Water Quality Services Manager

City of Loveland•Loveland, CO

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Water Quality Services Manager provides strategic, regulatory, and operational leadership for the City of Loveland’s drinking water, wastewater, and source water quality programs. This role will oversee program managers, laboratory managers, and key technical staff responsible for regulatory compliance, environmental monitoring, watershed protection, laboratory accreditation, and special projects. Serve as a regulatory and technical representative to state, federal, regional, and interagency partners on matters within the Water Quality Services Group’s areas of responsibility. Lead or support assigned regulatory initiatives related to emerging contaminants, nutrient regulations, source water protection, and long-term compliance planning.

Requirements

4 Year/Bachelor's Degree: Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science or related field.
7 Years of progressively responsible experience in water quality, drinking water, wastewater, environmental compliance, source water protection, laboratory management, or a related municipal utility field.
2 Years of supervisory or management experience, preferably overseeing technical, regulatory, laboratory, or environmental programs.
Must possess a valid driver's license.
Advanced understanding of analytical, regulatory, and quality-assurance frameworks supporting drinking water, wastewater, and source water quality decision-making.
Experience developing and implementing source water monitoring, watershed protection, and environmental monitoring programs in the Rocky Mountain West.
Advanced knowledge of quantitative analysis, statistics, data interpretation, and mathematical methods.
Thorough understanding of the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and other federal, state, local, and site-specific regulations pertaining to drinking water, wastewater, source water, and environmental compliance.
Ability to assemble, analyze, interpret, and communicate statistical, analytical, and factual information in written and oral form.
Experience managing and overseeing laboratory, regulatory compliance, environmental, and technical personnel and programs.
Ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex water quality, regulatory, and technical information to a variety of audiences.
Knowledge of laboratory and field safety standards and the ability to provide programmatic oversight of safety compliance across water quality operations.
Experience using computer applications that support operations, including water quality data management, regulatory reporting, analytical, and productivity software.
Experience overseeing innovative research initiatives, analytical method development, technical studies, and emerging-technology evaluations at a programmatic level.
Knowledge of project management principles, including scope, schedule, budget, consultant coordination, and technical deliverables.
Knowledge of budgeting, resource planning, and capital planning applicable to technical and regulatory programs.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, establish priorities, manage multiple complex programs and projects, and address difficult or contentious issues constructively.

Nice To Haves

Graduate Degree: Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science or related field.
10 Years combined experience in a water and wastewater municipal or commercial laboratory.

Responsibilities

Manage the Water Quality Services Group to ensure compliance with current and future state and federal regulations and to protect public and environmental health and safety.
Manage regulatory compliance activities assigned to the Water Quality Services Group across drinking water, wastewater, and source water quality programs.
Serve as a subject-matter expert on water quality policy and provide recommendations regarding emerging regulatory and legal requirements within assigned program areas.
Actively maintain knowledge of upcoming legislation and applicable regulations related to drinking water and wastewater quality and develop recommendations and implementation plans for assigned program areas.
Ensure the timely and accurate preparation, review, and submission of required regulatory reports, monitoring data, permit-related documentation, and compliance certifications within assigned program areas.
Ensure the protection of public health and the environment by establishing internal controls and managing compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.
Supervise program managers and laboratory managers, providing strategic direction to ensure regulatory compliance, laboratory accreditation, and effective oversight of drinking water, wastewater, and source water quality programs.
Supervise assigned staff, including establishing expectations, setting goals, assigning work, evaluating performance, supporting professional development, and making recommendations regarding hiring, promotion, corrective action, and other personnel matters.
Oversee competency development and professional training initiatives for Water Quality Services Group staff to ensure alignment with regulatory, accreditation, and operational requirements.
Manage and provide strategic direction for the Source Water Quality Program and staff.
Oversee laboratory accreditation, QA/QC programmatic review, and certification compliance at a managerial level.
Oversees and ensures proper operation of water quality facility building services and mechanical systems.
Manage assigned watershed recovery initiatives and regional projects, including post-fire mitigation, source water protection, environmental monitoring, and contaminant identification and prevention efforts.
Develop and approve the implementation of new procedures and equipment supporting water quality programs.
Evaluate existing programs and business practices; identify and develop new programs and services; and evaluate new technologies to support continuous improvement.
Provide strategic planning, risk assessment, and long-range recommendations for the Water Quality Services Group in alignment with Utility objectives.
Develop, implement, and monitor operating and capital budgets for the Water Quality Services Group, and estimate resource needs, funding impacts, and available options.
Identify Water Quality Services Group capital needs and manage assigned technical studies, consultants, and project coordination in support of approved capital improvement projects.
Manage major Water Quality Services Group projects and assigned cross-functional initiatives, including scope, schedule, budget, consultant coordination, technical deliverables, and stakeholder communication.
Provide analytical and water quality expertise to treatment plant staff in support of process evaluation, treatment optimization, regulatory compliance, and special studies.
Interpret and present high-level analytical data to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Collaborate with Water Treatment, Water Reclamation, Pretreatment, Collections, Water Resources, and Distribution staff to provide water quality expertise and support alignment with regulatory requirements and long-term water quality goals.
Lead the Water Quality Services Group’s technical response and support utility incident management during spills, wildfires, contamination events, and operational upsets, including coordination with laboratories, regulators, and regional partners as assigned.
Develop recommendations and present technical and regulatory information to internal leadership, the Loveland Utilities Commission, City Council, regional partners, and the community, as requested.
Serve as the liaison for departmental and interagency committees and workgroups to achieve common goals and business needs.
Coordinate interagency partnerships with CDPHE, EPA, Northern Water, NRCS, USGS, Larimer County, and regional utilities, and represent the City at conferences and other external forums as assigned.
Maintains consistent and effective communication with the Water Treatment Manager and Wastewater Plant Manager to support coordination and collaboration between the Water Quality Services Group and Treatment Plant Staff.
Responds to customer inquiries and escalated concerns, ensuring appropriate and timely resolution of all water quality issues.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Two (2) Medical plans, Dental, Vision (for self/ spouse/ children)
A Dedicated, exclusive Employee Health and Wellness Center
Discounted Chilson Center passes
Paid vacation, holidays, floating holidays, and medical leave
Flexible spending including Dependent Care
Life Insurance, AD&D, Short-term and Long-term disability, and voluntary Critical Illness Coverage
Retirement 401a, 457, Roth (pre-& post tax) and company match
A Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary 529 College Invest program
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Referral Program
Personal and Professional Development opportunities
Employee Recognition Program
Exceptional work-life balance
Market based pay & regular performance reviews
Local Government employment is eligible for Public Loan Forgiveness Program