Description
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The District sits at the heart of one of Central Ohio’s fastest-growing corridors. Founded in 2023 as a consolidated, regional-level utility for the City of London, the Village of Plain City and Madison County, the District sets out to build a resilient water and wastewater infrastructure capable of serving residents and industry for the next 50 years and beyond. The District currently provides water for over 25,000 residents and is mapping a $100M+ capital program to grow alongside the county. Organized as a regional water and sewer district in the manner and subject to the conditions provided in Chapter 6119 of the Ohio Revised Code, the District is a public entity eligible for OPERS benefits.
The Board seeks a next-generation leader who can marry technical acumen with political savvy—securing sustainable water sources, guiding large-scale construction, and championing the public value of utilities to the community. This Executive Director will serve as the public face of the organization, reporting directly to the Board of Trustees and managing a team of 30 to execute the day-to-day operations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE OVERSIGHT
- Lead long-range infrastructure planning and deliver critical capital projects, including the regional wastewater treatment facility and long-term water supply solutions.
- Prioritize and sequence projects in alignment with growth forecasts and available resources.
- Apply disciplined project management practices to ensure timely, cost-effective execution.
- Balance near-term infrastructure needs with a long-range vision that anticipates future expansion.
- Ensure all projects are aligned with local growth forecasts, environmental compliance, and state/federal permitting requirements.
- Hold contractors and engineering partners accountable for pragmatic, cost-effective solutions.
- Maintain agility and responsiveness in the face of shifting funding conditions, political headwinds, and operational risks.
FUND DEVELOPMENT & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- Develop and manage The District’s annual operating and capital budgets.
- Secure and manage grants, loans, and debt to responsibly finance large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Align funding strategies with community growth and user demand while maintaining affordability.
- Ensure fiscal accuracy and transparency in reporting to the Board and external stakeholders.
- Strengthen financial systems and processes to support a growing, capital-intensive organization.
Requirements
DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES
- Executive leadership in a public utility, infrastructure, government, or comparably complex environment.
- Proven success managing large-scale capital projects ($100M+), including oversight of engineering and construction partners.
- Political and board relations experience; adept at balancing multiple appointing authorities and navigating competing agendas.
- Strong financial acumen, including grants, loans, and debt financing.
- Background in utilities, public works, or infrastructure preferred; direct water/wastewater expertise helpful but not required.
- Demonstrated success in organizational development and building professional systems in evolving entities.
- Experience as a credible public communicator and advocate with regulators, developers, and community stakeholders.
DESIRED ATTRIBUTES
- A strategic visionary, able to anticipate long-term growth needs and set direction.
- A confident decision maker, making tough decisions while holding firm to ethics
- A politically savvy collaborator able to unite diverse jurisdictions while managing conflict constructively
- An approachable, supportive, and trusted colleague
- A persuasive, transparent, and engaging communicator
- A pragmatic manager, driving results within the team using a business mindset
- A credible advocate for the community
