General Manager / Chief Executive Officer

About the role

The Trinity River Authority of Texas was created by the Legislature in 1955 as a conservation and reclamation district. Its mission is to promote conservation, reclamation, protection, and development of the natural resources of the Trinity River basin for the benefit of the public. Its vision is to promote the natural, economic, and recreational benefits of the Trinity River as the foundation for future generations. Core values are Integrity, Accountability, and Service. TRA is the largest river authority in Texas and the largest wholesale provider of wastewater treatment services in the state. It owns and operates four regional water treatment facilities and five regional wastewater treatment facilities, operates the Lake Livingston Dam, manages water sales from four reservoirs, and operates and oversees multiple recreation facilities around Lake Livingston. It serves more than 50 wholesale customers — cities, municipalities, and districts — across an approximately 18,000‑square‑mile basin covering all or part of 17 counties, from the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex to the upper Texas coast. The Authority is self‑supporting. It receives no ad valorem taxes, sales taxes, or annual state appropriations. Each operating project is an independent financial entity, funded by the customers that contract for its services. The General Manager is accountable for an annual budget of more than $490 million and assets in excess of $3.7 billion, and for a workforce of more than 500 employees. TRA also maintains a basin‑wide master plan, serves as a conduit for tax‑exempt financing of municipal projects, and acts as local sponsor for federal water projects.

Responsibilities

• Direct all operations, programs, services, and resources of the Authority, including water treatment, wastewater treatment and reclamation, reservoir and dam operations, water sales, recreation, basin planning, and the general office.
• Lead development and execution of the Authority’s strategic plan, and report progress against Board‑adopted goals, including support for basin communities, future water supply and reclamation, flood‑risk reduction, and workforce continuity.
• Prepare and recommend the annual operating budget and multi‑year capital improvement program; manage enterprise‑fund finances, debt service, reserves, and rate recommendations to wholesale customers; and maintain the independent financial integrity of each operating project.
• Oversee a large, bond‑financed capital program driven by population growth, aging infrastructure, capacity thresholds, nutrient and emerging‑contaminant requirements, and resiliency.
• Ensure planning begins before plants reach capacity limits, and that design, procurement, construction, and commissioning stay on scope, schedule, and budget.
• Establish and enforce contracting, procurement, and contract‑monitoring controls appropriate to high‑dollar critical infrastructure, including consultant and construction oversight, change‑order discipline, and documented enforcement of contract terms.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state environmental, drinking‑water, dam‑safety, and financial requirements, including TCEQ permits and the Authority’s role with the Texas Water Development Board, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies.
• Serve as the Authority’s chief representative before the Legislature, state and federal agencies, elected officials, industry organizations, and intergovernmental