Firgrove Mutual Water Company seeks an effective and knowledgeable manager for its Field Operations and Development Services Departments. The position requires someone who is experienced with water operations, supportive of staff, and a visionary for the Departments’ future direction.

The Operations Manager plays a central role in providing safe, efficient service to the company’s customers. This position oversees programs to evaluate facility conditions, develop regular maintenance schedules, and identify when upgrades and replacements are needed. The Manager needs the operational knowledge and understanding to make strategic decisions on how to serve the area, considering long-term demands and conditions as well as our current needs.

The selected individual needs to be a strong leader for a staff of 12+ that includes administration, lead workers, field workers, inspectors, and water quality. The individual will need to support training and career advancement by staff at all levels. The Operations Manager must be prepared to develop staff on both the technical and operational sides and to mentor staff to work both safely and productively and provide superb customer service.

The individual must have a strong sense of the larger goals of our organization: public health, environmental protection, and public service. The Operations Manager leads with integrity and helps ensure that the company complies with local, state, and federal regulations and is transparent in its operations.

The Operations Manager must face all of these challenges within a cross-departmental environment. The selected Manager will work cooperatively and supportively with the Finance Director and General Manager in achieving the Board’s goals. The company aims to develop and maintain water infrastructure that will support our community for many decades to come.

The company is a private nonprofit mutual water company with a service area of approximately 10.2-square miles, currently serving a population of approximately 26,000 on the South Hill of Puyallup in Pierce County. It has approximately 9,865 connections and is experiencing rapid growth within its service area. The need for capital improvements is increasing; therefore the company is updating its capital facilities plan as a part of its Water System Plan update. As a result of this rapid growth, the company needs to expand its capabilities, find efficiencies, and adapt the overall culture of the organization toward a more progressive utility.

The ideal candidate will have multiple years of experience supervising and overseeing the maintenance and operations of a water system or related industry. 

The individual selected for this position will be committed to public service and understand processes and procedures related to administration and finance.

Job candidates should enjoy working in a learning organization and be committed to the development of employees to improve the overall knowledge, skills, and culture of the organization. The successful candidate will have exceptional supervisory skills and be a willing and engaged coach and mentor.