Water Services Director

City of Glendale • Glendale, AZ

14h • Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Glendale's Water Services Department provides over 250,000 residents with safe, reliable, and high-quality water and wastewater services. Glendale Water Services promotes industry best practices, leadership, and innovation to ensure our employees put public health and the vitality of our community first! The Director of Water Services provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the City's Water Services Department, overseeing the planning, organization, and administration of all departmental operations, programs, and personnel. The position is responsible for establishing department-wide policies, developing long-range strategic initiatives, and ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable, and sustainable water, wastewater, and utility services while addressing complex operational, regulatory, financial, and organizational challenges. As a member of the City's executive leadership team, the Director oversees all administrative and operational functions of the department, including budget development and fiscal stewardship, strategic planning, capital improvement planning, performance management, procurement, regulatory compliance, and workforce leadership. The Director fosters collaborative relationships with elected officials, executive leadership, regulatory agencies, regional partners, and the community to advance the City's strategic priorities and ensure exceptional public service.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Public Administration, Business Administration or related field, and five years of increasingly responsible management experience in water and wastewater utilities, preferably in the public sector.
• Knowledge of: Principles, practices and technologies related to water treatment, water distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment.
• Utility asset management, infrastructure planning and capital improvement program development
• Federal and state environmental regulations and permitting requirements
• Water resource management, conservation, sustainability and environmental stewardship practices
• Utility finance, budgeting, rate structures and long-range financial planning
• Public sector administration and municipal government operations
• Organizational leadership, strategic planning and performance management principles
• Emergency management and utility resilience planning
• SCADA systems, industrial maintenance practices and utility technology applications
• Employee relations, personnel management and employee development practices
• Ability to: Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for a complex municipal utility
• Plan, organize, direct and evaluate large-scale utility operations and capital programs
• Develop and administer operating and capital budgets
• Analyze complex operational, regulatory, financial and technical issues and develop effective solutions
• Communicate effectively and persuasively both verbally and in writing
• Present technical and policy information to elected officials, executive leadership, employees and the public
• Build collaborative relationships with stakeholders and regulatory agencies
• Lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives
• Develop, mentor and evaluate management and professional staff
• Make sound decisions under pressure and during emergency situations

Nice To Haves

• A Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Public Administration, Business Administration or related field, OR
• An Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Grade 4 Water Treatment Plant Operator Certification or Grade 4 Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification, OR
• Be registered as a Professional Engineer (PE) in Arizona.
• Any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.
• One year of relevant experience may be substituted for each year of required education.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes and directs the activities and staff of the Water Services Department, including water treatment, wastewater treatment, water distribution, wastewater collections, storm water, meter maintenance, meter reading, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), administration, safety, security, conservation and sustainability, pretreatment, water quality laboratory, capital improvement projects (CIP), industrial maintenance, water resource planning, environmental services, and warehouse operations.
• Provides overall direction, guidance, and vision, including a focus on strategic planning, innovation, continuous improvement and the organization of resources and structures for best alignment with the City's mission, vision and values.
• Directs staff activities by planning and prioritizing tasks, recommending and monitoring staff development, providing individual and team recognition, ensuring policy and procedure compliance, making hiring decisions, initiating and approving changes and adjustments, monitoring staff performance and providing correction action and discipline.
• Prepares reports to the Assistant City Manager, City Manager and City Council and serves in an advisory capacity to the City Manager, staff and City Council on water and wastewater matters.
• Oversees the development, administration, and monitoring of the department’s operating and capital improvement budgets, including long-range financial planning and rate analysis.
• Represents the City before regulatory agencies, professional organizations, regional partnerships, governmental entities, community groups, and other stakeholders on water and wastewater matters.
• Directs the planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, and replacement of utility infrastructure and capital improvement projects.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive rates that become effective on the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.
• Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) pension plan.
• Voluntary 457 Plan: Pre-Tax and Roth Contributions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive