Interested individuals can learn more about county initiatives and updates through available public communication channels.

Role Description Franklin County is seeking an innovative, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as its next Director of Public Utilities. Located in one of North Carolina's fastest-growing counties, Franklin County offers a unique opportunity for an experienced utility executive to lead a growing countywide water and sewer enterprise while helping shape the future of a rapidly expanding community within the Research Triangle Region.

Reporting directly to the County Manager, the Director serves as the chief executive responsible for planning, directing, organizing, and administering all functions of the County's Public Utilities Department, including engineering, water treatment, wastewater treatment, distribution, collection, capital improvement planning, development review, customer service, utility billing, regulatory compliance, enterprise fund management, and organizational leadership.

The Director provides strategic leadership for approximately 55 employees through three executive branches:
Operations, Infrastructure Services, and Business Services. The current leadership structure includes the Chief of Operations, Assistant Public Utilities Director, and proposed Assistant Business Utilities Director/CFO. The Director may recommend and implement organizational changes necessary to strengthen accountability, technical performance, customer service, coordination, and succession planning across the Department.

This position works closely with the County Manager, Assistant County Managers, Board of Commissioners, municipal partners, developers, regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, and regional water providers to ensure reliable, financially sustainable, and customer-focused utility services that support Franklin County's continued growth.

• Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the Public Utilities Department.
• Advises the County Manager, Assistant County Managers, and Board of Commissioners and supports implementation of the County's Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals.
• Develops and executes a departmental business plan that translates County priorities into goals, policies, performance measures, assigned accountability, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Leads cross-functional initiatives that improve cost, efficiency, accountability, customer trust, and

• Oversees engineering activities, infrastructure and regional water-supply planning, capital improvement programs, consultant and contractor management, development review, inspections, GIS, project delivery, and technical studies through the Infrastructure Services branch.
• Directs project scope, schedule, quality, risk, resource prioritization, and financial performance for complex capital investments.
• Directs operating and capital budgets, long-range financial planning, rates and fees, debt and cash-flow planning, grants, forecasting, financial analysis, fiscal policy, and data-driven financial decisions.
• Presents clear financial and operational information and…