What are the responsibilities and job description for the Deputy Director, Water Services position at City of Glendale, AZ?
Description
About Us:
The City of Glendale's Water Services Department provides over 250,000 residents with safe, reliable, and high-quality water and wastewater services. Glendale Water Services promotes industry best practices, leadership, and innovation to ensure our employees put public health and the vitality of our community first!
The Role:
This position will be open until filled; the first review of applicants will occur on June 1, 2026.
The Water Services Deputy Director will assist the Water Services Director in planning, organizing, coordinating and managing the Water Services Department including water treatment, wastewater treatment, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, asset management, and infrastructure reliability, and, capital improvement program.
The ideal candidate for this role will be an experienced and collaborative executive who combines deep technical expertise with a strong leadership presence. They will be recognized for strategic thinking, sound judgment, and the ability to successfully lead a complex utility system in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment. This individual inspires confidence, builds strong relationships, and effectively balances operational demands with long-term planning to ensure reliable, high-quality water and wastewater services for the City of Glendale citizens.
Salary:
This position is:
- FLSA Exempt, and will be paid a salary regardless of hours worked per week.
- Effective June 27, 2026, a Grade 421 with an annual salary between $131,198.00 - $196,797.00
Benefits:
The City of Glendale offers a generous benefits package with competitive rates that become effective the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.
Below are some City of Glendale benefits resources for your review:
- 2025 - 2026 Benefits Guide
- City of Glendale Benefits Presentation
- City of Glendale’s Benefits Page
Holiday, Vacation, and Sick Leave:
Regular status positions offer:
- The City of Glendale observes 10.5 holidays per year, and full-time employees are also granted an additional 12 hours of holiday special leave to celebrate their cultural or religious holidays throughout the calendar year.
- Vacation leave accrues at:
- 5.33 hours per pay period (138 hours/17.25* days per year)
- Increases to 6.12 hours after 5 years
- Then caps out at 7.6 hours after 10 years of service
- Sick leave accrues at 4.4 hours per pay period (114 hours/14.25 days* per year)
- Days per year estimates are based on an 8-hour work day.
Retirement:
This position participates in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
- Contribution is mandatory, and deducted every pay period
- The current contribution rate is 12.00%
Why Choose Glendale:
The City of Glendale is the West Valley’s entertainment nexus; whether it’s attending a world-class sporting event at StateFarm Stadium, enjoying a concert at Desert Diamond Arena, or shopping and dining at the Westgate Entertainment District, as a City of Glendale employee, you'll be right in the middle of it all! Glendale is centrally located within the west valley and has convenient access to the 101, 303, US 60, and I-10 freeways. With development happening all around the city, you will notice new homes and businesses being constructed frequently.
At the City of Glendale you'll have the opportunity to interact and engage with a highly diverse, dedicated, and skilled group of professionals. It is one of the best places to work, to grow your career, skills, and advance your future.
Essential Functions
- Assists the Director in directing the activities and staff of the Water Services Department; may act as executive director in his/her absence.
- Provides administrative and policy direction to superintendents and supervisors.
- Plans, initiates, organizes, prioritizes and coordinates capitol improvement projects related to the activities of the Water Services department.
- Assists the Director in establishing long and short-term goals and sets priorities for the assigned divisions.
- Provides direction to staff and resolves complex operational problems.
- Assists the Director in overseeing budget preparation, presents justification for budget requests, and monitors budget expenditures for operational efficiency.
- Monitors legislation to ensure compliance with federal, county, and local laws and regulations. Researches, and assists in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to facilitate Water Services operations and programs.
- Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, department optimization efforts, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.
- Develops and manages consulting contracts for the assigned divisions.
- Communicates with city departments to determine changing needs and problems; coordinates departmental activities and explains departmental policies and procedures.
- Requires driving to and from meetings in various locations and occasional field inspections.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications/Special Requirements/Success Factors
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Urban/Regional Planning, Geography, Public or Business Administration, Business Management or related field, and five years of progressively responsible experience including three years of supervisory experience.Preferred candidates will have a Masters Degree, or Professional Engineer (PE) registration, or a Grade IV Water or Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certification from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) or equivalent out-of-state
certification eligible for Arizona reciprocity.
Any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. One year of relevant experience may be substituted for each year of required education.
Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of municipal administration with particular knowledge of public utilities administration
- Principles and methods of water and wastewater treatment
- Engineering methods in design of water and wastewater facilities
- Regulatory environment and its effect on the operation of water and wastewater facilities
- Comprehensive knowledge of Federal, State and environmental and water resource laws and regulations
- Working knowledge of management, public policy, negotiations, group dynamics, planning principles, statistics, research methods, cost analysis, computer modeling, report/plan preparation and presentation techniques
- Management practices and procedures
Ability to:
- Effectively plan, organize and direct the activities of the Water Services Department
- Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, superiors and others
- Effectively manage, train, develop and evaluate staff
- Develop and administer a department budget
- Effectively monitor and manage Capital Improvement Projects of the Water Services department with other departments and/or consultants and contractors
- Understand, analyze and evaluate highly complex technical/regulatory information related to environmental compliance, water resources, and water quality
- Conduct and facilitate meetings
- Exercise discretion and judgment in dealing with sensitive and controversial issues
Success Factor Classification Level - Managerial
To view the success factor definitions please click here. (Download PDF reader) (If needed, click here to download PDF reader).
This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.
Benefit information is outlined here: https://www.glendaleaz.gov/Your-Government/Connect/Departments/Human-Resources-Risk-Management/Benefits
Salary : $131,198 - $196,797