County seeks new utilities director as department restructures

By Catharin Shepard • Staff writer • Hoke County is seeking a candidate to serve as utilities director. The county posted the job on the county’s website January 10.

Hoke local government is currently “restructuring the Utilities department due to recent retirements,” County Manager Letitia Edens said Monday. Former utilities director Hilton Villines is still employed with the county and will continue with the department as utilities manager.

The job description explains the utilities director “performs highly responsible supervisory and administrative work in planning, directing, and managing the personnel and functions of the Public Utilities Water and Sewer Operations.” The department director reports to the county manager.

The work involves planning, developing and coordinating activities of the Public Utilities department. That includes everything from conducting feasibility studies in regards to potential water and sewer extensions to developing funding options for projects and submitting grant applications. The utilities director also supervises and directs the work of professional, technical and support personnel, and prepares presentation for the Hoke County Board of Commissioners.

According to the posting, the right candidate should have an associate’s degree in civil engineering technology, supplemented with training in water operations and systems. The county is looking for someone with “considerable experience of an increasingly responsible nature in a utility system, or related field,” with at least five years of supervisory experience, or an equivalent of training and experience.

The county is seeking someone with certain certifications among the other requirements to apply for the job. The special requirements including having a minimum level of Level-A Well Treatment, Level-A Distribution and Level IV Wastewater certification.

The job is classified as salary Grade 80, with a compensation range between $75,705 to $106,970 plus benefits.

The position is considered open until filled. Submit an application, available online at www.hokecounty.org, to the County Manager, Attn: Human Resources, 227 N. Main Street / or P.O. Box 1585, Raeford.

The job is one of several open positions available. The Hoke County Board of Elections is in the process of interviewing candidates to serve as the new Board of Elections Director, after the former director Towanna Dixon left to take a job in Moore County.

For more information on available jobs with Hoke County, visit www.hokecounty.org.