Assistant Director - Water Utility (Water Delivery) (Non-Civil Service)

Welcome to the City of Dallas!

The City of Dallas is one of the largest employers in the DFW Metroplex. We offer growth opportunities and a chance to make a difference in our community.

 

What do we offer?

A competitive salary, five-year vested pension plan, great benefits package that includes health, vision and dental insurance, pet insurance, tuition reimbursement, qualifying childcare assistance, paid time off and more.

 

Join our incredible team of water professionals in providing excellent service to the residents of Dallas and beyond while building a rewarding career in public service.

 

Job Summary

The Assistant Director – Water Distribution provides executive leadership and oversight of the Dallas Water Distribution Program, managing a regional water delivery system that serves nearly 2.6 million North Central Texas residents—including 1.3 million City of Dallas customers and 1.3 million wholesale customers. This critical role directs multiple divisions responsible for the safe, reliable, and continuous delivery of clean drinking water across a 700-square-mile service area.

 

Overseeing more than 5,000 miles of water distribution and raw water conveyance pipelines, 29 high-service pump stations, and 22 water storage tanks, the Assistant Director manages a 24/7 operation including water distribution, pumping, water quality, leak detection, maintenance & repair, emergency response, and regulatory compliance. The role entails leadership of 300+ staff and oversight of an annual, $65 million operational budget.

 

This position involves strategic long- and short-term planning, budgeting, resource and asset management, personnel development, and cross-functional collaboration within the Dallas Water Utilities. The Assistant Director represents the department and City on various local, state, and national committees and builds strong partnerships with public and private stakeholders including regulatory agencies, city management, residents, businesses, consultants, contractors, and vendors.

 

Key programs under this leadership include the Distribution Maintenance and Repair Programs, Water Quality and Pumping. The Assistant Director ensures alignment with industry best practices, regulatory requirements, and public health standards while delivering exceptional water services to the community.

 

Job Description

Dallas Water Utilities is a regional provider of water, wastewater, and stormwater services and ranks as the ninth-largest provider of these services in the nation. The Assistant Director – Water Distribution provides executive leadership and management for the Water Delivery Program and is responsible for assigning and evaluating the performance of subordinate managers and supervisors, overseeing financial and budgetary management, conducting comprehensive operational reviews, providing strategic administrative direction, and ensuring quality control across all operations, programs, and service delivery functions.

 

Essential Functions

·       Provide executive leadership and oversight of all long-term and short-term planning, budgeting, operations, maintenance, personnel development, equipment management, research on new technologies, and overall resource and asset management.

·       Manage and evaluate subordinate managers and superintendents to enhance productivity, boost employee morale, foster professional growth, cultivate a culture of safety and teamwork, and ensure exceptional customer service 24/7.

·       Coordinate program and resource allocation with other executives and management teams; develop and implement policies, procedures, and compliance measures.

·       Direct managerial staff activities including hiring, training, performance evaluations, and other personnel actions to maintain productivity and uphold quality standards.

·       Ensure delivery of water services in full compliance with all regulatory requirements.

·       Oversee departmental operating budget administration, review significant variances, resolve budget issues, and provide feedback to optimize resource allocation and fiscal responsibility.

·       Identify and implement quality management initiatives to improve productivity through enhanced procedures, communication, and accountability.

·       Lead emergency preparedness and response efforts related to water, coordinating with agencies such as FEMA, USACE, and TCEQ.

·       Represent the City and department at local, state, and national organizations, professional forums, and media engagements to maintain and promote the City’s image; provide accurate information to City Council and the public on water-related issues.

·       Ensure overall program and financial management, organizational effectiveness, and regulatory compliance with agencies including TCEQ, TXDOT, TWDB, USEPA, USACE, FEMA, and others.

·       Respond to special research requests, coordinating with Deputy Directors, the Director, City Manager’s office, and City Council to deliver accurate and timely information.

·       Direct communications with residents, businesses, regulatory bodies, city management, other departments, consultants, contractors, and vendors to support operational goals and stakeholder engagement.

·       Lead the advancement of the program through innovative technology adoption to optimize water delivery and improve operational efficiency. Leverage data-driven decision-making to enhance resource management, meet growing demand with limited resources, and position the utility as a smarter, more sustainable provider for the 21st century.

 

Knowledge and Skills

·       Comprehensive knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations governing water distribution, pumping operations, water quality, and system compliance.

 

·       In-depth understanding of water utility infrastructure, including distribution pipelines, pump stations, storage facilities, system hydraulics, and emergency response protocols.

 

·       Expertise in the use and oversight of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems for real-time monitoring, control, and optimization of water delivery operations.

 

·       Strong proficiency in leveraging data analytics to drive operational efficiency, inform decision-making, and support predictive maintenance and system optimization.

 

·       Knowledge of infrastructure resiliency strategies, including risk mitigation, asset management, and system hardening to ensure reliable service under extreme weather or emergency conditions.

 

·       Experience in strategic planning, resource allocation, and implementing innovative technologies to meet growing demand with limited resources.

 

·       Proven ability to manage large operating budgets, oversee multi-disciplinary teams, and lead complex utility operations in a 24/7 service environment.

 

·       Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage and negotiate effectively with staff, contractors, regulatory agencies, elected officials, and the public.

 

·       Ability to interpret engineering plans, operational data, and performance metrics to guide system improvements and ensure regulatory compliance.

 

·       Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong working relationships across departments and with external stakeholders to achieve organizational goals.

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

Experience

Seven (7) years of broad progressive management experience in Water Operations, Wastewater Operations, Stormwater Operations, Business and Customer Operations, Debt Service, Capital Improvement & Engineering Services, Process Improvements and/or Long-Range Planning.

 

Licenses and Certifications

State of Texas TBPE License may be required for some positions.

 

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Finance, Public Administration, Public Policy, Construction Management, or Business.

Equivalency

1.    A High school diploma or GED plus eleven (11) years of required relevant experience will meet the education and experience requirements.

2.    Master’s degree or higher in Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Finance, Public Administration, Public Policy, Construction Management, or Business plus five (5) years of the experience will meet the education and experience requirements.