Deputy Department Head - Public Utilities

Deputy Department Head - Public Utilities

Salary

$128,650.00 - $212,273.00 Annually

Location

Public Utilities, 3339 E. Tamiami Trail, Bldg H, Naples, FL

Job Type

Full Time, Regular

Job Number

10112

Department

Public Utilities Department

Opening Date

06/05/2026

Closing Date

7/30/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

FLSA

Exempt

Pay Grade

CCG272

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Summary

Essential Functions

Lead. Collaborate. Serve the Community.

Collier County is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking leader to serve as its next Deputy Department Head - Public Utilities. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of essential public services while leading talented professionals who are committed to delivering reliable, high-quality utility services to our residents, businesses, and visitors.

As the Departments second-in-command, you will work closely with the Department Head to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and organizational direction across multiple divisions. You will play a key role in ensuring that our utility operations remain efficient, innovative, customer-focused, and responsive to the growing needs of our community.

This position is ideal for a collaborative leader who enjoys building strong teams, solving complex challenges, driving continuous improvement, and making a meaningful impact through public service.

What Youll Do

As Deputy Department Head, youll help guide the daily operations and long-term success of the Public Utilities Department. Youll partner with Division Directors and staff to align priorities, strengthen performance, and ensure consistent service delivery across the organization.

Key responsibilities include:

• Serving as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the Department Head.
• Providing leadership and direction to Division Directors and management staff while fostering collaboration across the Department.
• Performing a key role in establishing departmental goals, priorities, budgets, and long-range plans that support the Countys vision and strategic objectives.
• Monitoring operational performance and implementing improvements that enhance efficiency, accountability, and customer service.
• Leading organizational change initiatives and supporting a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensuring departmental operations comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, policies, codes, and permit requirements.
• Leading the development and management of departmental budgets, capital improvement programs, and resource planning efforts.
• Building strong partnerships with County departments, regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Representing the Department before executive leadership, elected officials, the Board of County Commissioners, regulatory agencies, and the public as needed.
• Addressing complex operational issues, customer concerns, and organizational challenges with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Leading employee development, coaching leaders, and fostering a workplace culture built on respect, accountability, and high performance.

Leadership Responsibilities

In this role, you will help ensure that the Public Utilities Department operates as one team with a shared commitment to service excellence. You will empower leaders, encourage collaboration, and help create an environment where employees can thrive and contribute to the Departments success.

Helping shape the Departments long-term financial strategy by ensuring fiscal sustainability, maintaining strong financial stewardship, and positioning the utility system to support future growth and service expansion. This includes overseeing long-range financial planning, capital financing strategies, debt management, and maintaining the financial strength and creditworthiness necessary to secure the most favorable borrowing terms for critical infrastructure investments.

When the Department Head is unavailable, you will serve as Acting Department Head and assume responsibility for operational, administrative, and emergency decision-making.

Who Were Looking For

We are looking for a confident, approachable, and results-oriented leader who understands the importance of public service and is passionate about delivering essential services that improve quality of life for our community.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong leadership and relationship-building skills.
• Experience managing complex operations, programs, or utility-related services.
• The ability to think strategically while remaining focused on day-to-day operational success.
• A collaborative leadership style that promotes teamwork, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience working with budgets, capital programs, regulatory requirements, and organizational performance measures.
• A commitment to customer service, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Utility Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Masters degree preferred.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership or management experience in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Candidates without a degree must possess four (4) additional years of related professional experience.
• Successful completion of a background investigation and fingerprinting is required.

Why Join Collier County Public Utilities?

Public Utilities plays a vital role in protecting public health, supporting economic growth, preserving environmental resources, and enhancing the quality of life for our community. As Deputy Department Head, you will have the opportunity to help shape the future of these essential services while working alongside dedicated professionals who are passionate about serving Collier County.

If you are a strategic leader who values collaboration, innovation, and public service, we encourage you to apply and become part of a team committed to making a lasting impact every day.

For more details and information on this job classification click here

Supplemental information

• Salary offers above the minimum pay grade may be considered based on qualifications.
• Essential Employees may be required to work during an undeclared or declared emergency. The County's Administrative Office will determine who will be required to work on an incident-by-incident basis.
• This job posting is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.

Collier County BCC offers a variety of benefits to both regular full and part-time

employees. For information, click here to view the comprehensive benefits package we have to offer when you join our team.

01

APPLICANT NOTICE: Your answers below will be used to review this application. The experience listed here MUST match the work history provided in your application. Please note, it is not acceptable to use "See Resume" or "See Above" in your answers below and we do not accept resumes as a substitute for a completed application.

• I understand and agree with the statements above.
• I do not agree with the statements above.

02

Do you possess a bachelors degree (Master's degree preferred) accompanied by at least five (5) years of related experience? (Note: Candidates without a degree should have four (4) additional years of related experience)

• Yes, I have a degree and five (5) years of related experience.
• Yes, I have a total of nine (9) years of related experience, but no degree.
• No, I do not have either

03

Capital Program Experience - describe your experience leading large-scale capital improvement programs within a public utility or comparable infrastructure organization. Please include your role in budgeting, project delivery, stakeholder coordination, and ensuring projects are completed on schedule and within scope.

04

Multi-Division Utility Operations - what experience do you have overseeing multiple utility operational areas (e.g., water, wastewater, solid waste) in a 24/7/365 service environment? Describe the size, complexity, and staffing of the operations you managed.

05

Regulatory Compliance - explain your experience ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local environmental and operational regulations. Include examples involving permitting, inspections, audits, or corrective action planning.

06

Emergency Response Leadership - describe a leadership role you have held during a major emergency event (e.g., hurricane, system failure). What responsibilities did you assume, and how did you ensure operational continuity and effective response coordination?

07

Strategic and Operational Leadership - explain how you have balanced high-level strategic planning with daily operational leadership in a large or complex organization. Provide examples of how you aligned operations with long-term organizational goals.

08

Organizational Change Management - describe a significant organizational or operational change you led that affected multiple divisions or functions. What was your approach to planning, communication, stakeholder engagement, and implementation?

09

Executive Level Communication - detail your experience preparing and presenting complex information, recommendations, or reports to executive leadership, boards, or elected officials. What strategies do you use to communicate technical or operational issues to non-technical stakeholders?

10

Do you possess a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Collier County

Address Human Resources Division

3303 East Tamiami Trail East

Naples, Florida, 34112

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/collier/default.cfm