Severn Trent Services is a member of the Severn Trent Plc group of companies. Severn Trent Plc was formed in 1974 as a regional, state-owned water authority and began trading its stock on the London Stock Exchange as an investor-owned company in 1989. A $2.4 billion British water utility headquartered in Birmingham, England, it operates in the UK, the U.S. and Europe and employs more than 14,000 people in the provision of water, wastewater, and utility-related services for municipal and industrial clients worldwide.

The Severn Trent Services organization has expanded its U.S. business through acquisitions and organic growth and features a score of companies across eight divisions. Today, it has operations worldwide and is a $600 million per year business, employing nearly 5,000 personnel providing water and wastewater services to numerous communities and industrial customers.

Severn Trent Services, Inc. (Severn Trent) is the largest consulting firm in Florida that specializes in providing a complete range of financial, administrative and operating services to community development districts. Severn Trent and its predecessor, Gary L. Moyer, P.A., have been serving special districts in Florida since 1982.

Severn Trent’s 300 Florida employees serve approximately 300 clients in the state with services that include district management and utility operations. Our services encompass a wide array of activities from handling customer service issues to developing comprehensive financing plans for our clients. We directly oversee and coordinate the planning, financing, purchasing, staffing and reporting and act as governmental liaison for our clients.

We provide management services to more than 180 local governmental agencies – most of them community development districts – throughout the State of Florida.

We have had the privilege of working with a multitude of clients including The Walt Disney Company, U.S. Home Corporation, Bonita Bay Group, WCI Communities, L.P., Pulte Homes, Westbrooke Company, Champion Paper Corporation, the ITT and Arvida/JMB Partners.

Our regional approach to serving our clients, with offices in Jacksonville, St Augustine, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, Ft. Myers and Coral Springs provides our clients with local knowledge of the development community with the support of more than 110 professional staff dedicated to district management services.

Severn Trent provides a broad range of services to community development districts including:

·        Management Services – Planning, budgeting, overseeing district operations and maintenance, utility billing, payroll, collections, staffing, establishing and implementing policies

·        Recording Services – Maintaining and managing district records, minutes, resolutions, contracts and agreements

·        Financial Accounting Services – Budget management, general ledger, reporting, cash management and revenue reporting

·        Special Assessment Services – Assisting with development and implementation of financial strategies and long-term debt issuance (bonds), levying and collecting non-ad valorem assessments on and off the county tax roll

 

THE POSITION

Severn Trent currently has openings for District Managers in the Orlando area and the Fort Myers area.

The District Manager has responsibility for providing a number of management services to the community development districts for which he/she has responsibility.  These include the following.

·        Attending all Board meetings and providing the Board with meaningful dialogue of the issues before them for action

·        Identifying significant policies, including providing an analysis of policy implementation, with an administrative and financial impact statement and anticipated effect on the District

·        Preparing the District’s budget

·        Implementing budget directives

·        Preparing specifications and coordinating the following services: insurance, independent auditor services, and other services as may be identified from time to time

·        Providing all required annual disclosure information to the local government in the County in which the District resides: Public facilities report, Designation of registered office and registered agent, Public meeting schedule, and Audited financial statement

·        Ensuring compliance with the following Florida Statutes: Annual financial audit, Annual Financial Report, Public Depositor Report, Proposed Budget, District Map and Amendments, Public Facilities Report, Registered Agent and Registered Office, and Regular Public Meeting Schedule

·        Recording all District meetings

·        Providing the oath of office and notary public for all newly elected Board members

·        Coordinating and providing contract administration for any services provided to the District by outside vendors to: ensure that contract specifications are being met, interface with residents and contractors to ensure anticipated service levels are being provided, prepare contract amendments and change orders that may be necessary, and ensure proper contractor billing is received

·        Providing day-to-day management of in-house operations such as: hiring and maintaining a highly qualified staff; coordinating all personnel applications, benefits and payroll and submitting them in an accurate and timely manner; preparing and implementing operating schedules and policies; interfacing with residents to ensure anticipated levels of service are being met; implementing internal purchasing policies; and soliciting bids for services and commodities, as necessary

·       Coordinating with residents to determine the types and levels of service to be provided as part of the District’s budget preparations by: identifying new services, expanding areas of existing services, identifying new levels of service, and providing budget recommendations based on findings

 

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have a degree in public or business administration, or a similar field.  He/she will have at least 10 years experience in city or county government as a manager or assistant manager, or some other high level local government agency experience.  Florida experience is not essential, but is preferred.

 

Desired Attributes

·        A can-do, results-oriented attitude

·        A commitment to excellence

·        A value-added approach to management

·        High ethical standards

·        Strong focus on excellent customer service

·        Strong people skills

·        Understands the development process

·        Understands bond financing

·        Experience with capital financing

·        Skilled in governmental budgeting

·        Excellent communication skills

·        Excellent organizational skills

·        Can work independent of supervision

·        Excellent listening skills

·        Skilled at working with elected boards

·        A hands-on management orientation

·        Sound understanding of Florida law, as it pertains to public entities

 

COMPENSATION

Starting salary is $100,000 - $120,000, depending on qualifications.  Good benefit package.  Opportunity for rapid advancement.

 

TO APPLY

Cover letter, resume, and salary history immediately to: Tom D. Freijo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, The Mercer Group, Inc. Email: Freijo@mercerfl.com P.O. Box 9328, Winter Haven, Florida 33883.  TEL: (863) 299-3571 FAX: (863) 299-6737.  Severn Trent is an Equal Opportunity Employer.