Deputy Director of Water Quality & Treatment

JOB LOCATION

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.
 
Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Salary to be commensurate with experience. 

The hiring range for this position is $159,731 - $199,663 per year.

The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.

Overview of Department / Position:

Aurora Water is a nationally recognized, award-winning municipal water utility dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable water, wastewater, and stormwater services to one of Colorado's largest and fastest-growing communities.

The Deputy Director of Water Quality and Treatment directs day-to-day operations and maintenance programs associated with water and wastewater treatment, water reclamation and reuse, source water supply, water quality laboratory operations, and environmental programs. In addition, coordinates, administers, and evaluates the work of the Managers of Treatment and Environmental Services, ensuring integration of treatment operations, regulatory compliance, environmental protection, public health protection, laboratory services, and source water management.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Directs day-to-day operations and maintenance programs associated with water and wastewater treatment, water reclamation and reuse, source water supply, water quality laboratory operations, and environmental programs. 
• Provides executive oversight of environmental compliance, environmental permitting, public health protection, drinking water, wastewater and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) regulatory programs, regulatory affairs related to compliance, environmental risk management, and environmental inspection programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements while protecting the environment and public health. 
• Coordinates, administers, and evaluates the work of the Managers of Treatment and Environmental Services, ensuring integration of treatment operations, regulatory compliance, environmental protection, public health protection, laboratory services, and source water management.  
• Directs the implementation of Department goals and objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the water quality and treatment sections; represents the city at regional and local utility meetings and hearings, monitors and reports on treatment, source of supply and environmental programs.  
• Prepares and monitors the operating budgets, including expenditures. 
• Identifies long-term capital improvement program for the water quality and treatment program areas in conjunction with the planning, and development of capital improvement programs. 
• Develops operational priorities, goals, and objectives. 
• Makes recommendations to the Assistant General Manager of Water Operations regarding selecting, hiring, training, evaluation, and disciplining of assigned employees. 
• Supervises assigned employees. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned.  

The listed primary duties and responsibilities are not a comprehensive list of expectations for the job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered. 

Education:   

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, management, business administration or directly related field.  

Experience:   

• At least 7 years progressively responsible directly related experience in a full-service water utility. 
• At least 3 years supervisory/managerial experience in a full-service water utility. 
• At least 2 years division-level managerial experience in a full-service water utility. 
• Experience in water/wastewater treatment preferred.

Knowledge: 

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and operating requirements of a full-service water utility. 
• Financial management and regulatory requirements. 

Abilities:  

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, citizens, and elected officials. 
• Handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy. 
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. 
• Establish and fulfill goals and objectives. 
• Direct and effectively supervise a large diverse workforce. 
• Administer budgets. 

Skills:   

• Strong interpersonal, decision making, and managerial skills. 
• Licenses and Certifications Required:   
• Colorado Driver's License with a good driving record. 
• Treatment certifications preferred. 

WORKING CONDITIONS  

Essential Personnel:  

• When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the City, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel. 

Physical Demands: 

• Sedentary physical work requiring ability to lift a maximum of 10 pounds. 
• Occasional walking and standing. 
• Vision to read and interpret reports and other written documents. 
• Speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and citizens. 

Work Environment: 

• Works primarily in a clean, comfortable environment. 

Equipment Used: 

• Uses standard office equipment including personal computer and common office software such as email, internet, Word, Excel and menu driven databases as a part of the library automated systems 
• This position may require the incumbent to regularly use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment. 

The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

For Veterans preference:  Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.
           
The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer.  We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants.  It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
                                         
Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace.  A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.
 

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References:
As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. 

Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.  

Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.

Notice Regarding Colorado Identification Document Protections (HB26‑1283)
As part of the employment eligibility verification process, the city of Aurora may request government-issued identification documents as permitted by law. Original identification documents will be reviewed only as necessary for employment eligibility verification and will not be retained longer than permitted by law. Applicants will retain possession and control of their original identification documents except for any temporary retention permitted or required by law.