ACOM DIRECTOR WATERWAYS COMMISSION

Position Summary

The ACOM Director of the Waterways Commission is responsible for the overall operation of the agency and is governed by state laws and agency policy. The Arkansas Waterways Commission is the sole authority tasked with developing, promoting and protecting waterborne transportation in Arkansas. The Waterways Commission also promotes economic development for ports and intermodal authorities on the five commercially navigable rivers of the state: The Arkansas, Mississippi, Ouachita, Red, and White Rivers.

Preferred Qualifications

The formal education equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in business, engineering or a related field; plus, five years of experience in navigation, waterways operation, water infrastructure engineering, transportation, or related field, including one year in a managerial or supervisory. Knowledge of state and federal laws governing commercial waterways transportation operations. Knowledge of the infrastructure of navigation channels.

Job Responsibilities and Expected Results

Administrative - General 1. Directs, oversees, and monitors the agency’s overall operations including program priorities and changes in laws or regulation. 2. Serves as the agency’s fiscal officer by preparing annual operations plans, annual and biennial budgets, and fiscal year end reporting. 3. Monitors and ensures agency fiscal accountability and assists with legislative audits of the agency. 4. Serves as the agency’s liaison for determining and recommending staff, contract bids, and material and equipment needs. 5. Supervises subordinates including interviewing, hiring, training, evaluating performance, and terminating personnel. 6. Develops and recommends new and revised legislation, policies, and procedures. 7. Coordinates business development through relationships with ports, intermodal authorities, terminals, and navigation industry throughout Arkansas. 8. Initiates ongoing dialog and negotiations with federal government interests in accomplishing Commission goals Advises and consults with United States Coast Guard commanders on enforcement jurisdiction of all Arkansas federally managed rivers. 9. Prepares and presents testimony and official comment before federal and state commissions and committees including the Mississippi River Commission and Arkansas General Assembly committees on transportation, economic development and budget. 10.  Administers port improvement projects and monitors construction of roads, bridges, pipelines, and other infrastructure projects for compliance with priority river navigation. 11. Advises railroads, pipeline, and bridge contractors on river navigation priorities. 12. Examines, evaluates and provides official comment on state and federal construction projects requiring permitting under federal Clean Water Act. 13. Responds to media inquiries and initiates media coverage.

Commission 1. Assures that Commission responsibilities defined by statute, rules and policies are carried out. 2. Coordinates activities related to meeting of the Commission, including arrangements for regular and special meetings and public hearings, development of agendas, preparation and dissemination of materials, and notifications of actions of the Commission to appropriate persons or agencies. 3. Interviews, employs, directs and supervises professional and support staff personnel, and administers State personnel policies. 4. Administers activities related to financial affairs of the Commission, including preparation and administration of the budget, the implementation of State policies in disbursements, payroll and purchasing. 5. Interprets water transportation-related laws, Commission rules and regulations, and represents the Commission at various State and National Meetings. 6. Delegates to the professional staff as warranted in the directing and conducting of the activities of accounting, education and discipline. 7. Oversees implementation of legislative mandates. 8. Determines staffing needs, organizes the office to carry out functions defined by statute, rules and Commission policies. 9. Hires and evaluates staff and invokes disciplinary measures when warranted. 10. Assures orientation of new staff and Commission members. 11. Manages the finances, including preparation of the budget and long-range forecasting of needs, and ensures reporting of the financial status at Commission meetings. 12. Participates with the Commission in formulating the strategic plan, assures the implementation of the strategic plan and reports accomplishments at Commission meetings. 13. Assures that policies, procedures, processes, equipment and documents are in place to ensure effective agency functioning. 14. Assures maintenance of an accurate record-keeping system. 15. Monitors and reviews national and state legislation for impacts on navigation and the Arkansas Waterways Commission. 16. Makes recommendations to the Commission for revisions to statute, rules or policies as appropriate and draft rules, policies and recommendations for Commission consideration. 17. Prepares or assures the preparation of statistical and narrative reports for a variety of audiences, legislative, state and national organizations, etc. 18. Directs research activities related to water transportation regulation as indicated. 19. Collects, analyzes, computes and provides for distribution of data relative to education, navigation, water transportation, water resources, etc. 20. Develops cooperative relationships with other agencies and organizations in matters relating to water transportation and navigation regulation. 21. Signs a variety of contracts, such as for office space, cost share agreements, memoranda of agreement and/or understanding, etc., and assures that contract requirements are implemented. 22. Assures preparation of Commission agenda and make presentation on responsibility-related items during Commission meetings. 23. Assures scheduling and staffing of Commission appointed task forces or committees. 24. Consults with legal counsel as warranted. 25. Makes presentations on various topics related to the Commission’s mission and purpose. 26. Utilizes internal chain of command appropriately for communication purposes.

Arkansas Port Intermodal and Waterway Development Grant Program 1. Develops and updates annual grant application and instruction information. 2. Promotes grant program and provide technical support to applicants. 3. Reviews applications and verify eligibility. 4. Prepares application documents for Commission review. 5. Notifies applicants of funding decisions and provides instructions to award recipients for disbursement of funds. 6. Coordinates grant award ceremony with GO and recipients. 7. Tracks and maintains award history data. 8. Monitors grant projects and timelines to ensure compliance with Commission rules and state law.

Waterway Promotion, Marketing and Education 1. Develops and directs visibility of water transportation in Arkansas by maintaining a viable marketing program. 2. Identifies and collaborates with key stakeholders in promotion and other waterway entities. 3. Maintains distribution lists for dissemination of information to state and federal legislators and industry stakeholders. 4. Develops informational and educational brochures, banners, and other materials. 5. Conducts annual stakeholder survey. 6. Utilizes various forms of news media and social media to promote water transportation, market Arkansas’s navigable waterways, and educate the public about the benefits of waterborne transportation. 7. Develops new education and training efforts for schools, leadership and community programs. 8. Maintains active membership in multiple waterway-related organizations, attending conferences, exhibition events, giving presentations, and networking.

Liaison with Federal Agencies and Congress 1. Maintains close working relationships with members of Congress and their staff members responsible for Energy and Water Appropriations to fund Corps of Engineers Civil Works Programs located in Arkansas. 2. Creates public awareness of critical waterway projects and keeps elected officials informed of projects and their importance to the navigation channels. 3. Advocates for funding with Congress and US Army Corps of Engineers. 4. Educates and informs elected officials, and Corps of Engineers leadership through meetings, associations, publications, and public testimony at official hearings. 5. Plans, coordinates, and executes educational events, waterway briefings, and/or tours for elected officials and congressional staff. 6. Conducts briefings with Congressional members, committees, and federal agencies regarding funding for needs for the navigation-related construction and operation and maintenance projects via DC fly-ins multiple times annually. 7. Develops and recommends new and revised legislative provisions for the biennial Water Resources Development Act.

Other 1. Serves as voting member for the State of Arkansas on the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Council on Water Transportation. 2. Participates and contributes to State Freight Plans in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee in collaboration with the state Departments of Transportation. 3. Serves on the Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center & Maritime Transportation Resource and Education Center Advisory Board. 4. Serves on the Arkansas-Oklahoma Port Operators Association Board of Directors. 5. Serves and/or actively participates in other waterways-related organization boards/committees, including National Waterways Conference and its Navigation Caucus, Inland Rivers, Ports, and Terminals and its Legislative Committee, the Red River Valley Association, and the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association. 6. Coordinates and participates in multiple water transportation-related studies, including the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study, Red River Southwest Arkansas Navigation Feasibility Study, and various river economic impact studies. 7. Other duties as assigned.