Deputy Director of Water Quality & Treatment

About the Role

The Deputy Director of Water Quality and Treatment plans, organizes, and implements comprehensive strategies and procedures for the Water Quality and Treatment programs critical to the City's water, wastewater, and stormwater areas under the direction of the Assistant General Manager of Water Operations.

Responsibilities

• Directs day-to-day operations and maintenance programs associated with water and wastewater treatment, water reclamation and reuse, source water supply, water quality laboratory operations, and environmental programs.
• Provides executive oversight of environmental compliance, environmental permitting, public health protection, drinking water, wastewater, and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) regulatory programs, regulatory affairs related to compliance, environmental risk management, and environmental inspection programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements while protecting the environment and public health.
• Coordinates, administers, and evaluates the work of the Managers of Treatment and Environmental Services, ensuring integration of treatment operations, regulatory compliance, environmental protection, public health protection, laboratory services, and source water management.
• Directs the implementation of Department goals and objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the water quality and treatment sections; represents the city at regional and local utility meetings and hearings, monitors and reports on treatment, source of supply, and environmental programs.
• Prepares and monitors the operating budgets, including expenditures.
• Identifies long-term capital improvement programs for the water quality and treatment program areas in conjunction with the planning and development of capital improvement programs.
• Develops operational priorities, goals, and objectives.
• Makes recommendations to the Assistant General Manager of Water Operations regarding selecting, hiring, training, evaluation, and disciplining of assigned employees.
• Supervises assigned employees.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

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

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, management, business administration, or a directly related field.

Experience

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible, directly related experience in a full-service water utility.
• At least 3 years of supervisory/managerial experience in a full-service water utility.
• At least 2 years of division-level managerial experience in a full-service water utility.

Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and operating requirements of a full-service water utility.
• Financial management and regulatory requirements.

Abilities

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, citizens, and elected officials.
• Handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Establish and fulfill goals and objectives.
• Direct and effectively supervise a large, diverse workforce.
• Administer budgets.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal, decision-making, and managerial skills.

Licenses and Certifications

• Required: Colorado Driver's License with a good driving record.
• Preferred: Treatment certifications.

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 walking and standing.
• Vision to read and interpret reports and other written documents.
• Speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and citizens.

Work Environment

• Hybrid work schedule with a minimum of 2 days/week in-person at the Southeast Aurora Maintenance Facility (SEAM).
• Works primarily in a clean, comfortable environment.
• Uses standard office equipment including personal computer and common office software such as email, internet, Word, Excel, and menu-driven databases.
• This position may require the incumbent to regularly use personal equipment (e.g., vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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.

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $157,758 - $197,198 per year.