Director of Planning

JOB

Under general supervision and the direction of the Executive Director, this position is a member of the District's Executive Management Team. The Planning and Engineering Director leads the Planning and Engineering Division, which is structured as two departments - Planning and Engineering. This role ensures strategic capital project development and execution, long-term infrastructure planning, and technical engineering excellence. This role ensures that all engineering and planning initiatives align with organizational goals, regulatory requirements, and community needs. The Director leads multidisciplinary teams, fosters innovation, and drives excellence in project delivery, capital improvement programs, and long-range planning. The position will also provide District-wide leadership. This position will support the Executive Director as a member of the District's Executive Management Team, helping to inform and enact the District's Strategic Plan and implementation decisions. This position will work closely with other Directors and staff. By integrating technical expertise with visionary leadership, the Director plays a pivotal role in shaping the District's sustainable growth, enhancing public services, and improving quality of life. This role is expected to remain up to date and current on new developments in the field of wastewater operations and contribute that knowledge during planning and engineering. This position will collaborate with stakeholders and cross-functional teams to meet standards and guidelines, have a growth mindset to a multi-faceted and mission-driven operation while having a focus on maintaining a positive work culture. Who We AreEstablished in 1930 to protect the lakes and streams of the upper Yahara watershed, the District is a wastewater collection and treatment utility serving about 435,000 people in 24 Madison-area owner communities covering about 190 square miles.The District owns and operates 150 miles of pipe and 18 regional pumping stations that convey approximately 37 million gallons of wastewater to the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant daily. Through the treatment process, we recover valuable resources before returning clean water to the environment.Our mission is to protect public health and the environment. We are dedicated to service, reliability, and sustainability, and our tradition of innovation has positioned us as a leader among clean water utilities.Working at the District is more than just a paycheck—it is about taking care of our community and protecting one of our most valuable resources: water.When you think about your career and what you want to accomplish in your lifetime, choose to do Work Worth Doing*All application materials must be received by Sunday, November 30, 2025.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

The successful Planning and Engineering Director will have the following qualities:
•Agility: Demonstrates the ability to adapt quickly and effectively to changing circumstances, priorities, and environments while maintaining high performance and a positive attitude allowing for a culture of continuous improvement and decision-making that drives results.
•Analytical: Uses data and evidence to identify and solve complex problems and make decisions. Helps others think critically.
•Collaborative: Displays teamwork. Has the ability to develop and maintain effective, trusting, collaborative relationships with other district personnel. Builds partnerships and works effectively across organizational boundaries.
•Mission Driven: Has a passion for protecting public health and the environment.
•Strategic: Has the ability to identify problems, research and analyze information, develop and present recommendations, and provide solutions. Skilled at using data and evidence to identify and solve complex problems and make decisions.
•Visionary: Anticipates future needs and leads team through change. Management of Division (45%)
•Direct daily operations for the district's capital planning of engineering services ensuring all provisions of the Department of Natural Resources requirements are met for facility planning, project delivery and funding.
•Direct technical planning with focus on capital project planning, approving new service areas and connections to the public sewer system, district real estate and easements, and facilities planning for the collection system and treatment plant.
•Direct engineering services focused on infrastructure project delivery including design along with consultant and construction management.
•Direct the district's capital project planning process including long-term planning, business case preparation, and project prioritization.
•Direct facility design and construction processes, including campus master planning.
•Establish, maintain, and oversee implementation of standards and best practices for working with customer communities on long-term planning and engineering projects.
•Direct major design decisions, project scope changes, and consultant agreements.
•Develop and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the division.
•Establish and maintain technical standards, procedures, and best practices across Planning and Engineering departments.
•Lead division management and staff meetings to coordinate activities, share information, and align priorities across departments.
•Promote collaborative decision-making and stakeholder engagement within division operations, ensuring staff involve relevant parties in planning and implementation processes.
•Oversee succession planning and talent development initiatives within the division.
•Oversee the creation and updating of continuity of operations, cross-training, and knowledge transfer plans with support from HR.
•Ensure effective coordination with external consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and customer communities on projects and other planning and engineering matters.Organizational Leadership & Cross-Divisional Collaboration (25%)
•Establish, lead, and maintain the District's standards and procedures and be the district's engineer of record.
•Lead, establish and maintain engineering standards, design procedures, and project management best practices District-wide.
•Direct district cross-divisional teams as assigned. Teams include capital improvement plan, master planning, and I&I program planning.
•Collaborate with the Operations and Maintenance Director and staff on treatment plant and collection system planning, Enterprise Asset Management, Reliability-Centered Maintenance, asset commissioning, and project implementation.
•Collaborate with the Business Administration Director and staff on budget development and monitoring, capital finance, procurement processes, technology implementations, and employee development programs.
•Actively sponsor and support cross-division initiatives such as cybersecurity, asset management, technology adoption, data governance, and employee engagement. Support cross-divisional collaboration on emerging organizational needs as they arise.
•Participate as a member of the Executive Management Team in strategic planning, policy development, and resource allocation and prioritization decisions including aligning division activities with the strategic plan and objectives, balancing short- and long-term needs and goals.
•Oversee general District policies and procedures to ensure they are fair, effective, aligned with District goals and values, and consistently applied across the division.
•Collaborate on District Strategic Plan development, implementation, and organizational performance management.
•Oversee the preparation and presentation of planning and engineering operational reports, performance metrics, and recommendations to the Executive Director and Commission.
•Provide backup coverage for Executive Director duties during planned and unplanned absences as assigned.
•Foster service-oriented collaboration within and across teams to achieve our strategic purpose.Supervision & Management of Direct Reports (20%)
•Hire, onboard, develop, and evaluate department managers and other direct reports within the Planning and Engineering Division.
•Conduct regular division meetings and one-on-one meetings with department managers to provide coaching, address operational challenges, and offer support to their leadership of their teams and programs.
•Conduct performance management through collaborative goal-setting, timely feedback, and formal check-ins and evaluations.
•Model equitable and inclusive management practices that promote belonging and psychological safety for all staff.
•Partner with HR and relevant department managers (when applicable) on personnel actions within the division, including hiring and promotions, career progressions, and discipline.
•Develops and nurtures a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement within their division.Professional Development and Continuous Improvement (5%)
•Stay current with industry practices, emerging technologies, and regulatory developments through professional associations and continuing education.
•Model a growth mindset by seeking and acting on feedback and prioritizing time for learning alongside their teams.
•Promote a continuous improvement culture by empowering staff to identify efficiency opportunities, advancing and implementing process enhancements.
•Support professional development of division staff by identifying and promoting training and growth opportunities.Other Duties (5%)
•Supports the Executive Director as a member of the District's Executive Management Team, helping to inform and enact the District's Strategic Plan and implementation decisions including the development and monitoring of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the division.
•Oversee succession planning and talent development initiatives within the division. Pursue additional learning opportunities to improve technical skills, networking, and professional development. This includes—but is not limited to—conferences and training events (such as seminars, webinars, etc.)
•Perform other duties as assigned by department leadership or Executive Director.
•Complete any and all district required trainings.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Work is performed in a combination of environments ranging from a standard office environment to field sites, tunnels, pumping stations, etc. This will require walking, bending, climbing stairs, standing. Must pass a pre-employment drug screen. Must be able to safely use computer equipment for extended periods of time. Requires sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate computer keyboard or other office equipment. Requires visual acuity to read and write words and numbers. Requires speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate in person, publicly or over the phone. May need to lift up to 40 pounds as needed. The noise level varies from quiet to loud. Work may occasionally require exposure to hazardous conditions and noxious chemicals. Work may require performance of tasks outdoors under varying climactic conditions. Work may occasionally require performance of tasks at elevated levels. Work may occasionally require performance of tasks in confined areas. Additional requirements may be specified depending on needs of department and/or tasks required to complete work efforts.