Layout 1 (Page 2) · innovation study be performed on the Water Services Department to identify cost savings and areas to improve operational efficiencies and customer service. Through

This is an opportunity to lead and manage a very large waterand wastewater utility in a dynamic city government that valuesinnovation, efficiency, and top-quality management.

The City of Phoenix is seeking in its Water Services Director aninnovative strategic thinker who is efficient, effective andresponsive and a person who will move the Water ServicesDepartment forward for the future.

The Water Services Director reports to a Deputy City Managerand is a vital member of the City’s management team. TheDirector is responsible for managing the largest enterprisedepartment in the City of Phoenix with a current annualoperating budget of $269.7 million and capital improvementbudget of $351.2 million.

CITY ORGANIZATIONThe City Council of the City of Phoenix consists of a Mayorelected at-large to a four-year term and eight Council Memberselected by districts to four-year overlapping terms. The Mayormay serve two four-year terms, and Council Members may servethree consecutive four-year terms.

Phoenix was one of the first cities in the nation to adopt thecouncil-manager form of government in 1913 through a publicvote approving a new City Charter. Phoenix is also the largestcity in the country with the council-manager form of government.

The City Manager is responsible for managing municipaloperations that consist of a $3.4 billion budget and more than14,000 full-time employees. The City has an Aa1 bond ratingfrom Moody’s Investors Service and an AAA rating fromStandard and Poor’s. These ratings are higher than any of the fiveU. S. cities larger than Phoenix. In addition, the Phoenix WaterSystem maintains a Standard and Poor’s AAA bond rating.Phoenix operates on a July – June 30 fiscal year.

Throughout its rapid growth, the City has had a long history ofpolitical and organizational stability, with three City Managersduring the last 34 years.

The Water Services Department haswon a lot of awards. Some of thoseinclude:• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Award of

Excellence for Environmental Design forwork performed on the Tres RiosEnvironmental Restoration Project.

• Best Civil Project of 2012 from ENR-Southwest for the Val Vista WaterTreatment for granulated activated carbon(GAC) treatment.

• Valley Forward Environmental ExcellenceCrescordia Award for the Tres RiosEnvironmental Restoration Project, PhaseIII, under the category of Site Developmentand Landscape: Public Sector.

AwardsPhoenix has long been recognized for having one of the mostprogressive city governments in the nation. Phoenix began usingperformance-based budgeting and other data-driven managementtechniques long before they were embraced by the localgovernment management mainstream. Phoenix has beenrecognized for its management sophistication and communityinvolvement efforts by many national awards including the covetedAll-American City Award which the City won for the fifth time in2009. The City has also received the prestigious Carl BertelsmannAward for being the best run city government in the world and wasdesignated by Governing Magazine as a “best-managed city.” TheCity has won literally hundreds of other awards and recognitionsas documented on the City’s website at www.phoenix.gov/awardsIn fact, the City’s website itself received a “SUNY Award” twoyears in a row for exceeding transparency standards in its contentby Sunshine Review, a non-profit organization dedicated to stateand local government transparency.

THE WATER SERVICESDEPARTMENT The City of Phoenix Water Services Department has consistentlyprovided a reliable supply of drinking water that meets orsurpasses all standards for health and safety at a cost lower thanmost cities in the Southwest. More than 90 percent of the waterdelivered to its customers comes from surface water sources suchas lakes, rivers, and streams. The remaining amount of waterdelivered to customers comes from groundwater (wells). Thesurface water is treated at one of six water treatment plants.

After customers use the water, the City collects it and treats it atone of the three wastewater treatment plants in such a mannerthat it meets all applicable standards to protect theenvironment. Most of the water is reclaimed and is used foragricultural irrigation, industry, or to water large turf areas suchas golf courses.

THE CITY OF PHOENIX — AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY

The City of Phoenix Water Services Department, as agovernment agency, is fee driven and thereby self-supportingand does not rely on taxes for its operation. A staff comprisedof about 1,400 employees – trained engineers, technicians,and office and field service people – provides the Department’sservices to customers within its 540-square mile service area.

Black & Veatch Efficiency and Innovation Study

The City Council requested that an independent efficiency andinnovation study be performed on the Water ServicesDepartment to identify cost savings and areas to improveoperational efficiencies and customer service. Through acompetitive procurement process, Black & Veatch Corporation(Black & Veatch) was retained by the City to conduct the Study.

Black & Veatch found several areas where the WSD excelled.This included “best in class” in areas of sanitary seweroverflows, water quality, and system reliability. The Studyidentifies several areas of improvement, efficiency gains, andpotential cost savings. Overall, the study has more than 100items for the WSD to review or evaluate.

The Black and Veatch Efficiency Study identified areas needingimprovement, opportunities for efficiency and cost savingmeasures. They were as follows:

1. Call Center – improve customer service response on callsand dispute resolutions.

2. Public Outreach – create a methodology to bettercommunicate to the public about the strategic efforts of theWater Services Department.

3. Strategic Planning – create a strategic plan that will beboth tactically and strategically aligned for current and futurerequirements.

4. Energy efficiency – identifying more effective ways tomeasure and control usage and the implementation of acomputer system that will allow the City to monitor andcontrol time of use issues in electricity.

5. Job Order Contracts – the use of contracts for emergencywork that are negotiated without regard to lowest costs.

6. Lake Pleasant Water Treatment Plant Operations –examine the opportunity to optimize the Lake Pleasant watertreatment plant which is a joint venture with a private entity.

7. Infrastructure maintenance – examine the frequency ofsewer cleaning and water line replacements.

8. Department Leadership – Hire a full time director for thedepartment.

9. Capital Improvement Plan – improve the CapitalImprovement Budget process with greater emphasis oneconomic analysis of proposed budgets.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATEThe City of Phoenix is seeking a Water Services Director withproven experience at a director or assistant director level for acomparable sized City or County Public Works/WaterDepartment or public utility providing water service. Candidatesmust be able to understand current water resource issues and thecomplexities currently impacting the City of Phoenix includingthe need to ensure a viable future water supply. The idealcandidate will possess strong fiscal and budgetary skills in orderto oversee and manage a large and comparable sized budget.In addition, experience building infrastructure to support agrowing community’s water needs and experience managinglarge, multi-jurisdictional projects is a plus.

A working knowledge of western water law, the Law of theColorado River, the Clean Water Act, Federal Reclamation Law,and the Arizona Groundwater Management Act is important. ABachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science,Earth Sciences, Economics, Engineering, BusinessAdministration, or a related field is required. A Master’sdegree or better is preferred. A significant number of years ofprogressively responsible experience in the development of

municipal water policy and the development andimplementation of policies and programs designed to enhancethe position of municipalities in water policy development isrequired. In addition, the new Director must be willing to thinkoutside of the Water Services Department to assist staff inpartnering with other Departments in the City.

The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking and visionaryindividual who will inspire the Department staff to work togetherin order to create a more efficient and effective workingenvironment. This leader will be a creative problem-solver whois able to identify key issues in complex situations, evaluateoptions, and initiate strategies for resolution and will move theorganization forward.

Highly desired is an innovative strategic planner who will makecustomer service a priority. The City seeks a Director who canevaluate current systems in place and make changes whereneeded to improve organizational effectiveness. Mostimportantly, the new Director must possess a good balance ofbeing an effective manager and leader.

ABOUT THE PHOENIXCOMMUNITYPhoenix is Arizona’s capital and the sixth largest city inthe United States with more than 1.4 million residentswithin 519 square miles, geographically exceeding LosAngeles. Long recognized internationally as one of thefastest-growing and most desirable places to live, thepopulation of Phoenix has doubled in the last thirty years.The Phoenix metropolitan area, known as the Valley ofthe Sun, is home to 25 incorporated cities and towns witha total population in excess of 4.2 million.

For additional information about Phoenix,please visit www.phoenix.gov

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND HOW TO APPLYThe salary range for the Water Services Director position is beingvoted on by the City Council on February 6, 2013. At that time thesalary range is expected to be $125,174 - $197,059. The startingsalary is negotiable depending on the selected individual’s qualifications andmatch with the desired attributes sought by the City.

The City offers an outstanding fringe benefit package that includes:

• City of Phoenix Public Employee Retirement System – employee contributes 5 percentof total wages; City’s contribution is based on actuarial need (If you have previouslyworked for a federal, state, city or county agency or military service, you may applyyour retirement service credits to the City of Phoenix retirement plan through the City’sservice credit purchase plan);

• Health, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance (1.75 times annual salary) andpersonal counseling service;

• Liberal annual leave and personal and educational leave plus 11.5 paid holidays andadditional leave for new executives;

• Transportation subsidy of $435 per month plus free public transportation;

• Communications allowance of $100 per month; and

• City contribution of 9.6 percent of base salary to deferred compensation plan andmanagement development fund of $2,006 annually.

The City will pay reasonable and customary relocation expenses for the next Water ServicesDirector who will be required to live within the City of Phoenix within 24 months after thedate of hire and must maintain residency.

This position will remain open until filled. First review of applications will occur onFebruary 22, 2013. In order to be considered for this position, please send yourconfidential resume and cover letter with current salary to [email protected] further information on this important opportunity, please contact:

James L. MercerPresident/CEOThe Mercer Group, Inc1000 Cordova Place, #726Santa Fe, NM 87505Voice: 505-466-9500Fax: 505-466-1274E-Mail: [email protected]: www.mercergroupinc.com

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY RECRUITER/EMPLOYER