Director of Water Distribution

Des Moines Water Works•Water Works Park, IA

About The Position

Under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Water Distribution provides leadership and direction for the operation, maintenance, construction, repair, and continuous improvement of DMWW’s water distribution system. The role supports preventive maintenance, underground utility locates, leak detection, and distribution system records while ensuring safe, reliable water service, regulatory compliance, system resilience, and effective use of equipment and financial resources. The Director establishes department goals, performance measures, and priorities; oversees operations and maintenance through supervisory personnel; leads safety performance; develops and holds supervisors accountable; and oversees workforce planning, employee development, and succession planning. The role continually improves distribution system programs and procedures, manages asset information in GIS and enterprise asset management systems, and uses operational data and asset condition to identify risks and maintenance or replacement priorities in coordination with Engineering. The position oversees emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, including participation in an on-call rotation with other Water Distribution management for 24-hour technical support and leadership. It provides operational input on capital project plans, serves as a technical resource across departments, attends monthly Board meetings, and represents DMWW with customers, public agencies, community stakeholders, and professional organizations. The Director prepares and manages the department budget, contributes to utility-wide funding recommendations, serves on the lead service line program team, manages the lead service line inventory and replacement coordination, reviews Utility Rules and Regulations annually, and supports customer relations and claims response. The position primarily works in an office environment, with periodic visits to construction sites and other field locations to observe work or address projects, operational concerns, and emergencies. Field conditions may include varying weather, uneven ground, traffic, noise, and operating equipment. Travel to work sites and meetings is required. The role includes office work using computers and reviewing plans, maps, reports, and records; field visits may involve standing, walking, and navigating uneven terrain, and occasionally lifting or carrying up to 10 pounds.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, water resources, construction management, or a closely related field; an equivalent combination of education, training, and progressively responsible water utility experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible technical experience, including at least 6 years of water utility experience with substantial responsibility for distribution system operations, maintenance, construction, repair, and emergency response, and at least 4 years of supervisory or management experience with responsibility for employee performance and development. The experience categories may overlap and count toward the 10-year total.
Possess an Iowa Grade IV Water Distribution System Operator certification, or obtain it within two years of appointment and maintain it thereafter.
Possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record and remain insurable under the Company’s coverage.
Advanced knowledge of water distribution system operations, maintenance, construction, repair, hydraulics, asset management, and emergency response.
Knowledge of civil and environmental engineering principles and practices applicable to water distribution systems.
Knowledge of applicable water quality, environmental, and occupational safety regulations.
Knowledge of utility safety programs, hazard recognition, safe work practices, incident investigation, root-cause analysis, and corrective action.
Knowledge of GIS, enterprise asset management systems, and other distribution system data and mapping tools.
Skills in strategic planning, organization, and prioritization; leadership, coaching, and supervisor and employee development; written and verbal communication; judgment, problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution; and operating and capital budget development, analysis, and management.
Proficient use of common business software.
Ability to align department priorities and resources with operational needs and utility objectives; set expectations, evaluate performance, and hold staff accountable; build working relationships and collaborate across departments and with external stakeholders; develop and evaluate policies, procedures, and performance measures; analyze data and implement improvements; coordinate resources and make timely decisions during emergencies; and learn and apply DMWW rules, policies, standards, procedures, and software systems.
Ability to travel to work sites and meetings as required.
Selected candidate must pass a criminal background check, including a sex offender registry search, a pre-employment drug screen, and a physical examination.

Nice To Haves

Civil engineering degree.
State of Iowa Professional Engineer License.
Leadership experience in a large or complex water distribution utility.
Iowa Grade II Water Treatment Operator certification.
Experience leading employees in a unionized environment and working with collective bargaining agreements and personnel policies.

Responsibilities

Establish department goals, objectives, performance measures, and work priorities consistent with DMWW policies, its strategic plan, and applicable laws and regulations; evaluate results and implement corrective actions.
Direct water distribution operations and maintenance through supervisory personnel, including preventive maintenance, utility locates, leak detection, and water main, valve, and hydrant maintenance programs.
Lead department safety performance by setting expectations, reinforcing safety culture, ensuring training and competency, monitoring field practices, stopping unsafe work when necessary, and overseeing hazard and incident resolution.
Develop supervisory personnel through clear expectations, performance evaluation, coaching, and accountability; oversee workforce planning, employee development, and succession planning.
Make or recommend hiring, disciplinary, and termination decisions within delegated authority and in coordination with Human Resources.
Promote a respectful, positive, and accountable employee culture and effective coordination across departments.
Develop, implement, and improve distribution system construction, maintenance, repair, asset management, and operating procedures and programs; ensure regulatory and industry-standard compliance and protect system integrity and water quality.
Use asset condition, failure history, and operational risk to recommend maintenance and replacement priorities in coordination with Engineering.
Oversee accurate, complete, and timely distribution system asset records, work orders, maintenance histories, and field information in GIS and enterprise asset management systems; use operational data to identify risks and improvement priorities.
Oversee department emergency preparedness, response, and recovery; coordinate resources and participate in an on-call rotation providing 24-hour technical support and leadership during emergencies, major system failures, and disaster recovery.
Review design plans and specifications for distribution system capital projects and provide operational input to support safe construction and efficient, reliable long-term operation and maintenance.
Serve as a technical and operational resource for Water Distribution, Engineering, and other departments on system operations, maintenance, construction, emergency response, and long-range planning.
Attend monthly Board meetings and provide department updates, technical information, and recommendations as needed.
Represent DMWW in meetings with customers, public agencies, community stakeholders, and professional organizations, and at public speaking engagements and technical conferences as assigned.
Prepare and manage the annual Water Distribution department budget, monitor financial reporting, evaluate variances, and take action to keep expenditures within the approved budget.
Collaborate with senior management to prioritize utility-wide funding requests and capital needs for budget recommendations to the Board.
Serve on the cross-functional lead service line program team; develop and manage the lead service line inventory, replacement, field documentation, and operational coordination to meet compliance requirements.
Review Utility Rules and Regulations annually and prepare updates for consideration and approval by the Board of Water Works Trustees.
Promote positive customer relations by responding to concerns, ensuring timely resolution of distribution system issues, and establishing water service line requirements consistent with approved Utility Rules and Regulations.
Oversee the initial response to claims of damage from field activities or distribution system failures and coordinate follow-up with staff responsible for claims administration.
Perform other duties of a similar nature.