Compliance Manager - Utilities Infrastructure

Overview

The Compliance Manager oversees adherence to all pertinent local, state, and federal regulations for water and wastewater plants, facilities, and related utility infrastructure projects within the Utilities Department. This role develops and enforces quality assurance standards while supporting regulatory compliance and project consistency. It involves significant collaboration across City divisions and external partners to manage capital improvement initiatives and long-range utility planning.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and evaluate assigned staff, managing recruitment, scheduling, training, performance reviews, and employee relations.
• Ensure proper tools and training are provided to departmental divisions to maintain compliance with state laws and regulations.
• Support the Engineering Division by reviewing technical project documents, including RFQs, RFPs, and engineering plans.
• Manage utility master planning, capital improvement projects, and strategic infrastructure development.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Finance, Purchasing, Legal, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, developers, and public stakeholders for effective project execution.
• Maintain detailed records and track project metrics such as schedules, budgets, contracts, permits, and deliverables according to policy and legal requirements.
• Prepare technical reports and presentations for management, boards, City Council, and other agencies including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
• Provide customer service support related to billing and meter reading when necessary.
• Organize meetings, public engagement efforts, and stakeholder communications relevant to utility and infrastructure planning.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, funding conditions, technical specifications, and contractual duties.
• Drive City vehicles as required for business purposes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of water and wastewater systems, including operations and regulatory compliance.
• Proficiency with modern office tools and relevant software such as Excel, GIS, InfoWater, Cit-E-Bid, and InfoAsset.
• Strong supervisory and employee management capabilities.
• Expertise in utility infrastructure planning, CIP alignment, GIS integration, and scenario modeling.
• Excellent problem-solving, customer service, organizational skills, and ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Effective oral and written communication with diverse audiences and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

• Primarily office-based with frequent visits to outdoor, street, construction, warehouse, and vehicle environments.
• Exposure to environmental conditions including extreme heat, loud noises, occasional risks with moving mechanical parts, and encounters with hostile individuals.
• Physical requirements include occasional lifting up to 35 pounds and sedentary work with periodic walking and standing.
• Required travel includes local, regional, national, and occasional international trips.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Engineering, or related field from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of seven years of relevant experience in accounting, auditing, management, finance, or related fields.
• Valid Texas Driver License or ability to obtain one within 6 months.
• Compliance with background checks, drug and alcohol testing policies, including random testing for safety-sensitive roles.

Diversity and Accommodations

The City of Laredo is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled and Veteran Employer embracing diversity across gender, race, ethnicity, disability, and other characteristics. Reasonable accommodations during the selection process can be requested in advance.