Utilities Director

City of Thornton; Thornton (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Thornton invites applications for the Utilities Director to lead the Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste teams with a commitment to sustainable, affordable utility services. You will translate strategic goals into programs, manage budgets, and engage with state and federal regulators to secure resilient infrastructure.

Ideal candidates hold a bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering and at least eight years in utilities, including five years in a management role, with strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering or related field; five years in management-level utility roles with at least eight years’ experience serving in a utility.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• May need the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as the job requires.

Responsibilities

• Lead, direct and manage all activities of the Utilities Department, including all functions of the water utility (water rights, raw water supply, treatment, quality, distribution, and meter shop), the sewer utility (sewer collection system), the solid waste utility (curbside waste and recycling, composting and diversion programs), and coordinates the regulatory activities of stormwater utility through the MS4 Permit.
• Develops the strategic vision of the utilities and drives long range planning and capital programs to support sustainability, resiliency, and affordable rates.
• Serves as the spokesperson for the utilities and manages complex relationships and negotiations with other agencies, municipalities, boards, and ditch companies; coordinates advocacy at state and federal level for balancing needs of water treatment/quality with stormwater regulations.
• Manages or coordinates with the appropriate department on all financial, planning, legal, design/engineering, construction, communications, human resources, diversity, operations, public affairs, and information technology functions to support the utilities.
• Leads discussions with the Finance Department and consultants to maintain a sustainable utility with equitable rate and fee structures.

Skills

Water utilities knowledge

Budget management

Leadership

Communication skills

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil or environmental engineering

Job description

Thank you for your interest in the Utilities Director position at the City of Thornton. For more details check out the recruitment brochure here: https://www.thorntonco.gov/media/file/utilities-director-recruitment-brochure

General Job Summary:

Under general direction of the Assistant City Manager; leads, directs and manages all activities of the Utilities Department, including all functions of the water, sewer, and solid waste utilities. Provides visionary leadership to link sustainability, resiliency, and affordable rates of the utilities with the strategic goals of the city and local, state, and federal regulations. Implements the approved strategic workplan and addresses the city priorities through thoughtful leadership and policies.

(Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. The list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.)

Leads, directs and manages all activities of the Utilities Department, including all functions of the water utility (water rights, raw water supply, treatment, quality, distribution, and meter shop), the sewer utility ( sewer collection system), the solid waste utility (curbside waste and recycling, composting and diversion programs), and coordinates the regulatory activities of stormwater utility through the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit.

Develops the strategic vision of the utilities and drives long range planning and capital programs to support sustainability, resiliency, and affordable rates.

Serves as the spokesperson for the utilities and manages complex relationships and negotiations with other agencies, municipalities, boards, and ditch companies. Coordinates advocacy at a state and federal level for balancing the needs of water treatment/quality with stormwater regulations.

Manages or coordinates with the appropriate department on all financial, planning, legal, design/engineering, construction, communications, human resources, diversity, operations, public affairs, and information technology functions to support the utilities.

Leads discussions with the Finance Department and consultants to maintain a sustainable utility with equitable rate and fee structures.

Balances advocacy for individual department wants/needs with commitment to and support for the best overall outcomes for the city and community.

Maintains a thorough knowledge of federal and state laws, local statutes, ordinances, standards, procedures, and trends related to department operations, and ensures their implementation. Advises the City Manager and City Council on issues related to the regulatory landscape on drinking water standards.

Assesses local needs and updates the strategic plan for the future of the department, the city, and the community. Analyzes problems, identifies alternative solutions, projects consequences of proposed actions, and implements recommendations in support of goals. Increases the understanding of the role of water in the community and economic development efforts across the city.

Manages, supervises, and directs the activities of assigned staff and functions; makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline, termination, or advancement of employees. Schedules employees, assigns work, and monitors progress; guides, trains and develops employees in the accomplishment of their duties and professional growth; evaluates performance.

Remains current on issues and trends relative to the department and service delivery responsibilities; responds to and resolves sensitive and complex community and organizational inquiries and complaints. Conveys City Council goals to staff; interprets municipal codes and policies.

Monitors departmental operations and customer service to ensure quality control; identifies and resolves deficiencies; prepares and presents periodic and special staff reports on departmental issues and projects. Interacts with other departments and agencies to promote and coordinate activities.

Develops and implements the department budget. Determines levels of staff, equipment and other resources needed to effectively and efficiently provide departmental services and programs.

Represents the city in meetings with professional organizations, other public agencies, and the public to ensure Thornton is a leader in the industry.

Represents the utilities through a variety of professional organizations and local, state, and federal agencies to ensure the utilities interests are protected with future policies and regulations.? 

Meets and advises City Council, city management, commissions and boards to assist in policy determinations.

Develops and implements rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to advance the department’s mission, goals, and objectives.

Directs the emergency responses to natural disasters or weather events as necessary.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering, natural sciences, or related field from an accredited college or university; five years’ experience in management-level utility roles with at least eight years’ experience serving in a utility. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Licensing/Certification Requirements:

May need the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as the job requires.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the complexity of water issues in the West and in Colorado.
• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, practices, and goals of the City of Thornton and the department.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, statutes, and ordinances related to public works and the drinking water utility.
• Knowledge of the general principles and practices of public administration, including leadership, ethics, organizational management, democracy, economics.
• Knowledge of the City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan and Utilities Master Plan.
• Skill in planning, organizing, and coordinating the activities of professional and operational staff.
• Skill in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and procedures in order to achieve department missions, goals, and objectives through the appropriate staffing and resources.
• Skill in directing, overseeing, and evaluating operational and management issues.
• Skill in effective conflict resolution and negotiations.
• Ability to encourage change and innovation at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to manage complex and multidimensional issues, being able to analyze at both the micro level and macro level.
• Ability to develop, manage, monitor, and maintain multiple budgets.
• Ability to effectively represent the city and the utilities in meetings with professional organizations, other public agencies, and the public.
• Ability to motivate, lead, supervise, and train a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences.
• Ability to communicate complex and technical issues to non-technical audiences.? 
• Ability to interpret, understand, and comply with complex statutes, ordinances, regulations, standards, and laws.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate information accurately, and to express ideas clearly when providing oral and written reports or recommendations on administrative, financial and technical issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city management, employees, elected officials, board and commission members, other agencies, community members and the general public.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, finger, talk, hear, and make repetitive motions. This position is mostly sedentary work; exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The employee is required to have close visual acuity.

Examinations may include but are not limited to application screening beyond minimum qualifications; written, oral, practical exercise or any combination thereof or other job related assessment deemed appropriate by Human Resources.

Your application will be used as a screening tool. Completeness and accuracy are important! Any false or untrue statements or material omissions in the application and related paperwork or during the selection process could disqualify you from consideration.

As a condition of employment, the City of Thornton conducts background investigations for all positions which may also include a review of credit report and/or driving record. A drug screen, physical, and/or psychological examination administered by a city-designated provider will be required for pre-determined positions.