Water and Resource Recovery Center Director

Dubuque, Iowa (population 59,667) is seeking qualified candidates to serve as its Water and Resource Recovery Center Director. 

The Community

Located along the Mississippi River bluffs, lying at the junction of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, the region known as the Tri-State Area, the city takes great pride in its slogan “Masterpiece on the Mississippi”.  The City is the oldest City in Iowa as a metropolitan service area for seven surrounding counties and is a welcoming place to live, work, and raise a family.  It is proud of the title “The Key City” as it reflects its geographic location in the Midwest and is listed as one of the best places to live in Iowa.   The City is comprised of 31.22 square miles and has long been a center of manufacturing with an economy that grew rapidly and diversified to other areas in the first years of the 21st century. By 2005, the city led the state and the Midwest in job growth, ranking as the 22nd-fastest growing economy in the US.  Alongside industry, the city has large health care, education, tourism, publishing, and financial service sectors. The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government.  The Water and Resource Recovery Center Director oversees seventeen full-time team members, serves on the City’s Department Manager’s Team, and reports directly to the City Manager. 

The Position

The Water and Resource Recovery Center Director oversees the day-to-day operations of the City’s wastewater treatment and collection system. The City treats approximately seven million gallons per day. The department is responsible for maintaining twenty lift stations in the City’s system. The Water and Resource Recovery Center is an advanced secondary wastewater treatment facility. After treatment, the system gravity feeds its effluent 2,200 feet into the Mississippi River. The system includes excess flow equalization facilities for storage during high-flow events.  The system is currently under a 2011 Consent decree to take all necessary measures to achieve full compliance with the Clean Water Act and the Iowa Water Pollution Control Laws. This position is classified as full-time working Monday-Friday during normal business hours, but the City is open to a flexible schedule and some potential remote work for this position. The office for this position is in the Resource Recovery Center Administrative Building. 

The Director’s duties include:

• Manage the operation and maintenance of the Water and Resource Recovery Center and its associated lift stations and the environmental monitoring laboratory. 

• Plan, direct, and coordinate the operation and maintenance of the municipal water pollution control plant. 

• Plan, organize, assign, and review the work of employees. 

• Develop and implement department goals and objectives. 

• Manage, prepare, and review annual capital and operations budget recommendations including the establishment of the annual rate structure. 

• Develop and implement long-range plans and work plans for the management of the center and its associated facilities. 

• Oversee the administration of the industrial pretreatment program. 

• Develop policies and procedures designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Department operations.  

Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with major coursework in environmental or sanitary engineering, chemistry, biology, or a related field supplemented by coursework in public administration. 

• A minimum of five years of progressive experience in the management of a water pollution control facility. 

• Proven track record of collaboration and engagement with internal and external stakeholders. 

• A combination of education and experience equivalent to those mentioned above will also be considered.

Ideal Candidates will possess:

• Three (3) to five (5) years of responsibility for general fiscal management, capital and operating budget management, and strategic planning. 

• Ten years of related work experience with six to eight years of management/supervisory experience. 

• Demonstrated creativity and innovation in programs and processes. 

• Demonstrated ability to view operational services through an equity lens. 

• Willingness to help others. 

• Effective communication skills.  

• A passion for building and developing teams. 

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $91,686.40 - $119,932.80 and will depend upon education and previous experience. This pay range may change in the future, as the City is currently going through a Class and Compensation Study to ensure they remain competitive in the marketplace. 

• City-paid professional training and membership dues.

• Participation in the State of Iowa Pension Plan. 

• Individual or family health insurance plan with 85%/15% city/employee split

• Dental Insurance

• 12 paid holidays

• 2 personal days  

• Paid sick leave (8 hours per month) 

• Begin employment with 120 Hours of paid vacation (hours accrue per pay period)

• Flexible Spending Account 

• City-provided smartphone, iPad, and computer 

• Life insurance and disability insurance 

• Relocation Assistance 

• Tuition Assistance 

• 12 Week Paid Parental Leave 

• Paid Volunteer Program 

The Director is required to reside within 30 miles of the corporate limits of the city within two years of appointment. 

Selection Process & Schedule 

Interested candidates should apply online with a resume, cover letter, and contact information for five professional references. Electronic submissions are required. The position will be open until filled, and the first review will occur (30 days from post). 

Apply at:   https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/dubuqueia/jobs/4194637/water-resource-recovery-center-director?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs 

For questions contact:

Jim Arndt, Vice President GovHR USA

Tel: 217-500-0770 

Dubuque, Iowa is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.