Director of Operations & Maintenance - Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District

Under general supervision and the direction of the Executive Director, this position is a member of the District’s Executive Management Team. The Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Director leads the Operations and Maintenance Division that includes the following five departments - Treatment Plant, Collection System, Maintenance, Regulatory Compliance Programs, and Operations Reliability. This role ensures regulatory compliance across all wastewater treatment and collection system operations along with consistent, reliable operation of all District facilities and maintaining the highest standards for employee safety, environmental compliance, and service delivery. The position also provides District-wide leadership in multiple areas like enterprise asset management and emergency response. They will also be key in implementing the District’s Strategic Plan including performance tracking, planning, and maintaining workplans. 

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 sustainable growth, enhancing public services, and improving quality of life. The person in this role is expected to remain up to date and current on new developments in the field of wastewater and contribute that knowledge during planned infrastructure projects as well as during day-to-day operations. 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 Are

Established 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. 

 

Duties

The successful Operations and Maintenance 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 operational programs of the wastewater treatment plant and collection system. Ensure that all provisions of the District’s Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) Permit are being met, including: 

          o Direct Reliability Process programs focused on operating, maintaining, and evaluating district assets for efficient asset management.
          o Direct treatment plant operations and research focused on efficient wastewater treatment, biosolids handling, and operational technology (OT).
          o Direct collection system operations for the district’s collection system pump stations and interceptor system including operational Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) program 
             work, user charge program (monitoring, calculation, and program evaluation), and collection system services.
          o Direct regulatory compliance programs including pollution prevention, Yahara WINs, pretreatment, hauled waste, laboratory operations, and environmental monitoring.
          o Direct maintenance programs for reliable operations of all district assets specifically related to facilities maintenance, electrical maintenance and mechanical maintenance.
•Direct the district’s Asset Management program focused on Reliability Centered Maintenance and utilizing Enterprise Asset Management technology.
•Develop and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the division.
•Partner with the District’s Health and Safety Leader to ensure compliance with all occupational safety regulations and promote a culture of safety excellence throughout the division. Oversee implementation of physical security procedures.
•Establish and maintain operational standards, procedures, and best practices across Operations and Maintenance departments.
•Lead division management and staff meetings to coordinate activities, share information, and align priorities across departments.
•Actively work to build trust and inclusion across the division, fostering an environment where all employees feel respected and valued.
•Promote collaborative decision-making and stakeholder engagement within division operations, ensuring staff involve relevant parties in planning and implementation.
•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 operational matters.
•Ensures consistent, reliable operation of all District facilities while maintaining the highest standards for employee safety, environmental compliance, and equitable service delivery to all communities.

Organizational Leadership & Cross-Divisional Collaboration (25%)
•Establish, lead, and maintain the District’s standards, and procedures.
•Direct district cross-divisional teams as assigned. Teams include WPDES permit, Compliance Maintenance Annual Report (CMAR), sewer use ordinance (SUO), emergency response and critical incident management, district asset management and reliability centered maintenance.
•Collaborate with the Planning and Engineering Director and staff on long-term capital planning, asset management strategies, 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, 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.
•Collaborate on District Strategic Plan development, implementation, and organizational performance management.
•Oversee general District policies and procedures to ensure they are fair, effective, aligned with District goals and values, and consistently applied across the division.
•Oversee the preparation and presentation of 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 the district’s strategic purpose.

Supervision & Management of Direct Reports (20%)
•Hire, onboard, develop, and evaluate department managers and other direct reports within the Operations and Maintenance 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 giving and receiving of 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 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.


 

Requirements

A cover letter and resume are required to apply. Ensure your application materials clearly illustrate your experience with each of the qualifications listed. 

Required Qualifications:
•Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related field. 
•Extensive experience (7+ years) managing teams in the areas of operations, maintenance, and administrative functions in public utilities. 
•Demonstrated experience in leadership role(s) meeting performance and strategic plans.

Preferred Qualifications:
•Advanced training or certifications in wastewater management, asset management, and leadership areas.
•Possession of a state of Wisconsin Professional Engineer’s license as required to be the District’s Engineer-Of-Record in absence of the Director of Planning & Engineering

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
•Strong knowledge of industry regulations and standards.
•Ability to manage multiple programs, projects and initiatives simultaneously; be self-motivated to successfully initiate, implement and adhere to deadlines.
•Ability to set and execute priorities.
•Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with a keen attention to detail.
•Ability to be a problem solver by identifying root-cause through research and analyzation. 
•Strong and effective communication, collaboration and leadership skills.
•Ability to adapt and be agile.  
•Proficient user of technology including enterprise resource planning (ERP), enterprise asset management (EAM) and Microsoft Office products.
•Strong technical writing skills. 
•Ability to promote positivity and follow District policies along with building and department procedures.
•Ability to work safely and comply with all safety and work rules and regulations.
•The position may require working evenings, nights, and some weekends.
•Must possess a valid driver’s license
•Willingness to travel for district business purposes. 


Physical Demands & Work Environment

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.  Must be able to lift to 40 pounds occasionally.  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.


Employer
Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District
Address
1610 Moorland Road

Madison, Wisconsin, 53713
Phone
6082221201
Website
http://www.madsewer.org

This position was posted on: Thursday, November 20 2025 | It will be removed on: Tuesday, January 20 2026

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