Are you a visionary leader with a passion for sustainability and innovation? The City of Flagstaff is seeking an experienced Director of Water Services to shape the future of our community’s most vital resource—water.

You’ll lead a dedicated team in providing high-quality water, wastewater, and stormwater services to our community, and your leadership will ensure the sustainable management of resources, compliance with regulatory standards and the implementation of state-of-the-art practices in water and wastewater management.

About the Role:
As the Director of Water Services, you will oversee all operations of the City of Flagstaff’s Water Services Division, develop and implement strategic plans for long-term water resource management, infrastructure maintenance and improvements, promote professional development of your leadership team, and engage with the community and foster collaborative relationships to enhance service delivery and sustainability initiatives. This is your opportunity to lead a critical division and make a significant impact in the community we serve.
 
Why Join the City of Flagstaff?
We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and positive work environment. We offer competitive pay, outstanding benefits and state retirement, and the opportunity to work with a committed team that makes a difference. Located in the beautiful mountain town of Flagstaff, AZ, you’ll enjoy a unique quality of life with outdoor recreation, stunning scenery, and a welcoming community.

Actively supports and upholds the City’s stated mission and values. Performs highly professional management, administrative, supervisory, and planning duties associated with the Water Services Division.

Under direct supervision of the Senior Deputy City Manager employees of this class are expected to exercise considerable independent judgement, initiative, and professional expertise in the day-to-day management of the Water Services Division.  This position provides visionary leadership, which encourages and recognizes creativity, innovation, flexibility and facilitation to the highest level of service to the City’s customers. Manages the processes associated with the Water Services Division including priorities, standards, budgeting, financing, and public information.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

• Supervisory:  This job has full responsibility for supervision at the Division level (hires, directs, schedules, transfers, promotes, rewards, disciplines, and terminates other employees).
• Budgetary:  This job has full responsibility for budgeting at the Division level (prepares, implements, and manages).
• Strategic Planning:  This job has full responsibility for strategic planning at the Division level (develops, implements, interprets, and manages long and short-term goals).
• Policies/Procedures:  This job has full responsibility for policies and procedures at the Division level (develops, implements, and interprets).
• Compliance:  This job has full responsibility at the Division level (follows, assists in ensuring compliance with, and may enforce) Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations as well as City policies and procedures.
• Council Communications:  This job has full responsibility for Council communication at the Division level (makes recommendations and presentations, writes staff summaries, ensures Performance Measures are met, and balances needs with Council’s adopted priorities and direction).
• Reporting:  This job has full responsibility for reporting to Federal/State/Local agencies at the Division level (ensures reporting requirements are met, trains others on reporting requirements and methods, and addresses discrepancies in reporting).

EXAMPLES OF THE WORK PERFORMED (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Works with Division personnel to ensure all regulatory compliance requirements are met ongoing.
• Provides leadership and advises Section Directors on challenges relating to their respective Sections.
• Plans and acquires long-term water resources including involvement in any related litigation and/or state and federal processes.
• Guides and ensures the provisions of the approved budget are compiled with and exercises control over expenditures.
• Evaluates staffing requirements and ensures adequate resources are available to implement the Division’s work program.
• Embraces proactive communication, practices strong listening and interpersonal skills, and sharing information throughout the Division and across the organization.
• Reviews plans, technical reports, budget estimates, and proposed ordinances and regulations ensuring they meet community needs and support Council objectives.
• Develops general policies in consultation with appropriate staff for the expansion, operation, and maintenance of various programs.
• Establishes measures to improve methods, use of equipment, changes in operations, working conditions, quality of work, and any necessary expansion to increase efficiency. 
• Recommends and develops codes related to Water Services operations. City codes are the primary code but are influenced by county and federal regulations.
• Informs the Senior Deputy City Manager of Division activities through written, oral, and statistical reports.
• Confers with the representative of various agencies, regional water groups, and consultants on various projects preparing written documents and correspondence and coordinating meetings relevant for the Division.
• Confers with the City Manager, City Council, various commissions and boards, civic groups, and the general public in matter and problems relating to the Division.
• Represents the City at various regional and state water and/or wastewater committees.
• Establishes policies, procedures, schedules, guidelines, and priorities to be observed by members of the Division.  
• Develops policy recommendations regarding long-term water strategies to the Water Commission and Council.
• Ensures citizen and regulatory agency complaints and suggestions are followed up on and resolved.
• Attends council meetings and work sessions to represent Division matters.
• Attends conferences, conventions, and other educational and professional meetings to remain aware and informed of modern procedures, methods, and administration relation to the Division.
• Speaks before civic clubs, community organizations, the media, and others on the plans, objectives, policies, programs, and challenges of the Division. 
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business management, engineering, hydrology or related field, or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training that demonstrates leadership competencies and provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.
• Seven (7) years of high-level professional experience in public works, water services, engineering, hydrology. 
• Or any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements. 

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• Master’s degree in public administration, business management, engineering, hydrology or related field. 
• Possession of Grade IV State certification(s) in water treatment, wastewater treatment, water distribution, and/or wastewater collection.
• Possession of a professional registration from the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration (e.g., engineering or geology).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess, or obtain upon employment, a valid Arizona driver’s license.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration, budget preparation, policy formation, and short- and long-range planning, especially as they relate to the Division.
• Working knowledge of the functions and goals of the various Sections that make up the Division.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, direct, and coordinate the activities, budgets, and goals of the wide variety of Sections that compose the Division.
• Knowledge and ability to plan, secure, and implement long term water acquisition. 
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements for the operation of a public water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and stormwater system. 
• Ability to develop short- and long-range plans and programs and to make decisions on matters of major policy and on complex technical and administrative challenges.
• Ability to develop and promote a diverse and productive work force environment to get everyone working together as a team. 
• Ability to mentor employees and develop future leaders. 
• Ability to effectively organize and direct personnel to affect maximum efficiency, communication, and coordination within the Division.
• Ability to deal effectively and cooperatively with councils, commissions, boards, other divisions and agencies, and the general public.
• Ability to prepare and submit clear, concise, and accurate reports orally and in writing.
• Ability to negotiate contracts and resolve disputes. 
• Ability to select, direct, and evaluate other personnel of a high technical and administrative level.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, other employees, government officials, and the general public.
• Ability to manage projects that are politically complex with stakeholders with divergent viewpoints. 
• Working knowledge of cost accounting and budget procedures and practices.
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration.
• Ability to analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information and to prepare reports. 
• Ability to make difficult and independent decisions without supervision.
• Ability to actively train Division staff to ensure their continued improvement and career progression within the organization. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, walk, use hands to handle, feel, reach with hands and arms, talk or hear, and is occasionally required to stand.
• The employee must occasionally/regularly/frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• There are no special vision requirements for this position. 
• Working conditions may include exposure to weather and/or hazards resulting from chemicals when visiting Water Services infrastructure or sites. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business management, engineering, hydrology or related field, or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training that demonstrates leadership competencies and provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.
• Seven (7) years of high-level professional experience in public works, water services, engineering, hydrology. 
• Or any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements.