Executive Director of the Water Utility

The Executive Director of the Water Utility reports directly to the Managing Director of ENOWA Water. The position is responsible and accountable for the overall management and control of the water utility divisions and functions akin to a COO position of a Water utility. The position has oversight of the Water Transmission Storage & Distribution Department, Water Operations & Maintenance department, Wastewater Treatment and Recycled water department, Governance and Regulation department, Water Operations and Maintenance department, Water Management department.

Core requirement is to build out all the Technical Processes and capability of the Water Utility which will be merged into a partnership at a later stage. Overall Technical Management of the water utility until such time the Operational partnership comes into effect and then to design the Water Utility organization aligned with the Operational Partnership based on where the responsibilities lie.

The Chief of Staff, Customer Delivery, Stakeholder engagement, Revenue Protection, People and Environment, Water Solutions and Innovation R&D departments and other shared resources will report under the Managing Director of Water and work alongside this role as peer departments until such time a CEO for the water utility is employed when the utility is sufficiently sized with connected customers.

The ED position will eventually grow into the Water Utility COO position once the overall development of NEOM has completed Phase 1 in 2030

Position description and responsibilities

Strategy Development and Planning

• Develop the department strategy and related strategic plans for the Technical aspect of the Water Utility.
• Direct the implementation of the departmental strategy and related strategic plans ensuring that variances are addressed in a timely manner.
• Develop Implementation plans and ensure progress
• Be flexible and adaptable in rapid response to unexpected events (for example, major incidents) and the ability to develop and mobilize creative solutions to these challenges.
• Able to energize and inspire a large, in-house and outsourced workforce, must have the strategic mindset and commercial acumen with the ability to deliver the planned outcomes and returns for multiple stakeholders.
• Develop out asset development plans and monitoring plans
• Develop out Business plans for the Infrastructure
• Ensure guidelines are available based on strategy for all aspects of Water Utility

Operations and Maintenance  

• Ensure the development of operational requirements and plans in the best possible manner for water networks, pumping stations, sub-sea pipelines, chemical disinfection equipment.
• Ensure full ISO accreditation implementation for the Water Utility
• Develop out Partnership plan with strong experienced Water Utility Operations partner and form Joint Venture with Partner

Infrastructure Development    

• Ensure full Asset Management processes and procedures are in place
• Have a full Planning and Development team focused on water assets delivery
• Build out the Water utility Infrastructure in accordance with customers requirements
• Seek funding and investment for Water assets.
• Build out full Digital Water Utility focused on Technical aspects
• Implement experienced PMO team to support infrastructure development

HSE    

• Direct the implementation of HSE policies, standards, processes, procedures, and controls, to ensure full alignment with local and international, health, safety, and environment standards.
• Ensure the distribution and enforcement of HSE policies, standards, processes, procedures, and controls.

People Management   

• Develop strong organisation structure for technical aspects of water utility – ready to be rolled into Operational partnership with strong third party.
• Ensure have full people Management team in place

Governance and Regulations 

• Ensure full adherence to Governance and Regulations for the Water Utility
• Develop out KPI and Processes and Procedures for the water utility to ensure meeting all laws and regulations
• Liaise with Water department in building out the Water Utility technical processes and responses and adhering to regulation

Commercial    

• Strong commercial acumen, collaborative, non-hierarchical, able to work in a collaborative way with and through others.
• Detailed knowledge of the principles, practices and methods of leadership including governance, strategic planning, performance measurement, continuous quality improvement, and objectives, policies and procedures development and implementation.
• Detailed knowledge of various project delivery methods including Design Build, Traditional Design, Bid Build and Public Private Partnerships.

Leadership     

• Provide direction and leadership in the identification, development, and implementation of strategies, projects, policies, decisions, assignments, and activities for all Technical aspects of ENOWA Water utility.
• Provide direction and leadership to the management of the ENOWA Water’s increasing asset infrastructure including pumping stations, service reservoirs, storage tanks, potable water transmission (conveyance) and distribution networks, recycled water networks and operations and maintenance of these assets.
• Provide leadership to ENOWA Water's short and long term asset planning processes including: 5 Year Operations Plan; 5 Year Capital Investment Programme; Asset Management Plan; Recycled Water Plans; Annual Operating and Capital Budget; Annual Water Operations Plan; Emergency Operations Plans.
• Provide effective leadership and staff supervision, including selection, training and development.
• Provide effective problem-solving and decision-making, planning, delegation, performance evaluations.

Knowledge and Experience

The role requires a strong leader with a track record of asset strategy, planning, design, delivery, operations and asset management, with previous experience as Chief Operations Officer or General Manager within the water industry.

• Familiarity with large scale engineering or process industries is essential, combined with a strong understanding of operational scale and risk.
• Experience interfacing with external stakeholders as part of a regulated business.
• Able to develop others and ensure a strong talent pipeline for the future.
• Promoting a leading health, safety and wellbeing culture.
• Customer-oriented with an ability to bring the customer perspective into the day-to-day operational performance.
• Experience in developing out partnerships and joint ventures
• Excellence in implementation, procurement and directing multiple 3rd party O&M contracts.
• Strong experience in leading, inspiring and managing large teams.
• Experience in a dynamic complex commercial organization, engaged in multiple simultaneous projects.
• Ability to provide detailed technical assessments, recommendations and influence people at all levels.
• Innovative approach, eager to challenge the status quo.
• Ability to develop short- and long-term strategic objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field
• Certification in Contracts & Commercial Management (CCM) would be a plus

Information

• Location: Saudi Arabia

Industry experience

Education: Bachelor

Seniority: VP, Exec VP, MD, Dean, General Manager, Business Unit Manager

Years of experience: 10 to 20 years

Taxonomy

• Utility Management
• Managing Director