Utilities Managers

(NOC 0912)

in All Management

Utilities managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of utility companies or services of heating fuel distribution companies. The services provided include water and waste treatment, water distribution, electricity, natural gas and heating oil to residential, commercial and industrial consumers, waste disposal and waste recycling. They work for public and private sector utilities and in heating fuel distribution companies.

Job Outlook

Good

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 115 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Management

  • Estimate 2445 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5900 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$33.65

Minimum

$42.31

Median

$57.95

Maximum

Annual Pay

$26,287

Minimum

$79,047

Median

$188,489

Maximum

Compared to: All Management

Hourly Pay

$22.50

Minimum

$43.80

Median

$66.20

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,632

Minimum

$55,002

Median

$124,014

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Utilities managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of utility companies or services of heating fuel distribution companies. The services provided include water and waste treatment, water distribution, electricity, natural gas and heating oil to residential, commercial and industrial consumers, waste disposal and waste recycling. They work for public and private sector utilities and in heating fuel distribution companies.

Job duties

Managers in this group:

  • Water supply managers manage water filtration, purification processes and pumping operations, schedule and oversee the maintenance of plant equipment and prepare reports on water supply and water quality.
  • Electrical power distribution managers manage the operations of electrical power distribution systems including generating stations, transmission stations and distribution networks. They may also plan and direct the distribution activities of a municipal electrical power company.
  • Natural gas supply managers manage the delivery of gas to consumers, monitor supply inventories and control the recording of injections and withdrawals.
  • Petroleum product distribution managers plan and direct the distribution of heating oil products to retail distributors and regional storage sites.
  • Water pollution control managers manage sewage treatment plants, schedule and direct maintenance of plant equipment, and prepare reports on water quality.
  • Waste systems managers manage solid or liquid waste collection and disposal systems, train drivers in how to handle waste and ensure safe operation of disposal facilities.

Sample job titles

  • director of waste management
  • director of water pollution control
  • distribution systems director
  • electric generating plant manager
  • electric power plant manager
  • electrical power transmission operations director
  • gas supply operations manager
  • liquid waste facility manager
  • refined petroleum products distribution manager
  • sewage treatment plant manager
  • water filtration plant manager
  • water supply director

Skills

  • You should have good interpersonal skills as well as effective oral and written communication skills. Leadership qualities and the ability to motivate others are important. You should also be able to organize projects, solve problems, and make decisions.

Job requirements

  • A bachelor's degree or college diploma in an appropriate discipline. For example, electrical engineering is required for managers of transmission lines, and water resource technology for water supply managers.
  • Several years of experience as a supervisor in a related utilities operations department are required.
  • A professional engineer certification is usually necessary for managers of utility operations involved in the transmission and distribution of electrical power, and natural gas and heating oil.

Other considerations

  • Movement to senior management positions is possible with experience. Most people in these jobs are employed full-time and for the full year.

By the numbers

Quick look

285

employed in 2016

96.4%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

19.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
80.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
48.8

median age

Compared to: All Management

44,250

employed in 2016

91.2%

employed full-time

18.9%

self employed

40.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
59.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
48.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

50.9%

Halifax

$94,219 median annual income
14.5%

Annapolis Valley

$53,235 median annual income
12.7%

North Shore

$71,724 median annual income
10.9%

Southern

N/A
10.9%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

29.4%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

27.5%

Utilities

9.8%

Wholesale trade

9.8%

Professional, scientific and technical services

7.8%

Construction

What is the age of Employment?

41.0%

45-54

24.0%

35-44

20.0%

55-64

6.0%

15-24

6.0%

65+

4.0%

25-34

Compared to: All Management

30.7%

45-54

23.1%

35-44

21.7%

55-64

14.0%

25-34

7.8%

65+

Top levels of education

28.6%

Bachelor

$99,844 median annual income
17.9%

College Diploma

$62,482 median annual income
14.3%

Trade Certification

$78,642 median annual income
12.5%

High school

$50,783 median annual income
12.5%

Master

N/A

Compared to: All Management

27.2%

Bachelor

$71,875 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$42,294 median annual income
20.4%

College Diploma

$50,256 median annual income
9.1%

Master

$93,261 median annual income
7.2%

Trade Certification

$44,396 median annual income

Education & training

Civil Engineering - General

University Program

These programs prepare students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of structural, load-bearing, material moving, transportation, water resource, and material control systems, and environmental safety measures.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Computer Engineering - General

University Program

These programs prepare students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware and software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Engineering - General

University Program

These programs prepare individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to solve a wide variety of practical problems in industry, social organization, public works, and commerce.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

University Program

These programs prepare students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling contained living environments and for monitoring and controlling factors in the external natural environment, including pollution control, waste and hazardous material disposal, health and safety protection, conservation, life support, and requirements for protection of special materials and related work environments.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Operations Management and Supervision

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to manage and direct the physical and/or technical functions of a firm or organization, particularly those relating to development, production, and manufacturing. They include courses in principles of general management, manufacturing and production systems, plant management, equipment maintenance management, production control, industrial labour relations and skilled trades supervision, strategic manufacturing policy, systems analysis, productivity analysis and cost control, and materials planning.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Water, Wetlands and Marine Resources Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs apply the principles of marine/aquatic biology, oceanography, natural resource economics, and natural resources management to the development, conservation, and management of freshwater and saltwater environments. They include courses in subjects like wetlands, river, lake, coastal and oceanic water resources, water conservation and use, flood control, pollution control, water supply logistics, wastewater management, aquatic and marine ecology, aquatic and marine life conservation, and the economic and recreational uses of water resources.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Institute of Management - Maritimes
Various, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.