TUCSON WATER ADMINISTRATOR

Division Administrator

Recruitment #2208-4186-001

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Introduction



The City of Tucson is seeking dynamic and progressive leaders as Division Administrators of Southern Arizona's largest municipal utility, the Water Department. Tucson Water supplies water service to more than 744,000 customers both within and outside the city limits.  The City is seeking forward-looking strategic leaders, capable of assisting the organization in its mission to provide high-quality water and excellent service in a safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sensitive manner.

TUCSON WATER

Tucson Water is the largest enterprise department in the City with an annual operating budget of $200 million and a five-year capital budget of $450 million.  Recent recognition includes being named a Utility of the Future Today (NACWA, EPA, WEF, WateReuse Association, and The Water Research Foundation); Large Utility of the Year (AZ Water Association), Sustainable Water Utility Management Award (Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies) and numerous individual and team awards. The water system consists of approximately 5,000 miles of water mains, 192 potable wells, and 58 storage facilities. The utility provides both potable and recycled (reclaimed) water and has over 232,000 active services over 395 square mile service area. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Tucson has an exciting opportunity for Division Administrators who are innovative, driven, and passionate about water operations. These positions will develop high-level policy advice, short and long-range water planning activities including research, analysis, issue identification, and projections. The Water Administrators will assist with the development and administration of Tucson's water management plans, programs, and goals. 

As members of the senior management team, this position is eligible to serve in an assignment as Deputy Director to oversee/supervise one or more of the divisions. 

This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule with time being split between telecommuting from home and working in the office. Telecommuting privileges are approved at the sole discretion of the supervisor and department management; as such, the department reserves the right to modify or discontinue telecommuting arrangements at any point. 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATES

The ideal candidates will have a proven track record of demonstrated leadership, proven accomplishments, and superior performance in a public agency, public or private utility, municipal organization, or a closely related organization. 


CITY WIDE BENEFITS

The City of Tucson offers a wide range of generous benefits for eligible employees. Some of those benefits include:

  • Medical: Choice between a high deductible plan (HSA or HRA), or Network plan
  • Dental: Choice between a national dental PPO and a local dental HMO
  • Vision: Coverage for annual eye exam and glasses or contacts, plus LASIK
  • Life: City-paid coverage for you & dependents, plus option to buy more
  • Long-Term Disability: Income replacement of up to 60% of your base salary in the event of a qualifying disability
  • Employee Assistance Program: Enhance your wellbeing when life doesn’t go as planned
  • Flexible Spending: Pay for qualified health and dependent care expenses using pretax dollars
  • Colonial Voluntary Benefits: Financial help in the event of cancer, hospitalization, accident, and more

 

Your Security and Future

  • Pension: Generous pension plans that help both civilian and public safety employees retire more comfortably
  • Deferred Compensation: Save more toward a comfortable retirement with a 457(b) plan
  • Training & Tuition Assistance: Pursue your dream through internal training or financial help toward a degree
  • Back-Up Care: Care for your loved ones when your regular care is unavailable

 

Your Peace of Mind

  • Paid Parental Leave: Six (6) weeks paid leave when you welcome a child, plus other generous leave policies for FML, Medical and USERRA
  • Paid Time Away: New hires enjoy 37 days of paid time off in the first year, with time increasing steadily thereafter (In year one: 13 accrued days of vacation, 13 accrued days of sick leave, and 11 paid holidays)
  • Employee Discounts: Generous discounts, ranging from car rentals to computers, gifts to groceries, electronics to entertainment
  • Social Connectedness: Forge connections with the community we serve through paid volunteerism and payroll-deducted charitable giving

For a full description of benefits offered to eligible employees, or to inquire further about the City of Tucson's benefits options, please visit: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/hr/employee-benefit-snapshot

General Description

Administers and manages the activities and personnel of a division of the Water Department. Develops and implements water management plans, programs, and goals.

Essential Functions

EXPECTATIONS & RESPONSIBILITES

  • Lead the strategy, development, and oversight of planning projects for integrated water resources management projects involving water supply, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater, and/or recycled water, and water resource and energy optimization.
  • Serve as an executive sponsor/champion for key initiatives
  • Plan, coordinate, direct, and integrate water operations, programs, policies, and personnel
  • Coordinate departmental activities with other City departments, governmental entities, contractors, developers, water suppliers, and customers
  • Work with departmental and City staff in planning utility improvements
  • Deploy and optimize staff and resources
  • Solve organizational and human resources challenges
  • Work on setting rates and securing financing for projects
  • Represent the City and participate in local, regional, state, and national organizations regarding a wide range of water matters
  • Direct the development and implementation of long-range and short-term technology plans
  • Coach and mentor staff to deliver excellent customer service
  • Build a work environment that empowers employee growth and opportunity


REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & ABILITIES


  • Principles of planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance of potable water and recycled water systems
  • Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and ordinances
  • Principles and practices of human resources, public administration, municipal labor relations, effective leadership, organization, management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation
  • Preparation and administration of contracts and fiscal planning
  • Best practices and principles of budgeting, communications, information technology, project management, performance standards, records management, and the use of resources to achieve outcomes and expectations
  • Analyze data and draw sound conclusions
  • Develop and implement departmental goals and objectives
  • Effectively coordinate and implement departmental change
  • Effectively manage, mentor, train, and motivate employees
  • Ability to problem-solve and resolve conflicts
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, colleagues, employees, community and business organizations, the media, and the general public

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education Level & Type: Bachelor's Degree or Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Water Distribution Grade 3 Certification or equivalent state certification

Minimum Experience Qualifications: At least 5 years of experience developing and implementing management plans, programs, and goals.  At least 4 of required 5 years in a Supervisory capacity in a related functional area.

"Supervisory" is defined as having supervised at least one (1) full-time FTE.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the above qualifications the ideal candidates will possess the following:

  • Graduate degree from an accredited college or university
  • Bachelor's Degree in Hydrology, Natural Resource Management, Water Law, Environmental Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, or a related field
  • Technical and/or managerial experience in designing, implementing, and managing water programs including water and energy resources
  • 5-7 years' experience in progressively responsible decision-making roles, including 4+ years of work experience in the field of water resources, water law, water quality, water conservation or policy analysis
  • Ability to interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, codes, rules, and regulations
  • Ability to work collaboratively with local, state, regional, and federal officials on topics involving water resource management and energy management.
  • Demonstrated excellent analytical ability in applying specialized and conceptual knowledge in the areas of responsibility, including supply and demand forecasting, analysis, modeling, and resource planning

Selection Plan

**You are encouraged to print this bulletin because it contains important dates and information that will not be available online once this position closes.**

As part of the online application process all applicants are required to submit a resume under the "Resume" tab. Resumes will be reviewed and scored.  Please ensure your application contains the required resume prior to submission. 

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated on the education and work experience in their employment profile and the responses to their supplemental questions. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in a writing exercise. 

The writing exercise will be emailed to applicants by 5:00 pm (Tucson time) on September 9, 2022, with a firm deadline to return the completed exercise by noon (Tucson time) on September 12, 2022. The highest scoring applicants will then be invited to a virtual oral board interview via MS Teams.

  • Virtual Oral Board Interviews will be held September 21 and 22, 2022 (as needed)  

Upon completion of all examination processes, the highest scoring applicants will be placed on the Civil Service Employment List.  An applicant's ranking on the Civil Service list will be based on their final score which will be calculated as:      

  • 40% of your written exercise
  • 50% of your oral board interview 
  • 10% of your rating for education and work experience  

This recruitment will establish a civil service list that may be utilized to fill vacancies occurring at Tucson Water within the next 6 months.

  • Post list hiring interviews may be held in early October 2022

Veterans, Native American, or Disability preference points will be added to the final score for those that are placed on the Civil Service Employment List.  If you qualify for preference points as outlined in the Employment Profile, you must upload your documentation as part of the application process or email it to Roxie.Escarcega@tucsonaz.gov. The DD 214 must be a copy that indicates characterization of service.  

If you are in need of Americans with Disabilities Act-related accommodation during the testing process, please contact Roxie Escarcega at (520) 837-2138 at least 48 hours prior to the evaluation.


**The City of Tucson values the safety of our employees, our residents, our community, and our visitors.  In support of these values, if you are selected for this job, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are invited to join our team, you must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative. New employees must either provide proof of vaccination or be granted a medical or religious exemption before working with the City of Tucson.**

Conclusion

Communication during this process will be sent via email to the email address on file, so please ensure your browser accepts emails from jobs@tucsonaz.gov and check your email account regularly; this may include your junk box/spam filter.  Failure to respond or follow instructions may result in disqualification.

Pre-employment Medical Testing Requirements

None 

**The City of Tucson values the safety of our employees, our residents, our community, and our visitors.  In support of these values, if you are selected for this job, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are invited to join our team, you must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative. New employees must either provide proof of vaccination or be granted a medical or religious exemption before working with the City of Tucson.**

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To ensure accurate payroll information for tax purposes, the successful candidate will need to provide their original Social Security Card or original letter from the Social Security Administration with their social security number prior to beginning work with the City of Tucson.

The City of Tucson hires lawful workers only - US citizens or nationals and non-citizens with valid work authorization - without discrimination. Federal immigration laws require all employers to verify both the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. In its efforts to meet the law's requirements, the City of Tucson participates in the E-Verify program established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to aid employers in verifying the eligibility of workers.

Retired City of Tucson employees receiving benefits from the Tucson Supplemental Retirement System who are considering reemployment with the City should be aware that pursuant to Section 22-37(g) of the Tucson City Code, retirement benefits shall be suspended during the period of reemployment with the City of Tucson unless you have been separated at least twelve consecutive months before returning to work AND you return to a non-permanent employment classification. Creditable service does not accrue during any reemployment period.