Utilities Director

City of Thornton•Thornton, CO

16h•Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction of the Assistant City Manager, this role leads, directs, and manages all activities of the Utilities Department, including all functions of the water, sewer, and solid waste utilities. The position provides visionary leadership to link sustainability, resiliency, and affordable rates of the utilities with the strategic goals of the city and local, state, and federal regulations. It implements the approved strategic workplan and addresses city priorities through thoughtful leadership and policies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering, natural sciences, or related field from an accredited college or university.
Five years’ experience in management-level utility roles.
At least eight years’ experience serving in a utility.
Ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as the job requires.
Knowledge of the complexity of water issues in the West and in Colorado.
Knowledge of the policies, procedures, practices, and goals of the City of Thornton and the department.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, statutes, and ordinances related to public works and the drinking water utility.
Knowledge of the general principles and practices of public administration, including leadership, ethics, organizational management, democracy, economics.
Knowledge of the City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan and Utilities Master Plan.
Skill in planning, organizing, and coordinating the activities of professional and operational staff.
Skill in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and procedures in order to achieve department missions, goals, and objectives through the appropriate staffing and resources.
Skill in directing, overseeing, and evaluating operational and management issues.
Skill in effective conflict resolution and negotiations.
Ability to encourage change and innovation at all levels of the organization.
Ability to manage complex and multidimensional issues, being able to analyze at both the micro level and macro level.
Ability to develop, manage, monitor, and maintain multiple budgets.
Ability to effectively represent the city and the utilities in meetings with professional organizations, other public agencies, and the public.
Ability to motivate, lead, supervise, and train a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce.
Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences.
Ability to communicate complex and technical issues to non-technical audiences.
Ability to interpret, understand, and comply with complex statutes, ordinances, regulations, standards, and laws.
Ability to analyze and evaluate information accurately, and to express ideas clearly when providing oral and written reports or recommendations on administrative, financial and technical issues.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city management, employees, elected officials, board and commission members, other agencies, community members and the general public.
Regularly required to walk, finger, talk, hear, and make repetitive motions.
Mostly sedentary work; exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
Required to have close visual acuity.

Nice To Haves

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Leads, directs, and manages all activities of the Utilities Department, including all functions of the water utility (water rights, raw water supply, treatment, quality, distribution, and meter shop), the sewer utility (sewer collection system), the solid waste utility (curbside waste and recycling, composting and diversion programs), and coordinates the regulatory activities of stormwater utility through the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit.
Develops the strategic vision of the utilities and drives long range planning and capital programs to support sustainability, resiliency, and affordable rates.
Serves as the spokesperson for the utilities and manages complex relationships and negotiations with other agencies, municipalities, boards, and ditch companies.
Coordinates advocacy at a state and federal level for balancing the needs of water treatment/quality with stormwater regulations.
Manages or coordinates with the appropriate department on all financial, planning, legal, design/engineering, construction, communications, human resources, diversity, operations, public affairs, and information technology functions to support the utilities.
Leads discussions with the Finance Department and consultants to maintain a sustainable utility with equitable rate and fee structures.
Balances advocacy for individual department wants/needs with commitment to and support for the best overall outcomes for the city and community.
Maintains a thorough knowledge of federal and state laws, local statutes, ordinances, standards, procedures, and trends related to department operations, and ensures their implementation.
Advises the City Manager and City Council on issues related to the regulatory landscape on drinking water standards.
Assesses local needs and updates the strategic plan for the future of the department, the city, and the community.
Analyzes problems, identifies alternative solutions, projects consequences of proposed actions, and implements recommendations in support of goals.
Increases the understanding of the role of water in the community and economic development efforts across the city.
Manages, supervises, and directs the activities of assigned staff and functions; makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline, termination, or advancement of employees.
Schedules employees, assigns work, and monitors progress; guides, trains and develops employees in the accomplishment of their duties and professional growth; evaluates performance.
Remains current on issues and trends relative to the department and service delivery responsibilities; responds to and resolves sensitive and complex community and organizational inquiries and complaints.
Conveys City Council goals to staff; interprets municipal codes and policies.
Monitors departmental operations and customer service to ensure quality control; identifies and resolves deficiencies; prepares and presents periodic and special staff reports on departmental issues and projects.
Interacts with other departments and agencies to promote and coordinate activities.
Develops and implements the department budget.
Determines levels of staff, equipment and other resources needed to effectively and efficiently provide departmental services and programs.
Represents the city in meetings with professional organizations, other public agencies, and the public to ensure Thornton is a leader in the industry.
Represents the utilities through a variety of professional organizations and local, state, and federal agencies to ensure the utilities interests are protected with future policies and regulations.
Meets and advises City Council, city management, commissions and boards to assist in policy determinations.
Develops and implements rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to advance the department’s mission, goals, and objectives.
Directs the emergency responses to natural disasters or weather events as necessary.
Performs other duties as assigned.