DPW Water & Plumbing Operations Manager

Job Summary

The Department of Public Works (DPW) Water & Plumbing Operations Manager will plan and oversee all aspects of the Water & Plumbing Operations including management of department requests, inventory and ordering, hiring, and crew management. For infrastructure they will pre‑approve client potable water systems, oversee the scheduling of water deliveries, and ensure the timely accurate data collection and reconciliation. For participants they will oversee the review of Civic Water Program applications by the DPW Waterworks Program & Dispatch Assistant Manager, and the scheduling of water deliveries for Art Projects and Theme Camps.

• From April - July:
  Part‑Time 5 hours per week, Non‑Exempt, based fully remote.
• From August - September:
  Full‑Time, Exempt, based on‑site out of Black Rock City, Nevada.

The Final date to receive applications for this role is 5:00pm PST on March 6, 2026.

• Manage the hiring of the Water & Plumbing team, including interviews, volunteer recruiting, and forwarding candidates to the DPW Utilities Superintendent for final approval.
• Oversee the schedule and planning for the distribution of water to infrastructure locations, and for the Civic Water Program.
• Review & approve water requests from groups supported on the infrastructure grids, determine the deployment timeline, work with the DPW Utilities Superintendent and the Water Vendor to determine the vendor equipment list and delivery schedule.
• Determine any supply needs and request necessary pre‑playa purchase orders.
• Plan and design the logistics, installation, maintenance, and removal of plumbing systems necessary for On‑Playa Operations.

• Oversee the logistics and day‑to‑day operations of the Water & Plumbing department.
• Manage all aspects of Plumbing logistics.
  • Manage the timely installation and sanitation of potable water systems for all BRC Operations.
  • Assess, troubleshoot, and rectify any problems associated with plumbing systems in an efficient and timely manner.
  • Maintain and delegate 24‑hour, on‑call operations throughout the on‑playa construction and event season; be prepared and willing to solve for unanticipated challenges at all hours.
• Manage the receipt and distribution of potable water for the duration of DPW Operations regulating efficiency and expectations according to OSHA and DPW safety guidelines.
• Ensure the timely installation and maintain functionality and sanitation of potable water systems for all BRC Infrastructure Operations.
• Collaborate and communicate daily with relevant Burning Man Departments, Crew Managers and Vendors.
• Maintain daily communication with Water Vendors. Update the office map and online map with water delivery assets in the city.

• Tactfully manage a team of volunteer and paid staff, reassign and redirect workflow using education, empowerment, and delegation when appropriate or necessary, monitoring team morale and setting manageable work expectations.
• Review and teach the BRC Rain Contingency Plan, emergency response plans and the Burning Man Integrated Plan and when to execute each with your team.
• Support and maintain clear communication with the Water & Plumbing team.
• Create and actively manage staff work schedules, and log and report crew work hours by established deadlines on a weekly basis.
• Schedule, attend, and support crew attendance to Team Meetings and DPW Morning Meetings.
• Create educational materials for crew, and provide training on‑playa.

• Maintain continuity in documentation, reports and tracking standards outlined by the DPW Utilities Superintendent.
• Work with Google products (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive), Microsoft Word and Excel, and any additional online tools, technology or applications specific to this role as required.
• Commit to improving and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for this role and crew operations throughout the season for accuracy.

• Maintain clear and respectful communication with the DPW Water & Plumbing team, BRC…