Deputy Director of Water Quality & Treatment

Overview of Position / Department

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.

Primary Duties & 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 program 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, management, business administration or directly related field.

Experience:

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

Knowledge, Abilities & Skills

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.
• Treatment certifications preferred.

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 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: Works primarily in a clean, comfortable environment.

Equipment Used: Uses standard office equipment including personal computer and common office software such as email, internet, Word, Excel and menu driven databases as a part of the library automated systems. This position may require the incumbent to regularly use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment.

Pay & Schedule

• Hiring range: $157,758 – $197,198 per year
• Application deadline: August 19th, 2026
• The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.
• 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.

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