New as of 01/01/2026:
Your well-being matters from the start - benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave.
Position Description Catawba County is seeking a Utilities & Engineering Director to lead water and sewer, solid waste, building services, and engineering operations. This is a senior leadership role for a professional who can balance day-to-day operational oversight with long-range infrastructure and financial planning in a growing county. The position is vacant due to the retirement of our current Director.
The Director reports to the Assistant County Manager and serves as a strategic advisor to the County Manager and Board of Commissioners on solid waste, utilities, building code compliance, engineering, and infrastructure matters. This position works closely with municipal partners, the Economic Development Corporation, Planning Department, developers, contractors, and state and federal agencies to maintain, protect, and expand County services and infrastructure. The new Director will immediately be involved in ongoing and upcoming projects, including continued development of the Southeastern Catawba County Water & Sewer District, landfill construction and expansion, and management of the County’s franchise agreement for solid waste collection and disposal.
For more information:
https://www.catawbacountync.gov/site/assets/files/2591/job_listing_u-e_director_2026_vf.pdf
Open until filled. First review of applicants will be on November 23, 2026.
Likely hiring range: $150,000 - $175,000. Responsibilities
- Direct Solid Waste operations, including landfill operations, leachate and gas control, air quality, and groundwater remediation.
- Manage resource recovery and Franchise Agreement.
- Oversee Building Services operations, including plan review, permitting, and building code compliance.
- Supervise water distribution and wastewater collection operations, wastewater treatment plant, including SECC utility development and management.
- Develop and maintain a multi-year water and sewer capital plan, coordinating with municipalities and recommending project priorities.
- Manage Engineering operations, including zoning code enforcement, erosion and sediment control, stormwater, and roadway improvement programs.
- Manage water, sewer, and landfill construction projects from consultant selection and bidding through field inspection and completion.
- Develop long-range financial and operational plans for department infrastructure; identify cost savings and funding options and pursue grants.
- Work collaboratively with Planning to advise the County Manager and Board of Commissioners, assist the Economic Development Corporation with industry expansion projects, and as appropriate, development related matters.
- Supervise five direct reports with full responsibility for all personnel matters
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Mechanical, or Environmental Engineering; Public or Business Administration; or Construction Management and a minimum of 5 years of experience managing solid waste, water and wastewater, and/or building compliance services as a director, assistant director, or major division leader; OR
- Any combination of education, training, and experience administering comparable functions that demonstrates the skills required to perform the position’s duties
Additional Requirements
- Thorough knowledge of civil and environmental engineering principles and practices as applied to development and construction of public works projects
- Working knowledge of water distribution, wastewater collection, and water treatment facilities, including applicable State and Federal laws and regulations
- Working knowledge of solid waste landfills, water and sewer treatment and distribution, stormwater management, and building code compliance
- Working knowledge of federal EPA and North Carolina laws and regulations governing solid waste, environmental conservation, water and sewer, composting, household hazardous waste, and stormwater
- Experience with outcome-based budgeting, enterprise fund management, and project scheduling
- Strong public communication skills and the ability to work effectively with elected officials, municipal managers, contractors, developers, and residents
- Ability to establish strategic future direction while managing day to day projects and priorities in a way that promotes operational excellence
- Valid NC Driver’s License with a safe driving record (Driving is an essential function of this position).
Preferences:
- North Carolina Professional Engineer (PE) license
Benefits
As of 7/1/2025:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization.
Available benefits include:
Health Care
- Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
- Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
- Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents,with 2 plan options to choose from.
- Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
- Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts that can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses.
Employee Wellness
- Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services are offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care is available to employee’s children ages 3-17, regardless of health insurance coverage, and for employee’s adult children (ages 18-26) or employee’s spouse if covered on the county’s health insurance.
- Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education, and more.
- Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.
Work Life Balance
- Annual Leave:Full-time employees earn from 10-24 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
- To help new employees settle in, up to 40 hours of annual leave is advanced upon hire, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
- Sick Leave:Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
- New hires are advanced up to 40 hours of sick leave, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
- Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
- Flexible work schedules.
- Time off for activities that support our local schools.
- Continuing educational assistance.
- Discount tickets to recreational venues.
- Employee appreciation days/activities.
- Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.
Financial Security
- Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax-deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
- 401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
- Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
- Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
- Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times the employee’s annual salary, with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
- Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
- Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
- Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).