Water Utility Plant Manager

The City of Cedar Rapids is seeking an experienced, collaborative, forward‑thinking Water Utility Plant Manager to lead one of our community's most essential services—providing safe, reliable, high‑quality drinking water to the people and businesses who depend on it every day. In this role you will lead a dedicated team of professionals, ensure regulatory compliance, play a part in planning for the future.

If you are passionate about public service, enjoy developing high‑performing teams, and are ready to make a lasting impact on your community, join us and become part of a team that takes pride in delivering one of life's most essential resources—clean, safe, exceptional drinking water.

At the City, we are committed to employing individuals who reflect our community’s diverse backgrounds, and this position is crucial in the success and strategic direction of a growing and evolving community. We appreciate and leverage the vast experience individuals bring beyond the technical requirements of a job. If you are an individual with similar experience listed here please consider applying.

Experience and skills combined with commitment to our core values is key to building a greater community now and for the next generation.

Nestled in the heart of Iowa, Cedar Rapids is our vibrant and diverse community known for its rich history, culture, and natural beauty. Our city has a strong sense of community which can be seen at any of our numerous parks, recreational opportunities, and family‑friendly events year round. You can also explore our thriving downtown district, filled with shops, restaurants, and entertainment options, or take a stroll along the Cedar River, which runs through the heart of the city.

The Water Utility Plant Manager position is directly responsible for the public drinking water system permit issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources; manages the operation and maintenance of the City’s water production plants and facilities; plans, evaluates, supervises, and directs source water protection program and activities.

The City of Cedar Rapids does not offer sponsorship for employment authorization.

• Manages and provides day‑to‑day guidance to plant operational maintenance and laboratory staff to streamline cost‑effective water treatment processes and optimize the operational quality and procedural efficiency of the city’s water production facilities.
• Schedules and conducts training regularly on quality issues and regulations; manages workflow and work schedules and ensures adequate staffing levels, approves time and attendance; handles grievances; supervises the work of assigned personnel, including assigning and reviewing work, providing guidance, and conducting performance evaluations.
• Reviews water treatment operations and monitors standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure compliance with regulatory standards; gathers documentation for the direct source water protection program and special project activities to determine project objectives and requirements.
• Manages internal controls to evaluate the lime residual and other byproducts formed during and after water treatment processes and ensures compliance with established safety protocols, treatment techniques and procedures.
• Develops and evaluates operational and treatment data quality reporting in compliance with the state, federal, and local regulatory agencies criteria requirements.
• Coordinators operational and maintenance activities with other utilities divisions operation and maintenance managers.
• Analyzes methods for equipment used and performance measures to implement recommendations for water production quality improvement systems.
• Plans, prepares and monitors budgetary activities for water production facilities.
• Develops purchasing specifications, request for proposals (RFP) and professional service contracts for the purchase of goods and services.
• Monitors and measures the quality control of services provided by contractors, consultants, and vendor products are consistently meeting the regulatory agency requirements and…