Utilities Director

City of Grand Junction; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 190,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Grand Junction seeks a Utilities Director to lead water and wastewater operations, guide long-term capital and financial planning, and foster productive relationships across the organization and with regional partners.

The ideal candidate blends technical utility expertise with strong executive judgment, financial acumen, and proven leadership to develop staff and communicate complex issues to the public.

Qualifications

• Seven years of utility program management, incl. three years supervisory responsibilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental, civil, public or business administration or related field.
• Other combinations of experience and education may meet minimum requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead water and wastewater operations and long-term capital planning.
• Oversee enterprise fund financial planning, forecasting, and rate-setting.
• Build and maintain partnerships with employees, officials, customers, regulators, and regional partners.
• Provide executive leadership and develop staff and future leaders.

Skills

Water & wastewater utilities

Financial planning

Stakeholder communication

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental/civil/public/business administration

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Are you an experienced utility executive who can lead complex water and wastewater operations, strengthen long-term financial and capital planning, and build productive relationships across an organization and region? If so, apply to be the City of Grand Junction’s next Utilities Director!

We’re looking for an exceptional, collaborative leader who is:

• An experienced executive with strong knowledge of water and wastewater utilities
• Financially savvy, with expertise in enterprise utilities and major capital programs
• A skilled communicator and relationship-builder who can work effectively with employees, elected officials, customers, regulators, and regional partners

Grand Junction is located at the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers and surrounded by the Grand Mesa, Book Cliffs, and Colorado National Monument.

The City of Grand Junction is a home-rule municipality operating under a Council-Manager form of government. The Utilities Director reports to the Deputy City Manager.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced utility executive who combines sufficient technical knowledge of water and wastewater systems with strong executive judgment, financial acumen, and organizational leadership.

Required qualifications include:

• Seven years of increasingly responsible utility program management experience, including three years of administrative and supervisory responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental engineering, civil engineering, public or business administration, or a related field.
• Other combinations of experience and education meeting the minimum requirements may be substituted.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Master’s degree in business, public administration, civil engineering, or a related field.
• Municipal or public-sector water and wastewater utility leadership experience.
• Enterprise fund financial planning, forecasting, and rate-setting experience.
• Experience leading major capital improvement programs and asset-management initiatives.
• Water supply, watershed, storage, or drought-planning experience.
• Regulatory compliance expertise.
• Experience with intergovernmental agreements and regional utility partnerships.
• Experience working with elected officials and governing boards.
• Demonstrated success developing staff and future leaders and communicating complex utility issues to the public.

The salary range for this position is $190,000 – $220,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications.