The Board of Trustees invites your interest in the position of

Transcription

1 The Board of Trustees invites your interest in the position of GE NE R A L M A N A G E R

2 The Successful Candidate for the Position of WDM Water Works GENERAL MANAGER Possesses Skills, Experience and Knowledge Under the direction of the West Des Moines Water Works (WDMWW) Board of Trustees, the General Manager (GM) leads, manages and directs the utility towards its mission of providing quality water in reliable quantities and superior service to an expanding base of water consumers. The GM is accountable for developing, implementing and executing short- and long-range plans, policies, budgets, and strategies to accomplish the mission, strategic plan and Board of Trustees priorities. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class. Directs, plans, coordinates, controls and evaluates the daily operation of the utility through subordinate directors and employees. Establishes current and long-range goals, objectives, plans, and policies subject to review by the Board. Dispenses advice, guidance, direction, and authorization to carry out major plans, standards, and procedures consistent with established policies. Oversees adequacy and soundness of the organization s financial structure, including but not limited to,s capital improvements and economic modeling and justification for projects. Reviews engineering documents, plans and plots prepared by others and is responsible for ensuring that designs and project proposals meet the WDMWW objectives. Compares operating results with established objectives and takes steps to ensure appropriate measures are taken to correct unsatisfactory results. Establishes and maintains an effective system of communications throughout the organization. Is responsible for keeping all Board members informed of the activities of WDMWW and progress of projects. Plans and works in concert with the City of West Des Moines, Des Moines and other suburbs to ensure the best service for ratepayers. Represents the utility with major customers, business partners, other utilities and the community. Is responsible for coordinating all of the utility s work with planning, engineering and legal consultants. Directs and oversees the analysis of proposed legislation and regulation as it relates to the utility. Participates in regional, state and national utility meetings and conferences to stay abreast of trends and technology related to the utility s operations. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF HIRE: Experience: Eight to 10 years of experience within a utility with a track record of positive professional growth and proven ability to manage a team. Education: Bachelor s degree in Civil Engineering is preferred. Degrees in Engineering, Business Administration, or related field combined with appropriate work experiences will be considered. Master s degree in Engineering, Business Administration or related field a plus. Licenses/Certifications: Valid Iowa driver s license. Iowa DNR Grade 2 Treatment and Distribution license or higher. Valid PE certification desired. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED: Ability to foster strong relationships with industry peers, policy makers, community leaders, union leaders, and other organizations. Excellent interpersonal and oral/written communication skills with knowledge of public relations principles and techniques. Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community. Ability to read and interpret complex data, information and documents; analyze and solve complex, sensitive problems in a dynamic, political environment.

3 Skill, Experience & Knowledge KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED (continued): Experience in strategic planning and execution. Demonstrated creativity, innovation, vision, imagination, patience and judgment. Ability to provide strategic direction to the Board and staff. Experience in positively managing change. Understanding of water industry and knowledge of rules, regulations, guidelines and laws pertaining to water treatment and service. Knowledge of contracting, negotiating, and change management. Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures. Ability to analyze and interpret financial data, develop financial plans and budgets, and manage resources. Ability to motivate teams, develop and challenge staff, and build diversity within the workforce. Skill in working with and educating a diverse Board, many committees, and the community on water issues and concerns. PHYSICAL & MENTAL DEMANDS: Frequent sitting, talking, hearing, reaching, close vision and repetitive hand motions. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Work is performed under typical office conditions. WEST DES MOINES WATER WORKS is 100 percent funded from water service revenues. No property taxes or other funding sources are used to operate, maintain or expand its operations. Established in 1899, WDMWW operates a 12-million gallon per day treatment plant. In addition, the Water Works owns and manages: 17 shallow wells 4 deep wells 4 water storage reservoirs 5 water towers 8 booster pumping stations 3,000 fire hydrants 3,500 valves 283 miles of water main infrastructure

4 A Position Offering You GROWTH and OPPORTUNITY West Des Moines Water Works is an independent water utility serving customers in the metro s largest suburb. For the past 120 years, WDMWW has treated and distributed water from a combination of deep and shallow wells to a growing community a dynamic economic center. Managing public water resources and assets for the community requires knowledge and expertise in water safety, conservation, treatment, production, storage and financial management. The Water Works professional staff operates under the direction of a five-member board of trustees. Appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council, trustees serve staggered six-year terms and are charged with balancing the interests and needs of customers with the overall fiscal health of the utility. PREPARED FOR GROWTH To meet the demand for water services, WDMWW long ago incorporated the city s plans for growth into its own strategic planning. This has allowed Water Works to pace infrastructure growth with expanding geographical reach and increasing consumption. WDMWW stands out with a policy that requires developers bear the cost of connection fees in new developments, not existing ratepayers. As the water utility for Iowa s 8 th -largest city, WDMWW s Board of Trustees supports development and works with the City of West Des Moines on major economic development projects. High-profile examples include Microsoft s three data centers in West Des Moines. The tech giant invested a reported $3.5 billion to build these facilities, which require significant water reserves. Maintain Water Quality and Safety: Whenever possible surpass regulatory standards for safety and quality, while always being mindful of environmental impact. Upgrade and Improve Water Assets: Prevent crisis situations, steadily modernize aging infrastructure. Act with Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability: Keep water rates affordable, while identifying operational efficiencies. Be open to creative solutions. COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION WDMWW also collaborates with neighboring utilities and communities. For example, it shares a water tower with Clive and Waukee. Water Works also supplements its 12-million gallon per day production with purchased water from Des Moines Water Works, providing an additional 9 million gallons for peak usage. Moving forward, WDMWW is involved in various efforts to identify the most efficient and cost-effective way to meet the future water needs of the metro. Growth demands new infrastructure, and Water Works regularly responds with upgrades to its water treatment and distribution resources. As an example, nearly 30 years ago, the Board of Trustees understanding the potentially crippling effects of an aging infrastructure adopted a plan and funding program to replace older mains. That forward-thinking initiative continues to pay dividends to customers who now have better, more reliable access mains and to the Water Works, which has fewer unlined cast-iron pipes among its distribution assets. To date, more than 30 miles of older, problem mains have been replaced. Not surprisingly, WDMWW earns high marks for minimizing main breaks experiencing only 10 incidents in The goal for main breaks established by American Water Works Association for a system the size of WDMWW is 15 breaks or less per 100 miles or under 42 per year. Our Guiding Principles... Provide for Future Community Growth: Ensure that water services, infrastructure and fire capacity keep pace with growth in terms of density and geographic expansion. Cooperate, Collaborate and Communicate: Support economic development in West Des Moines. Work with neighboring communities and peers to better serve all of our customers.

5 Explore Dynamic, Compelling West Des Moines Located at the crossroads of Interstates 80 and 35, West Des Moines has established a well-deserved reputation as a rapidly growing community with a vibrant economic base and quality of life. The community consists of 53.2 square miles located in four counties Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Madison. With a 2018 population nearing 66,000, West Des Moines has grown by 58 percent over the last two decades and is projected to continue this double-digit pace. Employment opportunities are a major draw to West Des Moines providing 62,295 jobs for the metro area. As a result, the daytime population swells to more than 128,000 people--which equates to Iowa s third largest city. NOTABLE FACTS 8 th largest city in Iowa Median age is 35.1 years Median income for households is $73,764 Population grew by 12.26% from 2013 to % of residents are high school graduates 55% of adults hold bachelor s degrees or higher RANKINGS AND RECOGNITION Money Magazine named West Des Moines one of the best 50 places to live in the U.S. in 2018, coming in at No. 37. U.S. News and World Report 2018 Des Moines-West Des Moines named among the Top 10 Best Cities to live in America, coming in at No. 4. Iowa No. 1 Best State in nation, with Infrastructure, Health Care, Opportunity, Education and Quality of Life leading the state to its No. 1 ranking. Iowa s No. 4 ranking in opportunity comes largely from its affordability, especially in terms of housing (No. 2). Iowa is No. 1 in terms of the graduation rate for public high schools and is No. 3 for the graduation rate for fouryear public colleges. Forbes has named the Des Moines-West Des Moines Metropolitan area the No.1 area for young professionals ages who hold a bachelor s degree or higher. $512 million in building permits in 2018 ECONOMY The community s growth is the coalescence of location and astute planning that ensures a balanced mix of land use and infrastructure to accommodate growth. Its largest employers such as Athene Holdings, Wells Fargo and Farm Bureau Financial Services represent the finance and insurance sectors. EDUCATION Iowa is known for its emphasis on education and routinely has some of the highest performing school districts in the country. West Des Moines is no exception offering a variety of excellent K-12 educational opportunities including five public school districts and four private schools. Valley High School, the largest public high school in the city, ranks No. 4 in Iowa, according to U.S. News. It has a staff to student ratio of 1 to 18. Valley had 15 National Merit Scholarship Finalists in 2018 and had an average ACT score of 24.6.

6 First Review: February 18, 2019 (Applications open until filled) To Apply - reach out in confidence to: Karen Novak Swalwell, President Francis & Associates 6923 Vista Drive West Des Moines, Iowa Phone: (515) Cell: (515) knovak@fa-search.com West Des Moines Water Works provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.