Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department Director
About The Position
The Director leads the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD), protecting public health and safety and the environment through quality service, environmental stewardship, and the development of renewable resources. The Director leads the executive leadership team and guides more than 400 employees in aligning the department’s work with County public-utility goals and its Strategic Plan. RWRD operates with an annual operations and maintenance budget of more than $100 million and an annual capital budget of more than $50 million. It operates and maintains systems and facilities that convey, treat, and reclaim more than 62 million gallons of wastewater per day, including nearly 3,600 miles of sanitary sewer, 22 pump stations, 26 odor control sites, 37 flow monitoring sites, two metropolitan water reclamation facilities, and six sub-regional facilities. Under the administrative direction of the County Administrator or designee, the Director establishes strategic goals and performance measures; leads wastewater operations and infrastructure planning; ensures regulatory compliance; directs capital projects and asset management; advises County leadership; manages financial and enterprise operations; represents the utility before public and regulatory bodies; and provides executive leadership and workforce development. The role works primarily in office settings and outdoors, with possible exposure to extreme weather, confined spaces, and hazardous materials. It may require responding to emergencies outside normal working hours, including evenings and weekends, and travel for meetings, training, and site visits.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
- Ten years of progressively responsible experience in wastewater, utility, environmental, engineering, or public works operations.
- At least five years directing major organizational functions and supervising management-level staff.
- Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.
- Qualifying education and experience must be documented in the Education and Work Experience sections of the application.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Public Administration, Business Administration, Environmental Management, or a related field, and registration as a Professional Engineer (PE).
- At least ten years of experience managing a private or public utility or serving in a leadership role responsible for a large manufacturing, industrial, or construction operation.
- At least seven years of experience developing multimillion-dollar operations and overseeing maintenance budgets.
- At least seven years of experience supervising technical staff, resolving technical and operational problems, and promoting a collaborative and efficient work environment.
- At least five years in a position with responsible charge for regulatory compliance involving SDWA, CWA, AZDEQ, or EPA.
Responsibilities
- Establish and implement strategic goals, priorities, and performance measures for the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department.
- Develop long-term infrastructure plans and direct wastewater treatment operations for Pima County and the City of Tucson in alignment with regional water resource sustainability goals.
- Ensure technical compliance with Environmental Protection Agency, Arizona Department of Health Services, Department of Environmental Quality, and other applicable agency standards.
- Direct capital improvement projects, including planning, construction oversight, inspection, and maintenance of sanitary sewers, treatment plants, and associated operations.
- Direct asset management and lifecycle planning for wastewater facilities, treatment plants, conveyance systems, and associated infrastructure.
- Advise the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator or designee on wastewater operations, investments, and regulations.
- Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with government agencies, tribal governments, partner jurisdictions, businesses, and community organizations.
- Represent and serve as the principal spokesperson for wastewater utility matters before public bodies, stakeholder groups, and regulatory agencies.
- Manage the department’s enterprise financial operations, including budget administration, financial planning, rate and fee analysis, revenue forecasting, and long-range capital finance strategies.
- Lead department workforce development, including staffing, performance management, employee engagement, and departmental culture initiatives.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
