Salary: $94,327.00 - $136,774.00 (Yearly Salary)
The City of Avondale Public Works Department is currently seeking qualified applicants for the Water Resources Manager position. This is a full-time, FLSA exempt position with benefits. The Water Resources Manager is primarily responsible for ensuring the City maintains a well-managed water portfolio by providing effective water resource planning, submitting water orders, maintaining permit compliance and filing regulatory reporting. Additionally, this position oversees the City’s water quality and compliance division as well as the City’s water conservation program. The Water Resources Manager is a high visibility position that interacts with elected officials, department directors, outside organizations, developers, residents and other stakeholders in both formal and informal settings.
The Water Resources Manager provides leadership, supervision and coordinates activities for the Water Quality & Compliance Supervisor to ensure compliance with all sampling, reporting, submittals, quality and other regulations. The position provides the same support to the City’s Water Conservation Coordinator to ensure quality programming, outreach, educational material and a uniform message related to the City’s Drought Preparedness Plan. The Water Resources Manager interacts continuously with other division managers on water portfolio management, program implementation and reporting.
Duties include staying current on new water initiatives and policy at the local, state and federal level and providing recommendations for action; the implementation of the City’s strategic plan as it relates to water and water conservation; providing support and direction for specific projects to ensure projects remain within budget and on schedule; and determining divisional needs, equipment and staffing to meet the goals and objectives of the division.
Essential Functions
Develops and manages programs related to water portfolio management, including strategies related to water resource supply, groundwater recharge, groundwater recovery, long term storage credits, water wheeling, wetlands management and more. Develops annual water orders and provides continuous monitoring and adjustment, as necessary.
Leads the coordination and implementation of the City’s Drought Preparedness Plan (DPP) related to the current stage of declaration. Plans and prepares the City for escalation to subsequent stages of the DPP. Ensures uniform messaging on Drought Preparedness from the Water Resources Division and the Public Works Department.
Reviews and ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state and local codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures regarding water resources management and water quality within the City. Ensures water portfolio compliance with the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA).
Participates in the staff hiring process, training and supervision of employees within the Water Resources Division. Provides employee performance reviews, mentorship, education and makes improvement recommendations, as required. Encourages employee development opportunities where available.
Oversees the City’s water quality and compliance division, which includes the backflow and cross-connection prevention program, industrial pretreatment program and ensures the city is meeting the requirements of regulatory sampling schedules.
Oversees the City’s water conservation program, which includes outreach, water conservation rebates, educational seminars, expert panel participation, internal water conservation audits and more. Attends public events as a representative of the City and delivers water conservation messaging to audiences that range from children to policy makers.
Collects and summarizes technical data to prepare monthly, quarterly and/or annual water use or operational reports for submission to regulatory agencies or other entities such as, but not limited to, Central Arizona Project, Salt River Project, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Acts as a liaison between city, state and federal regulatory agencies, organizations representing water related issues and the City of Avondale. Provides reports, updates and recommendations to City Management & City Council on water resource and water quality issues, including regulatory trends, resource acquisitions, future costs and more.
Monitors proposed changes to policies, rules and regulations to determine the potential impact on the City. Manages conservation and drought preparedness projects as a result of the changes; manages water quality process and procedures as a result of the changes.
Prepares and administers the annual water resources budget. Monitors and forecasts expenditures, presents proposals for approval, authorizes payments and makes required budget adjustments.
Assists with the implementation and tracking of strategic initiatives as they relate to Public Works and the City’s adopted strategic plan.
Prepares and delivers professional level presentations to the department and/or helps prepare and deliver presentations to city leadership, outside agencies, professional organizations and the general public.
Requirements
A bachelor’s degree in Water Resources Management, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Microbiology, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering or a related field is required. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered, if sufficient to perform the essential duties of the role as listed herein.
Work requires a broad knowledge of municipal Public Works activities with a specific knowledge of municipal water and wastewater systems as well as a working understanding of the Arizona Groundwater Management Act of 1980. Work requires a broad knowledge of the principles and practices of water production, water distribution systems, groundwater recharge, backflow prevention, biological and chemical processes as it relates to drinking water, industrial pretreatment and wastewater treatment.
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in the water industry, specifically in the water resources or regulatory compliance areas.
A minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience is required.
A valid Arizona Driver’s License is required.
Possession of an Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Certification in Water Treatment, Water Distribution, Wastewater Collection and/or Wastewater Treatment is preferred.
Supplemental Information
Work requires the ability to read various documents, memos and reports from other departments, outside entities and vendors. Must be able to read and interpret laws regulating municipal water rights and operations, complex chemical, biological, mechanical, and regulatory reports and specifications.
College level math to include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, financial formulas, unit conversions and projections.
Ability to coordinate and interact as a compliance liaison with other agencies and City Departments; produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper grammar; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; and observe, review and provide meaningful feedback on the work of others to ensure conformance to standards.
Work requires considerable initiative and independent analytical and evaluating judgment.
Developing and implementing specific water quality, industrial pretreatment, backflow and cross connection, and groundwater recharge strategies and programs. Preparing budget estimates and controlling expenditures, coordinating long-range Division plans for enhanced water quality programs.
Responsible for the Water Resources, Water Quality & Compliance and Water Conservation budget preparation and management. Reviews and approves expenditures of budgeted funds for the division and prepares recommendations for department and/or city-wide regulatory program expenditures.
Work requires managing and monitoring work performance of multiple direct reports, including making decisions on hiring, employee development, evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, and realigning work and staffing assignments, as needed.
Employee normally performs the duty assignment according to independent judgment, requesting director assistance and approval intermittently. Assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance is reviewed periodically.
This position will provide team leadership to direct report(s) through work direction, aid staff in troubleshooting division issues, make recommendations to management regarding program direction, negotiate with and report to outside agencies and regulators and make formal presentations to city management and elected officials.
The position frequently works with individuals outside the city who may belong to professional or peer organizations, local, state and federal agencies.
Must have a positive attitude, team-oriented mindset and well-established leadership skills.
Employee must maintain regular in-person attendance but will have the option to work from home as scheduling allows.