Water Utility General Manager

City of Madison
Madison, WI
General Description

Our Next Water Utility General Manager

The City of Madison is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and empathetic leader for the Madison Water Utility. The General Manager leads the work of the Madison Water Utility, and is ultimately responsible for the financial, technical, maintenance and repair, operational, developmental, public relations, and administrative functions of the Utility.  This position reports to the Mayor and the Water Utility Board, is a member of the Mayor's Management Team, and a member of the Public Works team. The work involves the exercise of independent judgment and discretion in carrying out responsibilities under broad policies established by the Water Utility Board, the City Common Council, the State Public Service Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The successful candidate will have strong management skills and a customer-focused mindset, with experience working in a public utility. They will have experience managing large budgets, creating customer service programs, and preparing rate cases. They will understand the regulatory framework governing utility operations and grant funding.  They will be able to be strategic in communication and explain complex technical information to the general public. They will advance Madison’s sustainability goals and help build a diverse, inclusive workforce. They will have excellent communication skills and be excited to collaborate with other agencies.

Employment will be subject to a five-year employment contract negotiated by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council and a term of the contract requires residency in the City of Madison. Non-residents will be given time to establish residency if necessary. This position currently supervises approximately 130 permanent employees, both directly and through lower-level supervisors.


IMPORTANT: THERE ARE TWO (2) SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTIONS ON THE JOB POSTING.

YOU MUST ATTACH YOUR ANSWERS IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION. YOU MUST ALSO ATTACH A RESUME.

(To view the questions, click on the supplemental question tab OR view the bottom section of the job bulletin)

**APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT ATTACHED ESSAY RESPONSES AND RESUME WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION.


Our Community

The City of Madison is regularly included in lists of top places to live. A thriving food scene, more than 200 miles of trails for hiking, biking and snowshoeing, excellent healthcare, and of course great transit work together to help meet Madison’s vision to be inclusive, innovative, and thriving.
  • #8 Greenest City in the U.S. - EcoCation (2025)
  • #7 Happiest City in America - Fortune (2025)
  • #18 Best Places to Live in the Midwest - Livability (2025)
  • #2 ranked among top 30 mid-sized US cities for green commuting - CommercialCafe – 2024
  • 15 Happiest Places to Live in the U.S. - Outside (2023)
  • #1 Most Neighborly City - NeighborBlog (2023)
  • #1 Best Places to Live - Livability.com – 2021 and 2022
  • More Madison rankings and accolades can be found on the City's Webpage and on Destination Madison.

Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn’t match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.

Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
  • Ensure the provision of an adequate and safe water supply for domestic, industrial, and fire protection purposes. Prepare the Water Utility for prolonged drought, energy shortages, urban development, environmental influences, or other occurrences which may disrupt/affect water supply or water needs. Monitor and oversee ground water quality, water treatment operations, and quality of the distribution system.
  • Oversee the activities and operations of the Madison Water Utility and its staff. Meet with Utility Management Team and staff to discuss operational and administrative issues. Monitor activities; review suggestions, ideas, and potential improvements in operations; and develop, initiate, and implement policy and operational improvements.
  • Develop and implement rules, regulations, and administrative policies for all units.
  • Hire, direct, monitor and evaluate a diverse staff of employees, both directly and through lower-level staff. Function as appointing authority, approve payrolls and perform other necessary supervisory functions. Manage employee grievances directly or through lower-level staff. Ensure effective communication within the utility. Oversee consistent use of the City’s employee check-in tool.
  • Oversee budget preparation and monitoring. Prepare and present budget recommendations to the Mayor, the Water Utility Board, and the Common Council. Oversee the preparation of rate change requests and other related reports and requests to the Public Service Commission and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
  • Lead efforts to make the Madison Water Utility and the City of Madison more sustainable and equitable. Maintain and improve water conservation and efficiency programs in the community. Support all staff to be familiar with and participate in the City’s racial equity and social justice initiative.
  • Maintain a focus on excellent customer service. Develop and improve programs to support low-income households and reduce the impact of rate increases. 
  • Represent the Water Utility to the public, including presenting at a variety of City and public meetings, communicating with residents and the media, and ensuring that the utility has a robust communications plan.
  • Coordinate water works services, maintenance functions and other activities with other City agencies, governmental units, utilities and private sector users. Initiate and defend rate reform, alternative financing methods, customer education, and customer service programs and activities. Function as part of the Public Works Management Team and collaborate with other City agencies as appropriate.
  • Be familiar with national best practices of water utilities and how utilities are implementing a “one water” approach. Maintain awareness of advances in the technological and administrative activities of other utilities, especially water utilities. Encourage staff to maintain professional and technical expertise and skills.
  • Perform related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Five (5) years of responsible supervisory and administrative experience in a senior leadership position at a utility, preferably a public water or water-related utility; AND
  • Bachelor’s (or higher level) degree in Engineering, Business, Public Administration, Water Resources or Environmental Management, or a related field of study.
-OR-

  • Four (4) years of experience applying all of the following:

    • Principles and methods of administration as they apply to the management of a public utility.
    • Sustainability, water resources management issues and available technology, including ground water and water conservation issues.
    • Full range of supervisory principles and practices, labor relations and personnel management.
    • Racial equity and social justice principles, particularly with respect to water quality, environmental justice, and the impacts of utility bills on low-income households.
    • Principles and practices relating to water utility plant operation.
    • Rate determination and financing principles and practices relating to public utilities, including billing and utility accounting.
    • Business administration including financial management, general accounting, program and business planning, and budget development and monitoring; AND

  • Familiarity with the following:

    • Customer assistance programs and ways to mitigate the impact of rate increases on customers.

Other equivalent combinations of experience, training, and education that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position will also be considered.


For a complete list of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, please see the class specification.


The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore, successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural communities.



Special Requirements
  • Ability to meet the transportation requirements of the position.
  • This position will be expected to attend frequent Common Council and Water Utility Board meetings as well as other public meetings as required. Such meetings generally take place outside the regular workday during evening hours.
Physical Requirements:
Work is primarily sedentary in nature and performed in an office environment. Employees will be expected to use standard office equipment such as a telephone, computer, calculator, copier, and fax machine.