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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Director

💰 $95,000 - $160,000

Water ManagementUtilitiesEnvironmental ServicesPublic Works

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Director is a senior public- or private-sector leader responsible for the safe, reliable, compliant operation and strategic management of drinking water and/or wastewater systems. This role combines technical knowledge of water treatment and distribution, regulatory compliance (EPA, state regulators, NPDES, SDWA), financial stewardship (budgeting, rate setting, grant management), capital improvement program delivery, and people leadership (operations staff, engineers, field crews). The Water Director develops and executes short- and long-term plans for infrastructure renewal, asset management, water quality, emergency response, and sustainability initiatives while building trusted relationships with elected officials, regulators, community stakeholders, and partner agencies.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Water Operations Manager / Utilities Operations Manager
  • Water Treatment Plant Superintendent or Wastewater Plant Superintendent
  • Senior Civil or Environmental Engineer (water/wastewater focus)

Advancement To:

  • Director of Public Works
  • Chief Operating Officer, Utilities
  • Deputy City/County Manager with utilities oversight
  • Regional Utilities Executive / VP of Water Services (private sector)

Lateral Moves:

  • Wastewater Director
  • Water Resources Manager
  • Capital Projects Director (Water Infrastructure)
  • Environmental Compliance Director

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide executive leadership for all water and/or wastewater utility functions, including treatment plant operations, distribution and collection system maintenance, laboratory services, meter reading and customer response, ensuring safe, reliable service and regulatory compliance across the utility.
  • Develop, present, and manage multi-year operating and capital budgets for the water utility including forecasting, rate studies, revenue projections, and long-range financial plans to ensure sustainable funding for operations, maintenance, and infrastructure renewal.
  • Lead development and execution of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for water and wastewater systems: prioritize projects, prepare project scopes, coordinate design and construction, oversee procurement, manage contractors, and monitor budget and schedule performance.
  • Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local water and wastewater regulations (SDWA, Clean Water Act/NPDES, state permit programs), including timely reporting, permit renewals, sampling and monitoring programs, and corrective action plans.
  • Direct and oversee water quality programs, laboratory analysis, treatment process optimization, disinfection practices, source water protection, and response plans for water quality complaints and adverse events.
  • Implement and maintain an asset management program to inventory infrastructure, evaluate condition, prioritize renewals, optimize life-cycle costs, and integrate GIS and CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems) for proactive maintenance planning.
  • Recruit, mentor, manage, and develop a multi-disciplinary team of operations staff, licensed operators, engineers, technical specialists, and administrative staff; establish performance objectives, succession planning, safety culture, and training/certification pathways.
  • Oversee procurement, contract negotiation, and vendor management for goods and services, including construction contracts, professional services, chemical supplies, and equipment leasing or purchase.
  • Coordinate emergency preparedness and response programs for floods, droughts, contamination incidents, cybersecurity events, and natural disasters; maintain and exercise emergency response plans and mutual aid agreements.
  • Lead public engagement, community outreach, and communications on water quality, construction impacts, rate changes, conservation programs, and sustainability initiatives; serve as the public-facing representative for the utility before councils, boards, regulators, and media.
  • Direct regulatory inspections, internal audits, compliance audits, and corrective action implementation; maintain documentation and records to demonstrate compliance and continuous improvement.
  • Oversee capital project delivery including feasibility studies, environmental reviews, permitting, design oversight, construction administration, and final acceptance; enforce quality control and safety standards on projects.
  • Coordinate interdisciplinary planning with city/county planning, stormwater, public works, and emergency services to integrate water infrastructure planning into broader community and regional plans.
  • Manage grant identification, application, administration, and compliance (state revolving funds, FEMA, USDA, state grants) to secure external funding for infrastructure and resiliency projects.
  • Establish and monitor performance metrics and KPIs (e.g., regulatory exceedances, unaccounted-for water, response time to service calls, O&M cost per million gallons) to drive operational efficiency and transparency.
  • Oversee asset rehabilitation, pipeline replacement, pump station upgrades, reservoir and tank maintenance, and corrosion control programs to reduce leaks, main breaks, and service interruptions.
  • Provide technical guidance and review for engineering design, procurement specifications, contract change orders, and as-built documentation to ensure operability and maintainability of new facilities.
  • Manage meter programs, billing coordination and metering technology upgrades including AMI/AMR implementations, leak detection programs, and water conservation incentive programs.
  • Lead initiatives for sustainability and resilience including water conservation, watershed protection, energy efficiency in treatment plants, water reuse/recycling projects, and climate adaptation planning.
  • Provide strategic guidance on water resource planning, source water supply evaluation, interconnections and regional partnerships, drought contingency planning, and long-term capacity planning.
  • Ensure occupational health and safety compliance across the utility: develop safety programs, incident investigation procedures, and training that meet OSHA, state, and local safety requirements.
  • Prepare and present reports, feasibility analyses, board memos, and technical briefings for elected officials, regulatory agencies, and executive leadership to support informed decision-making.

Secondary Functions

  • Support development and continuous improvement of the utility’s asset inventory, GIS mapping, and digital twins to improve situational awareness and maintenance scheduling.
  • Coordinate with finance and customer service teams to implement equitable rate structures, customer assistance programs, and billing accuracy initiatives.
  • Participate in regional water/wastewater associations, AWWA/WEF committees, and professional networks to stay current on industry best practices and regulatory changes.
  • Lead special projects such as pilot studies for new treatment technologies, PFAS mitigation planning, and biosolids management strategies.
  • Mentor and sponsor professional development opportunities for staff, including operator certification support, professional licensure (PE), and leadership development programs.
  • Manage small grants and interdepartmental projects that support education, outreach, and community-based water stewardship programs.
  • Oversee contracts for third-party laboratory services, sampling schedules, and QA/QC protocols to supplement in-house capacity.
  • Evaluate and recommend digital transformation initiatives: SCADA upgrades, IoT sensor deployments, predictive analytics for pump and motor maintenance, and mobile workforce management tools.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Water Treatment Plant Operations & Process Control (filtration, coagulation, disinfection, sludge handling)
  • Wastewater Treatment Processes and NPDES permit management
  • Regulatory Compliance: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Clean Water Act, state drinking water/wastewater regulations, reporting systems
  • Asset Management and CMMS (Maximo, CityWorks, Cartegraph or similar)
  • Capital Project Delivery & Construction Management (CIP planning, procurement, contract administration)
  • Budgeting, Financial Planning, Rate Modeling, and Grant Management (SRF, USDA, FEMA)
  • Water Distribution and Collection System Engineering, leak detection, pressure management
  • SCADA, PLCs, telemetry systems, and basic cybersecurity awareness for critical infrastructure
  • GIS applications for mapping distribution networks and infrastructure
  • Laboratory QA/QC, sampling protocols, and water quality testing oversight
  • Operator certifications and staff credentialing requirements; familiarity with AWWA/WEF standards
  • Emergency Response Planning and Incident Command System (ICS) coordination

Soft Skills

  • Strategic leadership and executive decision-making in utilities management
  • Excellent written and oral communication for community engagement, council briefings, and regulatory negotiation
  • Change management and the ability to lead organizational transformation and digital adoption
  • Collaborative stakeholder management across political, intergovernmental, and public audiences
  • Problem solving and analytical thinking under regulatory and operational constraints
  • Team building, mentoring, and staff development with a safety-first mindset
  • Transparency and public trust orientation with experience in controversial or visible public matters
  • Negotiation skill for contracts, interlocal agreements, and vendor relationships
  • Project prioritization and time management in a high-demand public service environment

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Public Administration, Chemistry, Biology, or a related technical/public sector field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Public Administration (MPA), Business Administration (MBA), or related advanced degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Public Administration / Public Policy
  • Environmental Science
  • Water Resources Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 8–15+ years in water/wastewater operations, engineering, or utilities management with increasing leadership responsibility.

Preferred:

  • 10+ years of direct experience managing municipal or regional water and/or wastewater utilities, including responsibility for budgets, capital programs, and regulatory compliance.
  • Demonstrated experience with large capital projects, asset management implementation, and successful relationships with state/federal regulators.
  • Professional certifications such as State Water/Wastewater Operator License (Class A/B or equivalent), Professional Engineer (PE) in Civil/Environmental (preferred), and safety certifications (OSHA 10/30 or equivalent).
  • Proven track record of grant writing/administration and rate study execution, and experience implementing AMI/AMR, SCADA, or digital transformation projects.
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