The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (District) is seeking an Executive Director who will lead the organization in providing efficient wastewater and environmental protection in Madison and Dane County. Reporting to the District Commission, the Executive Director leads the execution of the strategic plan, sets goals, creates administrative guidelines, and oversees operations. Working closely with the Executive Office and directors, the Executive Director ensures safety and regulatory compliance, manages fiscal responsibility, promotes organizational optimization, develops customer and partner relationships, and ensures the District's long-term environmental and fiscal resilience.
The Executive Director engages with the leadership of owner communities, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and communicate the District's work. They establish business strategies, goals, and policies with the Commission and Executive Office to achieve the District's mission and vision, addressing emerging technologies and issues that may affect the District. They maintain top-tier wastewater treatment by understanding plant operations and financial needs and ensuring alignment with Federal and Wisconsin laws, regulations, and Commission directives.
The Executive Director ensures high levels of customer service, employee engagement, efficient operations, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. They shape a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture, fostering an environment where all employees feel valued and empowered. Collaborating with directors, managers, supervisors, and staff, the Executive Director develops and oversees the implementation of the regulatory compliance strategy and ensures alignment with the strategic plan. They maintain open lines of internal communication to foster employee voice, collaboration, and alignment while supervising staff to ensure a safe work environment.
Overseeing the Executive Office, the Executive Director selects, leads, and develops executive staff, ensuring coordination and alignment of priorities. They approve the scope for major initiatives and coordinate regular meetings with directors and the Executive Office to share project information and priorities. The Executive Director works with the Commission to strategize and set policies, ensuring effective management under the Commission's authority. They keep the Commission updated on regulatory changes and potential risks, represent the District at Commission meetings, and prepare the meeting agenda in collaboration with Commission leaders and legal advisors.
The Executive Director recommends annual budgets, capital improvement plans, and financial strategies to the Commission. They manage the District within budget constraints, presenting service charge and fee requirements, including rate increase recommendations. They play a key role in fiscal management, planning and approving capital improvement projects aligned with the strategic plan, and ensuring appropriate fiscal controls and policies subject to regular audits.
The Executive Director engages with the Commission and owner communities, informing them about major District activities and initiatives. They advocate for the District in meetings with governmental and community agencies, highlighting its work to increase awareness and support. The Executive Director maintains relationships with key external constituents, including government agencies, regulators, developers, elected officials, and environmental organizations, and participates in relevant professional organizations to keep the District at the forefront of emerging trends.
Priorities
- Build strong working relationships with the Commissioners and across all departments. The Executive Director will build trust within the organization and owner communities with active listening, engagement, and transparent communication.
- Enhance community engagement through educational programs, public participation in district planning, and decision-making processes.
- Develop and implement a long-term infrastructure investment plan to ensure reliability, resilience, and adaptability and address critical infrastructure needs, enhance pollution reduction programs, support water quality initiatives, and improve resource recovery efforts.
- Develop short and long-term financial plans that consider prioritization of large capital projects, identifying funding sources, and executing projects annually.
The Successful Candidate
The District is seeking a dynamic, collaborative, transparent, and knowledgeable leader in public utility management and administration. The ideal candidate will be able to engage with staff and demonstrate their interest and knowledge in the District's work. They will be an active listener with owner communities and be effective in working in the complex regulatory and intergovernmental environment. They will be a strong administrator and have an understanding of federal, state, and local regulations concerning wastewater treatment, environmental programs, and funding processes. Proficiency in budget development and financial management principles is a must. A strong commitment to environmental stewardship and fiscally responsible wastewater processing solutions is essential.
This role requires expertise in general management, human resources, and supervisory techniques. The successful candidate will excel in executive-level management, effectively delegating responsibilities, supervising a diverse workforce, and leveraging the strengths of employees. The ability to develop long-term public works plans and make sound decisions on major policy matters and complex engineering problems is critical and knowledge of the nutrient removal process is highly valued.
The District is looking for someone with strong analytical skills and a knack for problem-solving. The candidate must be an effective communicator, both orally and in writing, capable of developing and delivering reports, public presentations, and providing understandable messages on technical information to various audiences. Building effective working relationships with federal, state, regional, and local agencies, community leaders, the District Commission, directors, managers, staff, and the public is crucial for success. The ideal candidate is agile, able to juggle multiple tasks, stay calm under pressure, and make effective decisions in a crisis. Experience in capital financing and grant management is highly valued.
The preferred candidate will excel in representing the District to the public with tact, courtesy, and professionalism, interpreting and enforcing state and federal regulations. They should be skilled at developing high-performance teams, managing interactions, justifying budgetary requests, and controlling expenditures. The preferred candidate will have a strong commitment to equity and inclusion.
Qualifications
Minimum requirements include a bachelor's degree in civil or environmental engineering, business or public administration, finance, or a related field, and ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in utility management, municipal management, water policy, or a regulatory role, with at least five (5) years in a senior leadership position, which includes experience in budget planning and management.
Preferred qualifications include a master's degree in engineering, business or public administration, finance, or a related field, specific experience in the wastewater field, and being a registered professional engineer (PE). Additional skills that are preferred include demonstration of building trust and engagement with internal staff and with customers, long-term planning, financing and delivery of capital projects, developing consensus with multiple stakeholder interests, and effective intergovernmental relations.
Inside The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District
Mission: Protect public health and the environment
Vision: Enrich life through clean water and resource recovery
Ideals: Equitable, reliable, and cooperative
Established in 1930 to protect the lakes and streams of the upper Yahara watershed, the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District serves approximately 429,000 people across 24 Madison-area communities, covering around 188 square miles. The District owns and operates 145 miles of pipeline and 18 regional pumping stations, conveying approximately 37 million gallons of wastewater daily to the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant. Organized as a municipal corporation, the District is a leader in sustainability and resource reclamation. The District celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2020.
The District is a passionate and experienced resource recovery team that aims to protect public health and the environment by providing safe, reliable, and efficient wastewater treatment to Madison-area communities. The District is known for its innovative engineering, conservation leadership, and recovery expertise while maintaining cost-consciousness for ratepayers.
Compensation and Benefits
The expected hiring range is $173,000 - $233,000, depending on qualifications, with an excellent benefits package. Only well-qualified applicants should expect to start above the midpoint.
Benefits offered include the following:
- Medical, dental, life, and short-term and longer-term disability insurance
- Holiday, vacation, personal, sick, bereavement, jury duty, military leave and paid parental leave
- Retirement Health Savings Plan
- Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), one of the best-managed public sector retirement plans in the country
- Supplemental 457 Retirement Plan
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Supplemental Voluntary Insurance
- Wellness Programming
- Length of Service Awards
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
How to Apply
Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position will be open until filled with a first review of applications beginning October 14, 2024.
Candidates should request confidentiality, or their materials may be subject to Wisconsin public records requests.
Questions
Please direct questions to Catherine Tuck Parrish at and Robert Colichio at
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