THE OPPORTUNITY
The City of Fort Worth, Texas offers an exciting and unique opportunity within its water utility. Ongoing growth and financial complexity have created the need for a new Assistant Water Director that is focused on financial management and procurement for the utility.
ABOUT FORT WORTH
A city of Cowboys and Culture, Fort Worth is known for its Texas hospitality. Exuding both charm and expansiveness, Fort Worth is the 12th largest and one of the fastest-growing big cities in the United States, distinguished as one of the fastest-growing urban centers in the nation. With great neighborhoods, scenic terrain, and a rich history of arts and culture, paired with world-class opportunities for business and education, it’s not only fun to visit Fort Worth, but it’s also even more rewarding to call it home. Fort Worth truly offers all the benefits and amenities of a bustling metropolitan city while keeping the small-town charm that keeps it unpretentious and charismatic in all the right ways. Designated as one of America’s “Most Livable Communities” by the Partners for Livable Communities, the city truly offers a melting pot of culture, commerce, community, and, yes, cowboys.
THE UTILITY
The Water Utility is responsible for providing safe, clean drinking water, reclaimed water, and wastewater services to Fort Worth residents and more than 30 customer cities. Approximately 1.4 million people are served by the utility with nearly 4,000 miles of water distribution and 3,900 miles of wastewater collection pipes. Fort Worth Water has the capacity to treat 512 MGD of drinking water and 166 MGD of wastewater through five drinking water plants and one water reclamation facility, with a second facility in the works.
The Water Utility is an enterprise department that provides its services with a FY 2024 operating budget of $574.8 million, a five-year Capital Improvement Program of $1.5 billion, a $1.2 billion revenue bond program, and 1,008 FTE employees. The Utility is organized into seven divisions: Financial Services, Customer Care, Management Services, Plant Operations, Strategic Operations, Capital Delivery, and Field Operations.
THE POSITION
Reporting to a Deputy Water Director, the new Assistant Water Director will oversee the Financial Services Division and 22 FTE positions. Key responsibilities include managing financial operations and performance of the entire Water and Sewer Fund with a combined budget of $575M and 1,008 authorized positions; preparing the annual operating budget for the Water, Sewer, and Reclaimed departments, including both revenues and expenditures for each; overseeing the annual cost-of-service rate-setting processes for retail and wholesale rates; managing funding for the Water & Sewer Utility's five-year, $1.5B Capital Improvement Program (CIP) both in its development and execution; and overseeing the Utility's debt management for the Water and Sewer Fund/Revenue Bond Program.
The most successful candidates will have experience working in a large utility, especially experience centered around finance, rate setting, budget, and debt instruments; experience developing and funding large capital improvement plans using a variety of funding sources; a style that is highly collaborative, informal, and approachable.; and the ability to translate highly technical financial concepts into easily understood and actionable messages.
QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of education and experience that is likely to provide the requisite knowledge, skills, and experience is qualifying. The following is a typical way to qualify:
Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public administration, finance, or a related field. Master’s degree in public administration, finance or related field is preferred.
Experience: Six years of responsible water and sewer utility administration and operation experience, including four years of supervisory experience.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The City of Fort Worth is offering a salary range of up to $183,383 for this position, commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the City provides a benefits plan that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, a pension plan (Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund), and a 457 deferred compensation plan. Partnering with Southwestern Health Resources, the City provides access to three employee health centers exclusive to Fort Worth employees, retirees, and their enrolled dependents.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
To be considered for this position, interested candidates must submit a cover letter and résumé no later than Monday, September 9, 2024, at:
www.mosaicpublic.com/careers.
Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:
Greg Nelson | greg@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 550-4100
Bryan Noblett | bryan@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 550-4100
The City of Fort Worth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
This recruitment incorporates existing rules and regulations that govern public sector recruitments in the State of Texas. In accordance with public disclosure/open record laws, information submitted for consideration may be made available to the public upon request by interested parties.