Supervisor of Planning Services

City of Aurora; Aurora (CO); Hybrid; USD 112,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Well‑Funded retirement plan

On‑site fitness center

Job summary

City of Aurora Water is seeking a dynamic Supervisor of Planning Services to lead master planning for water, wastewater and stormwater systems amidst rapid community growth. The role requires steering cross‑department collaborations, forecasting growth, and delivering capital improvement plans with a focus on innovation and high‑quality engineering deliverables.

The position offers a hybrid schedule with at least two in‑person days weekly at SEAM and requires Colorado PE licensure within six

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering; seven years utility planning experience preferred.
• Registration as a Colorado Professional Engineer or ability to obtain licensure within six months; valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Leads Long-Range Planning Team with clear priorities and performance expectations.
• Oversees recruitment, onboarding, and workload data to ensure efficiency.
• Mentors and manages a group of engineers; ensures high-quality deliverables.
• Provides master planning expertise for water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.
• negotiates scopes, schedules, and fees with consultants and vendors.
• Coordinates across city departments to develop integrated planning solutions.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Management

Public speaking

Customer service

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of:

Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.

JOB LOCATION

Aurora, Colorado 80016-2946

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.

Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Salary to be commensurate with experience

The hiring range for this position is $111,895 - $139,869 annually.

The deadline to submit applications is September 30th, 2026. Please note, The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.

Aurora Water is responsible for enhancing and protecting the quality of life for Aurora citizens by providing quality water, sewer, and stormwater services in a manner that balances social, environmental, and economic needs.

Aurora Water is seeking a dynamic and strategic Supervisor of Planning Services to play a pivotal role in shaping the City’s future infrastructure. This leadership role will drive the development and execution of master plans for water, wastewater, and stormwater utility systems—critical components of the rapidly growing community. The role involves cross-departmental coordination to forecast growth, lead comprehensive planning studies, and deliver prioritized capital improvement plans. As a team leader, the Planning Services Engineering Supervisor will mentor and manage a group of talented engineers, ensuring high-quality deliverables, balanced workloads, and innovative solutions to complex technical challenges.

This position has a Hybrid schedule requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in-person at SEAM (Southeast Aurora Maintenance Facility).

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads and supervises the Long-Range Planning Team, managing staff, workload, and key initiatives. Establishes clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations while holding team members accountable.
• Participates in the recruitment and selection of technical engineering staff. Oversees onboarding and training, addresses performance gaps, and monitors workload data to ensure team efficiency and alignment with performance metrics.
• Fosters a high-performing, customer-focused team culture that reflects the mission, values, and strategic objectives of the department and the city.
• Demonstrates deep expertise in utility master planning, including population and employment growth forecasting, demand and loading analysis, and stormwater management principles.
• Oversees the procurement and execution of master planning efforts, including negotiating scopes, schedules, and fees with consultants and vendors.
• Provides guidance and resolution on complex planning issues related to water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, balancing technical accuracy with risk-informed decision-making.
• Ensures consistency and accuracy across all citywide master planning efforts. Coordinates with internal stakeholders to update and prepare prioritized capital budget recommendations.
• Collaborates with other city departments (e.g., Planning, Parks Recreation and Open Space, Public Works, etc.) to develop integrated solutions for cross-functional projects and planning initiatives.
• Identifies and implements process improvements to enhance team workflows, project delivery, and operational efficiency.
• Serves as a liaison to external agencies (MHFD, Xcel Energy, Metro Water Recovery, Denver Water, ECCV, etc.) representing the city’s interests in collaborative planning efforts.
• Coordinates with the Mile High Flood District on joint stormwater master planning initiatives and manages intergovernmental agreements for collaborative studies and projects.
• Supports the city’s interests in the negotiation, review, and execution of various intergovernmental agreements.
• Upholds and promotes the values, mission, and strategic direction of Aurora Water, and actively supports initiatives from upper management
• Performs other related duties as assigned

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Civil or Environmental Engineering (or directly related field)

Experience:

• Seven (7) years utility (water, wastewater, and stormwater) infrastructure engineering experience with an emphasis on planning and development

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three (3) years of supervisory experience and formal supervisory training is preferred
• Long range master planning experience is preferred

Licenses and Certifications:

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado, or ability to obtain licensure within six months
• Driver's license with a good driving history

Knowledge:

• Intermediate knowledge of water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure
• Intermediate knowledge of capital improvement plan development, prioritization, and budgeting
• Intermediate knowledge of city codes, ordinances, and comprehensive plans
• Intermediate knowledge of staff leadership
• Intermediate knowledge of legal agreements
• Advanced knowledge of relevant engineering principles and practices

Skills:

• Intermediate interpersonal and managerial skills
• Intermediate skill in reviewing and maintaining information for accuracy and consistency
• Intermediate skills in public speaking
• Advanced customer service skills
• Advanced skill in the use of Microsoft based programs

Abilities:

• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with employees and all levels of management
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing
• Ability to direct and supervise a diverse workforce
• Ability to solve problems, negotiate and handle stressful situations

WORKING CONDITIONS

Essential Personnel:

• When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel

Physical Demands:

• Sedentary physical work requiring the ability to lift a maximum of 10 pounds
• Occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing
• Hand/eye coordination to operate a computer and related equipment

Work Environment:

• Works primarily in a clean, comfortable environment
• Periodically visits project sites in the field

Equipment Used:

• Frequently uses standard office equipment including computers, calculators and copy machines
• Frequently answers telephone
• This job may require the incumbent to occasionally use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment

The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

For Veterans preference: Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.

The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, And Employment References: As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check.

Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.

Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.