Water Treatment Manager

The City of Lafayette is seeking an experienced professional to lead the Public Works Department’s Water Treatment Division. The Water Treatment Manager is a newly created position, reporting directly to the Public Works Director and leading a team responsible for the safe and effective operation and maintenance of the City’s water treatment and source water facilities. The position is an integral part of the department leadership team and collaborates closely with the Water Resources, Engineering, Operations & Maintenance, Water Reclamation, and Administration divisions to provide a full range of high quality Public Works services to the community. 

Lafayette is a thriving and diverse community of approximately 29,000 residents. Encompassing 9.54 square miles at the foothills of the Rockies, Lafayette is located at the southeastern edge of Boulder County, allowing for easy access to Boulder, Denver, Denver International Airport, and the Rocky Mountains. Our community enjoys robust services and amenities, including the Great Outdoors Water Park, an award-winning skate park, the Hale Irwin designed Indian Peaks Golf Course, a senior center, The Collective Community Arts Center, Art on the Street public art program, exciting and diverse events like Art Night Out and the Lafayette Peach Festival, Waneka Lake park and boathouse, 20 community parks, 1,465 acres of open space, 20 miles of trails, Lafayette Public Library, NRPA Gold Medal Award-winning Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, multiple community events, and a vibrant downtown. Lafayette has appeared on numerous national lists of top places to live and raise a family.  

Due to its relatively small size, the City offers leaders a diversity of tasks, and the exciting opportunity to craft a culture and team geared toward continuous improvement, innovation, and exceptional service to the community. The City has a conventional treatment facility that produces approximately 2MGD with daytime operation during the winter months, transitioning to 24/7 operation to produce approximately 10MGD during peak summer months. The successful Water Treatment Manager candidate will play an integral role in modernization of the current treatment facility, as well as in the design, construction, and operation of an additional treatment facility that is expected to proceed within the next few years. The City has a diverse portfolio of water sources, and a key priority for this position will be to work with staff and consultants to improve source selection, reservoir management, and treatment processes to optimize water quality and reliability.

The salary range for this opportunity is $84,068--$126,102. Additionally, the City provides a comprehensive and generous benefits package, including 100% City-paid medical, life, and long-term disability insurance; vision and dental plans; paid vacation, sick leave, and parental leave; a substantially-matched defined contribution retirement plan through ICMA-RC (8% employee, 10.2% City);  recreation center pass and wellness benefits, and more.

General Summary:
Under general direction, to provide leadership and to manage the safe and effective operation and maintenance of the City’s water treatment, source water reservoirs, raw water transmission systems, diversion structures, and related facilities and equipment. This position functions as a member of the Public Works Department leadership team, and is responsible for developing the strategy for the Water Treatment Division and leading a professional and accountable workgroup focused on continuous improvement and safe, effective, and efficient service to the public and internal customers.

Essential Functions

1. Leads and manages the Water Treatment Division. This includes the following:

• Develops the overall strategy and direction for the division.
• Creates and supports a culture of continuous improvement. Monitors the implementation and impact of continuous improvement efforts.
• Creates and supports a culture of innovation and implements new ideas and strategies when appropriate, managing associated risks, evaluation, and feedback loops.
• Develops and implements division policies and procedures. Makes recommendations on department and organizational policies and procedures and ensures implementation within division consistent with established objectives, strategy, and direction.
• Collaborates with staff across the Public Works Department and City to develop and meet department and organizational objectives, including collaboration with engineering staff, consultants, and attorneys on effective administration of water rights. 
• Keeps director informed of progress, emerging issues, and resource needs.

 
2.  Serves as the Water Treatment Operator in Responsible Charge. This includes the following:

• Ensures that operation and maintenance of the facility complies with all local, state, and federal permits, regulations, and requirements.
• Develops, implements, and maintains an operating plan consistent with regulatory requirements. Delegates to appropriate licensed operators in accordance with the operating plan.
• Maintains effective communications with regulatory agencies and responds appropriately to inquiries, inspections, directives, and concerns.
• Ensures timely and accurate completion of all required reports and documents.
• Maintains appropriate operator certifications including meeting or exceeding continuing education requirements.
• Maintains knowledge of industry trends and best practices to appropriately shape and inform policies and procedures.
• Represents the City at regulatory hearings, meetings, and conferences.

 3. Manages and supervises workgroup employees in accordance with City policies and procedures. This includes the following:

• Executes the work of the division through employees.
• Communicates work plans and goals clearly, monitors and reviews work to ensure quality, determines resource needs, provides feedback. 
• Supports and mentors lead workers in guiding performance of staff.
• Involves employees in decision making processes, seeks employee ideas.
• Oversees recruiting, selection, on-boarding, and retention of division staff.
• Ensures employee policy compliance and performance, including overseeing performance reviews, corrective actions, and discipline.

 
4. Performs and manages administrative functions of the division including:

• Develops budget recommendations supported by data and analysis.
• Monitors division expenditures and budget.
• Verifies accuracy of financial documents including invoices, contracts, purchase orders, and payroll documents.
• Ensures division compliance with City financial and contract policies and procedures.
• Develops recommendations for equipment purchases.
• Develops and manages requests for proposals, competitive bid processes, and contracts.

 
5. Develops, monitors, and assesses division data, objectives, metrics, and measures, including:

• Develops division objectives and success metrics.
• Determines division priorities in coordination with Public Works leadership team.
• Administers software systems including SCADA, spreadsheets, and databases to track and analyze data.
• Prepares reports, plans, strategies, and business cases based on data.
• Makes recommendations to engineering staff on capital projects and planning. 

 6. Provides technical guidance, direction, and training for division, including:

• Develops and reviews on an ongoing basis the skill and training requirements for division staff. Analyzes work practices and procedures. Implements training programs and quality control practices. 
• Maintains knowledge of regulations, standards, and industry best practices. Ensures compliance with applicable regulations. 
• Collaborates with other divisions, departments, and agencies to share and leverage technical expertise.

7. Provides excellent customer service to internal and external customers, including:

• Ensures safe and reliable water supply and related services to the community and customers.
• Communicates effectively and professionally with the public, including representing the City during difficult situations such as droughts, water outages, boil water orders, do not drink orders, and regulatory violations. 
• Keeps department and communications department staff apprised of potential customer service and communications concerns.
• Serves as an escalation point for division staff on difficult customer service issues. 
• Ensures a high level of service to internal customers, including other departments and all Public Works divisions. 

 
8. Takes proper safety precautions, anticipates unsafe conditions, acts accordingly to prevent accidents. This includes the following:

• Responsible for the safety of self, others, materials, equipment, assigned facilities, and the public.
• Uses all required safety equipment. 
• Fosters a positive safety culture for the division and department.
• Identifies training needs and implements division training program.
• Investigates accidents and injuries. Collaborates with Risk Manager to analyze incidents and implement measures to avoid future accidents and injuries.  

 9. May serve as Acting Public Works Director in the director’s absence. 

Typical Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in physical sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, or a related field, three years of supervisory experience, and at least five years of relevant work experience involving operation and maintenance of water treatment facilities, laboratories, source water reservoirs, pumping stations, storage tanks, and related facilities and equipment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Colorado Class A Water Treatment Certification or ability to obtain through reciprocity within 6-months. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to deal tactfully and effectively with the public, and ability to make effective presentations. Demonstrated ability to collaborate. Proven ability to lead, manage and organize work teams. Proven ability to effectively contribute to leadership teams. Demonstrated ability to establish and achieve goals. Demonstrated ability and initiative to work independently with minimal supervision. Demonstrated knowledge and proficient use of computers and associated software applications including SCADA, asset management, and work order systems. Demonstrated ability to develop budget proposals and manage budgets. Knowledge of safety issues related to operations and maintenance activities. Ability to respond to emergency situations during and outside of normal work hours. Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities. Valid driver’s license. Have and maintain an acceptable motor vehicle record and criminal history record. Contribute to and demonstrate City’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and transparency.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS (In Addition to Required Minimum)
Experience in management of surface water reservoirs along Colorado’s Front Range or an area with similar hydrology, climate, and geology; including experience managing seasonal source water quality fluctuations. Experience with process optimization and management of taste and odor variability. Experience with maintenance and rehabilitation of conventional treatment facilities and processes. Experience with Colorado water law. Experience serving on irrigation ditch and reservoir company boards. Colorado Level III Water Distribution Certification. Experience and certification in backflow prevention programs. Experience managing systems with multiple treatment facilities or technologies. Experience with variable shift schedules and 24-hour operations.

Information

• Location: Lafayette, United States

Industry experience

Education: Bachelor

Seniority: Manager, Director, Professor

Years of experience: 5 to 10 years

Taxonomy

• water treatment
• Water and Wastewater Manager
• Water treatment
• water treatment