Chief Executive Officer/General Manager

American Water Works Association; Bouton (IA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

IPERS retirement plan

Job summary

Xenia Rural Water District seeks a Chief Executive Officer/General Manager to lead day-to-day operations and strategic direction for a multi-county rural water utility in central Iowa. The CEO/GM will oversee budgeting, regulatory compliance, and district management while engaging with the board and stakeholders.

The ideal candidate has extensive managerial experience in public utilities, strong leadership, and a track record of fiscal responsibility and customer service excellence.

Qualifications

• Ten years of increasingly responsible managerial/administrative experience is required.
• Thorough knowledge of public water supply systems including development, treatment, distribution, maintenance, billing, administration.
• Strong analytical skills including fiscal planning, budgeting, and financial oversight.
• Strong leadership with supervisory experience.
• Ability to work with the board and provide strategic direction.
• Understanding of cost of service and rate making.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of technologies in public utility operations.
• Knowledge of engineering and construction principles applicable to utility systems.
• Understanding of federal and state rules and regulations for water supply.
• Ability to collaborate with other water systems and government agencies.
• Committed to exceptional customer service and public trust.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee preparation and administration of the district's annual operating and capital budget.
• Lead long-range operating and capital improvement planning and goal setting.
• Review and advocate on federal, state, and local regulations impacting the district.
• Supervise the district's management team.
• Ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
• Oversee consultants and contracted service providers.
• Coordinate, negotiate, and administer water purchase and sales agreements.
• Represent the district in intergovernmental and interagency activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with customers, regulators, and stakeholders.

Skills

Public water systems

Fiscal planning

Leadership

Board collaboration

Cost of service

Communication

Engineering principles

Regulatory awareness

Intergovernmental relations

Education

managerial/administrative experience in public utility

Job description

ChiefExecutiveOfficer/GeneralManager-XeniaRuralWaterDistrict,IA

The Xenia Rural Water DistrictBoard of Directorsis seeking qualified applicants tobecomethe district’s next Chief Executive Officer/General Managerfollowing the planned retirement of the current executive.Xenia Rural Water District is a non-profit rural water utilityorganizationthat supplies drinking water to rural landowners and communitiesin a multi-county regionin central Iowa.The district’s service area is located immediately west and north of the Des Moines metropolitan area.

About the District

Xenia Rural Water District was established in 1978 under Chapter 357A of the Iowa Code. It was initially created to provide quality, reliable drinking water to rural landowners in Dallas and Boone counties of central Iowa. However, since that time, the district has grown dramatically. In addition to purchasing water from several public water systems, Xenia operates its own production and treatment facilities utilizing groundwater sources. The district currently provides water service to all or portions of 11 counties, 19 communities, and over 11,300 customers/members in central Iowa. The service area covers 2,529 square miles and includes over 2,890 miles of pipeline.

The district is governed by a seven-member board of directors who are elected from within the service territory to three-year terms. The board meets on the third Thursday of each month. The board consists of four officers (chair, vice-chair, secretary, and three directors). The annual operating income of the district is $20.7 million. Xenia has a total of 31 employees, including the CEO and four division managers.

One of Xenia’s five water supplies is served by Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW),a regionalwater utilitycreatedandresponsible for treatment, planning, and wholesale delivery of drinking water across the Des Moines metropolitanarea.Thedistrict’s remaining public water supplies are served through a combination of purchased water anddistrict-owned and operatedtreatmentfacilities.

CEO/General ManagerPosition

The board of directors appoints a CEO/GM to oversee and manage the day-to-day operation of the district. The CEO/GM is responsible for providing leadership and organizational direction, including recommendations to the Board of Directors on all policy matters.

Other major duties of the CEO/GMinclude the following:

• Coordinate and oversee the preparation and administration of thedistrict’s annual operating and capital budget
• Long-rangeoperating and capital improvementplanning and goal setting
• Legislative review and advocacy on federal, state, and local rules and regulations impacting the District
• Supervision of alldistrict management team members
• Ensure adherence to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations
• Oversight of consultants and other contracted service providers
• Coordination, negotiation, and administration of all water purchase and sales agreements
• Represent thedistrict in various intergovernmental and interagency activities
• Building and maintaining relationships with customers, regulators, partner utilities, elections officials, and other stakeholders

Theboard ofdirectorsisseeking candidates for the CEO/GMposition withexperience and education relevant to the management of a public utility operation, with a preference for those who have direct managerial experience in a water supply organization.A minimum of ten years of increasingly responsible managerial/administrative experience is required.Other desirable skills, experience, attributes, and qualifications include:

• Thorough knowledge of all aspects of public water supply systems, including resource development, treatment, distribution, maintenance, billing, and administration
• Strong analytical skills including fiscal planning, budgeting, andfinancial oversight
• Strong leadership skills with significant supervisory experience
• Ability to work effectively with theboard ofdirectors and to provideboardmembers with strategic direction
• An understanding of water utility cost of service and rate making
• Excellent interpersonal and oral/written communication skills
• An understanding of technologies associated with public utility operations
• Working knowledgeof engineering and construction principles applicable to utility systems
• Basic understanding of federal and state rules and regulations applicable to public water supply systems
• The ability to collaborate and cooperate effectively with other water supply systems and other governmental agencies
• Committed to exceptionalcustomer serviceand public trust

Compensation and How to Apply

The starting salary range for the position is $155,000 to $175,000 DOQ/E.Thedistrict will also provide a comprehensive benefitspackage.The CEO/GMposition is eligible to participate in the Iowa Public Employees’Retirement System (IPERS).If you are interested in leading a growing regional water utility serving central Iowa, no later than September 4, 2026.

Xenia Rural Water District is an Equal Opportunity Employer