Manager, serving as Chief Executive Officer

Department: Manager
Closing Date: March 12, 2010

GENERAL STATEMENT

Under general direction of the Board of Water Commissioners, the Manager serves as the chief executive officer of Denver Water and is responsible for managing, planning, coordinating and administering all activities of the agency. This is a discretionary position, established under the Charter of the City and County of Denver outside the civil service system. The incumbent in this position serves solely at the pleasure of the Board.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Exercises full supervision over assigned personnel as a significant part of the duties.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Serves as chief executive officer of Denver Water and manages through delegation all financial, planning, legal, design/engineering, construction, human resources, diversity, operations, public affairs, and information technology functions.

Provides strategic leadership

• Develops and implements a strategic vision for Denver Water, outlining the long term role of Denver Water in metro area and across the state
• Maintains and enhances relationships with key constituents across the region and the state: municipal and state officials, water industry leaders, customers, suppliers, Commissioners, and environmental representatives
• Drives long term planning (30-100+ years)
• Identifies and implements long term asset management (capital and human) strategy and measures for monitoring progress
• Ensures Denver Water is an industry leader regionally and nationally

Leads public policy and public affairs activities

• Maintains a public affairs function involving informational, educational and communications efforts with the general public, civic, social, community service and environmental organizations, and representatives of all forms of media, regarding Denver Water activities, and ensures the effective dissemination of information and response to inquiries
• Serves as primary spokesperson for Denver Water locally, regionally, and nationally
• Increases understanding of role of water in community and economic development efforts across the region
• Engages and educates customers re: Denver Water strategies, needs, goals, and results
• Maintains influence in state and national water-related issues by membership in various local, regional, and national boards and commissions, and by maintenance of positive working relationships with members of the executive and legislative branches of state and federal government
• Participates actively in local, regional, and national water policy development and regulatory changes
• Engages the Distributors Forum, the Citizens Advisory Committee, and other groups as strategic business partners

Provides operational leadership

• Provides comprehensive oversight of all aspects of Denver Water’s operations
• Provides strong fiscal accountability and responsibility ensuring highly efficient, high quality operations at all times and at all levels
• Directs, coaches, and develops senior staff members to provide high quality service and to grow in their capabilities
• Supports diversity efforts for internal positions as well as with external contractors and encourages broad consideration of qualified personnel and organizations
• Develops culture of efficiency, productivity, flexibility, and accountability to customers
• Develops atmosphere of trust and engaged communication with staff throughout organization
• Communicates to the Board and Staff the status of the agency on a continuing basis, and initiates policy matters for Board consideration
• Seeks opportunities to engage with all levels of personnel at Denver Water, to understand their work, and to share the agency’s priorities and goals

Works with Board of Commissioners

• Executes the Board’s policies and orders
• Brings appropriate matters to the Board for its attention and action
• Develops policy recommendations for consideration by Board
• Keeps Board informed on critical issues and policy changes
• Requests assistance of the Board and individual Commissioners as appropriate in achieving the objectives of Denver Water
• Serves as secretary to the Board, and as such, ensures the custody, protection and classification of all official records, and the recording of the minutes of meetings; attests to signatures of the President or Vice President of the Board whenever necessary

Performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Is a proven strategic, visionary, bold leader who has produced significant, measurable results in complex situations or industries
• Has some understanding of the complexity of water issues in the West, and preferably in Colorado; strong willingness and ability to learn about these issues and the diversity of competing forces affecting the industry
• Understands or has interest in learning about the history and context of water development in the West and the role of Denver Water in that history; is highly engaged in defining roles for Denver Water in shaping future water development
• Has depth of experience in driving fiscal accountability and responsibility to all levels of an organization
• Has entrepreneurial spirit and knows how to get everyone on board with clear vision
• Is committed to public service and has knowledge of leading mission-driven organizations
• Is politically knowledgeable with proven ability to work on bi-partisan or non-partisan basis
• Can work well with a strong management team and set a clear vision for them; proven ability to unleash talents of executives and senior managers
• Is excellent at building relationships; collaborative by nature; consensus builder
• Is willing and able to represent Colorado in national forums and debates
• Is an excellent public speaker; likes to communicate to public regularly, not just in times of crisis
• Is savvy and experienced in working with media
• Is a thoughtful change agent
• Is technically progressive

Personal Qualities

• Is a systems thinker — prefers dealing in complexity and multi-dimensional issues rather than linear problems and has a facility for working with complicated equations
• Is proactive and consistent in dealings with people
• Is smart, articulate, dynamic
• Brings sense of urgency balanced with a long term perspective
• Is open with a sense of humor and doesn’t let disagreements become personal
• Has good listening skills as well as decision-making skills; likes hearing different voices on issues
• Has great intellectual capacity and curiosity
• Has strong ability to switch from micro to macro issues, from short term to long term consequences or implications
• Has the ability to adapt to new environments or roles easily and with little drama

Education

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in business, engineering, public administration, or related field.

Experience

Fifteen years' business and management experience involving responsibility for a large-scale operation, including administrative responsibility for staff and operating functions in a large scale public or private operation.

License, Certificate or Credential

None.

Other Requirements

Position may require HIPAA training.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION CATEGORY

Less physically active.

Also see Manager, Chief Executive Officer Leadership Profile.

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