Director of Water Distribution

Salary : $148,198.88 - $208,960.41 Annually
Location : Water Works Park, IA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number:
Department: Water Distribution
Division: Water Distribution
Opening Date: 10/15/2026
Closing Date: 11/2/2026 3:00 PM Central

JOB SUMMARY
About the Position: Under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer, provides leadership and direction for the operation, maintenance, construction, repair, and continuous improvement of the water distribution system including preventive maintenance, underground utility locates, leak detection, and distribution system records. Ensures safe, reliable water service, regulatory compliance, system resilience, and effective use of equipment and financial resources.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Establishes department goals, objectives, performance measures, and work priorities consistent with DMWW policies, the strategic plan and all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. Evaluates results, identifies performance gaps, and implements corrective actions to achieve department objectives and improve outcomes.
• Directs, through supervisory personnel, water distribution system operations and maintenance, including preventive maintenance, underground utility locates, leak detection, and water main, valve, and hydrant maintenance programs, to provide safe, reliable service and maintain system capacity to meet customer demands.
• Leads and is accountable for department safety performance by establishing clear expectations, reinforcing a strong safety culture, and ensuring proper employee training and competency. Monitors field practices through supervisory oversight and periodic site visits. Ensures unsafe work is stopped when necessary, and oversees the prompt reporting, investigation, and resolution of hazards, incidents, and near misses.
• Provides leadership and develops supervisory personnel through clear expectations, evaluating performance, coaching, and holding supervisors accountable for safe operations, employee performance, and timely resolution of concerns. Oversees workforce planning, employee development, and succession planning. Makes or recommends hiring, disciplinary, and termination decisions consistent with delegated authority and in coordination with Human Resources.
• Builds and promotes a respectful, positive, and accountable employee culture through open communication, mutual respect, and effective coordination across departments to support utility objectives.
• Develops, implements, and continually improves distribution system construction, maintenance, repair, asset management, and operating procedures/programs; ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards; protects system integrity and water quality to support reliable, resilient, and efficient operations; and uses asset condition, failure history, and operational risk to recommend maintenance and replacement priorities in coordination with Engineering.
• Oversees the accuracy, completeness, and timely maintenance of distribution system asset records, work orders, maintenance histories, and field information in GIS and enterprise asset management systems. Uses operational data to identify risks, recurring problems, and improvement priorities.
• Oversees department emergency preparedness, response, and recovery which includes coordination of resources, and participation in an on-call rotation with other Water Distribution management to provide 24-hour technical support and leadership during emergencies, major system failures, and disaster recovery operations.
• Reviews design plans and specifications for distribution system capital projects and provides operational input to ensure the design objectives are met, constructed facilities are safely executed, reliably integrated, and capable of efficient long-term operation and maintenance.
• Serves as a technical and operational resource for Water Distribution, Engineering and other departments on distribution system operation, maintenance, construction, emergency response, and long-range planning.
• Attends monthly Board meetings and provides department updates, technical information, and recommendations as needed. Represents DMWW in meetings with customers, public agencies, community stakeholders, and professional organizations, and at public speaking engagements and technical conferences, as assigned..
• Prepares and manages the annual Water Distribution department budget, monitors financial reporting, evaluates budget variances, and takes appropriate action to keep expenditures within the approved budget. Collaborates with the senior management team to prioritize utility-wide funding requests and capital needs for budget recommendations to the Board.
• Serves on the cross-functional lead service line program team. Develops and manages the water service line lead inventory, replacement, field documentation, and operational coordination to meet compliance requirements.
• Reviews the Utility Rules and Regulations annually and prepares updates for consideration and approval by the Board of Water Works Trustees.

• Promotes positive customer relations by responding to concerns, ensuring timely resolution of distribution system issues, and establishing water service line requirements consistent with approved utility Rules and Regulations.

• Oversees the initial response to claims of damage resulting from field activities or distribution system infrastructure failures, including broken water mains, and coordinates follow-up with the staff responsible for claims administration
• Performs other duties of similar nature.

QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering, water resources, construction management, or a closely related field. Civil engineering is preferred. An equivalent combination of education, training, and progressively responsible water utility experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.

Experience:

• At least ten years of progressively responsible technical experience, including:
  • At least six years of water utility experience with substantial responsibility for distribution system operations, maintenance, construction, repair, and emergency response.
  • At least four years of supervisory or management experience, including responsibility for employee performance and development.

The water utility and supervisory or management experience may overlap and count toward the ten-year total.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession of an Iowa Grade IV Water Distribution System Operator certification, or Must be obtained within two years of appointment.
  • Certification must be maintained thereafter.
• Must possess a valid driver's license with a good driving record.
  • This position requires Driver to remain insurable under the Company's coverage.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• State of Iowa Professional Engineer License.

• Leadership experience in a large or complex water distribution utility.
• Iowa Grade II Water Treatment Operator certification.
• Experience leading employees in a unionized environment and working collective bargaining agreements and personnel policies.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Water distribution system operations, maintenance, construction, repair, hydraulics, asset management, and emergency response at an advanced level.
• Civil and environmental engineering principles and practices applicable to water distribution systems.
• Applicable water quality, environmental, and occupational safety regulations.
• Utility safety programs, hazard recognition, safe work practices, incident investigation, root-cause analysis, and corrective action.
• GIS, enterprise asset management systems, and other distribution system data and mapping tools.

Skills:

• Strategic planning, organization, and prioritization.
• Leadership, coaching, and supervisor and employee development.
• Written and verbal communication, including explaining technical information to varied audiences.
• Sound judgment, problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution.
• Operating and capital budget development, analysis, and management.
• Proficient use of common business software.

Abilities:

• Align department priorities and resources with operational needs and utility objectives.
• Establish clear expectations, evaluate performance, and hold supervisors and employees accountable.
• Build effective working relationships and promote collaboration across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate policies, procedures, and performance measures.
• Analyze operational data, identify risks and recurring problems, and implement improvements.
• Make timely decisions and coordinate resources during emergencies.
• Learn, interpret, and consistently apply DMWW Rules and Regulations, policies, standards, and procedures.
• Learn and effectively use DMWW-specific software systems.

HARDWARE / SOFTWARE / EQUIPMENT / TOOLS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE JOB:

Frequently / Often

• Personal computer
• Laptop or notebook
• General office equipment
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
• EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) system
• CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system
• ADP (for timekeeping/payroll and HR processes)

Occasionally

• Field mobile devices (tablets, rugged laptops)
• GPS equipment
• Two-way radios or communication devices
• Utility asset locating tools (for oversight, not operation)
• Digital mapping and data-collection tools

Rarely

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) for site visits
• Specialized field equipment used during inspections or emergency response oversight
• Vehicles for site visits (fleet truck, utility vehicle)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Performs office work involving computer use and review of plans, maps, reports, and other records.
• Visits distribution system facilities and active work sites, which may require standing, walking, and navigating uneven terrain.
• Occasionally lifts or carries up to 10 pounds.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Primarily works in an office environment, with periodic field visits to construction sites to observe operations, work practices and additional site visits as needed to address projects, operational concerns, or emergencies.
• Exposure to varying weather conditions, uneven ground, traffic, noise, and operating equipment. Uses required personal protective equipment and follows site safety requirements.
• Travel to work sites and meetings as required.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
01

What interests you most about leading Water Distribution at Des Moines Water Works?
02

Briefly describe your leadership philosophy. Discuss the size and type of teams you've supervised and your general approach to employee performance and development.
03

Provide an example of how you've used information such as asset condition, maintenance history, or failure trends to address a concern. How did you identify and address safety hazards, and what was the outcome?
Required Que