Asset Management Department Head in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina at Mount Pleasant Waterworks (SC)

Under limited supervision, the Asset Management Department Head provides strategic leadership and tactical oversight for the utility's comprehensive asset management program, infrastructure lifecycle and daily maintenance workflows. This role bridges the gap between high-level capital planning and operational reality by directly overseeing asset strategy, asset data systems, work management, and maintenance coordination. The position ensures the utility's Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) ecosystem actively drives and supports day-to-day operations and staff development and aligns data analytics, financial planning, and operations to optimize asset performance, manage risk, and ensure sustainable, cost-effective service delivery to the community.

Within assigned areas of accountability, this position operates with substantial latitude and discretion. Employees in this classification perform supervisory and technical duties. Independent judgement is exercised in making work assignments, setting priorities and determining work methods. Reports to the Technical Services Manager.

• Strategic Leadership: Develops, updates, and executes the Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP). Establishes utility-wide asset policies and Level of Service (LOS) goals. Drives continuous improvement and an "information-based" decision-making culture across the utility.
• Work Management & Maintenance Coordination: Directs the centralized work management program and supports the coordination of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities across treatment plants, distribution/collection networks and all applicable departments.
• EAM System Ownership & Data Governance: Serves as the business owner for the utility's Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) platform. Ensures data integrity, system optimization, and integration with GIS, financial and other systems.
• Training & Operational Support: Leads continuous training, onboarding, and technical support programs for field and administrative staff to maximize utility-wide adoption and proper use of the EAM system.
• Capital/O&M Planning & Risk Mitigation: Partners with Engineering and Finance to build the multi-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and supports all departments in developing O&M projects related to asset management. Ensures the smooth transition and onboarding of newly constructed capital projects into active O&M workflows. Develops risk frameworks to identify, assess, and mitigate infrastructure vulnerabilities. Oversees asset condition, criticality and risk assessment programs to accurately project remaining useful life and prioritize where we invest our efforts. Facilitates root-cause failure analysis after equipment breakdowns to improve overall infrastructure reliability.

• Financial & Lifecycle Optimization: Performs total lifecycle cost analyses (capital vs. O&M) to optimize maintenance strategies, reduce emergency failures, and support long-term utility rate-modeling. Collaborates with O&M teams to build and maintain accurate asset inventories (e.g., pumps, pipes, valves, treatment facilities). Ensures that data and maintenance records remain audit-ready for financial and regulatory reviews.
• Project Management: serves in a project management or support role including but not limited to requirements development, budget development, procurement, technology/contractor selection/evaluation, implementation, change management, quality control, reporting, etc.
• Team Leadership: Recruits, mentors, and supervises a multidisciplinary team, including technical staff managing the EAM infrastructure, asset management and information specialists, maintenance coordinators, and system support staff who support MPW’s mission, strategic plan and live our values.
• Performance Metrics & Reporting: Establishes and monitors Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for both asset health (e.g., MTBF) and work execution (e.g., backlog weeks, PM compliance, etc.)
• Participates in/on regional, state and national water, wastewater, EAM and other professional meetings/conferences/committees to collaborate, contribute and stay abreast of trends and technology, particularly in areas of assigned responsibility.

• Education/Experience: position requires a minimum of an Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Construction Management, Business Administration, Data Analytics, or a related field with a minimum of 7–10 years of experience in public utilities, infrastructure operations, or industrial asset management, including 3–5 years in a supervisory or management role; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Certifications: Certified Asset Management Assessor (CAMA), Certified Asset Management Professional (CAMP), Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP), or Institute of Asset Management (IAM) Certificate/Diploma is highly desirable to possess or attain.
• Systems/Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience managing or heavily utilizing robust Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) or Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) (e.g., Maximo, Cityworks, Lucity, SAP). Strong command of data-driven decision-making and financial forecasting methods.
• Operational Knowledge: Strong understanding of water treatment, wastewater treatment, distribution, and collection system operations and field maintenance practices preferred.
• Core Skills: Strong understanding of asset management, work management, maintenance principles, and work order workflows. Position requires strong organizational skills, strong oral/written/electronic communication skills, the ability to meet deadlines; and the ability to establish/maintain effective working relationships with all employees and supervisors, along with external contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies and customers.

• Must possess and maintain a valid South Carolina driver's license.