Executive Director - Central Iowa Water Works, IA

(Des Moines, IA Metro Area) - Following nearly 10 years of discussion, negotiations, and planning, the Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) was officially created in April 2024. CIWW is a regional drinking water authority in the greater Des Moines metropolitan area comprised of 12 separate public entities. It is responsible for water system planning, water treatment, and wholesale delivery of drinking water to member utilities serving over 600,000 customers in the region. The overall goal of CIWW is to provide the region with more sustainable and cost-effective water production through shared governance and regional collaboration.

Central Iowa Water Works

This new entity comprises twelve (12) member agencies, including municipalities, independent water systems, and rural water utilities. It is governed by a 13-member Board of Trustees, consisting of one member from each agency, except for the Des Moines Water Works, which was granted two Board representatives. In the short term, the CIWW will take ownership of all consortium water production and treatment assets and will contract with the organization's major water-producing entities to operate production assets to provide treated drinking water for all system customers. At the same time, the local agencies will continue to manage and control distribution, customer service, billing, and other business-related functions. It is anticipated that CIWW will begin producing and selling water to its members during the first quarter of 2025. Over time, as additional production capacity is warranted, the CIWW will construct additional treatment and production facilities.

The twelve founding members of the CIWW include Des Moines Water Works, West Des Moines Water Works, Urbandale Water Utility, Warren Water District, Xenia Rural Water District, City of Ankeny, City of Clive, City of Grimes, City of Johnston, City of Norwalk, City of Polk City, and City of Waukee.

The formation of the Central Iowa Water Works represents a continuation of an impressive tradition in the Des Moines metro area of pursuing regional approaches to vital public services. Other examples include the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), Metro Waste Authority (MWA), Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (DMAMPO), and the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA).

The Des Moines MSA encompasses six (6) counties in central Iowa, including Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison, Guthrie, and Jasper. All of the participating CIWW agencies are located within the Des Moines MSA.  The MSA has a total population of 735,000 and, over the past decade, has been the fastest-growing large metro area in the Midwest. The ten largest municipalities within the MSA include Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Waukee, Johnston, Altoona, Clive, Grimes, and Indianola. Eight of those 10 communities are members of the CIWW. 

The Executive Director

The CIWW founding documents created an Executive Director position to oversee and manage all planning and operations of this new regional water system. The Board of Trustees is seeking applicants for this very important leadership position.  The Executive Director serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the CIWW and reports directly to the Board. This position is responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the organization as well as making policy recommendations to the Board of Trustees. The major duties and responsibilities of the Executive Director include:

• Directing all planning efforts regarding current and future water production facilities with the support of the professional staff of the member water system organizations.
• Overseeing the organization's financial affairs, including developing and administering an annual operating budget, creating a long-range capital investment plan, and providing recommendations to the Board regarding rate structures and capital improvement financing.
• Planning and coordinating future capital infrastructure improvements, including treatment facilities, core transmission lines, regional water storage facilities, and water source development.
• Monitoring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to a regional drinking water production operation.
• Communicating important information to the Board of Trustees and the member agencies.
• Directing and supervising CIWW staff and overseeing consultants and system operating contracts.
• Coordinating all public information activities, including media representation.
• Developing plans and strategies to promote environmental sustainability, water resource conservation, demand-side management, and watershed protection.
• Overseeing and coordinating legislative affairs, including regular interaction with federal, state, and local elected officials, and pursuing grants and other funding opportunities from federal and state sources.
• Maintaining cooperative and collaborative relationships with all member entities, including Board representatives, elected / policy officials, and agency staff.

This highly responsible leadership position requires the successful candidate to have considerable experience managing the affairs of a complex, fast-paced, and dynamic organization. Qualified applicants must be excellent communicators, collaborative, personable, and consensus builders. They must also possess strong business and financial acumen and have experience working effectively with a policy board. Experience working with public sector entities is highly desirable. Good candidates will also have strong technical skills and be able to communicate with technical advisors and consultants involved with water production and infrastructure design and construction.

Although not required, experience and knowledge in drinking water production, utility management, regional collaboration, engineering, and/or public sector management are highly desirable. The ideal candidate for the position will possess many of the following desirable skills and knowledge:

• Consistently exhibits exceptional leadership qualities, including honesty, integrity, passion, inspiration, focus, vision, innovation, humility, positivity, trust, resilience, insight, open-mindedness, fairness, and confidence.
• Builds and maintains harmonious working relationships with all system stakeholders, including member entities, board members, professional staff, consultants, vendors, other governmental partners, media, regulators, and the general public.
• Demonstrates ability to develop short-term and long-term system operational and facilities plans and to create and administer strategic plans for the organization.
• Is adept at helping parties resolve disagreements by developing creative solutions based on shared values and desired outcomes.
• Can understand and interpret complex technical information and communicate that information clearly and understandably to various audiences.
• Is persuasive and can effectively advocate for policies that serve the interests of the entire organization.
• Has a strong track record of collaboration and cooperation with multiple and diverse stakeholders.
• Is an excellent listener.
• Is able and willing to engage in difficult conversations, when necessary, to resolve unproductive conflict or to address performance and/or behavioral issues.
• Can relate to everyone in the community irrespective of gender, race, economic status, social background, or educational achievement. Treats everyone with dignity, respect, and empathy.
• Approaches problem-solving with creativity and ingenuity. Tends to be an “out-of-the-box” thinker and does not hesitate to recommend innovative programs and/or solutions that depart from conventional approaches.
• Provides professional recommendations to the Board on all policy matters based on unbiased, thorough, and objective analysis.

Compensation and How to Apply

The starting annual salary range for the Executive Director position is $210,000 to $250,000, depending upon the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. The position is expected to qualify for participation in the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS). CIWW will also provide the selected candidate with a very attractive fringe benefits package, including a monthly vehicle allowance. CIWW will negotiate a relocation assistance package with the successful candidate.

To apply for the position, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for five (5) work-related references to www.GovHRjobs.com to the attention of Mark R. Peterson, Senior Consultant, GovHR USA/MGT Consulting, no later than Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 5:00 pm CDT. All applications must be submitted electronically. Please direct all inquiries about the position and/or the selection process to Mr. Peterson at (309) 825-5091.

CIWW is an Equal Opportunity Employer