Stafford County, VA Director of Utilities

The Community

Stafford County Virginia is ideally located along the Interstate 95 corridor just 40 miles south of Washington D.C. and 50 miles north of Richmond. The County has a diverse population of over 164000 residents and ranks as the third fastest growing county in Virginia while also standing out as one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. The County continues to experience growth in its diversity and continues the effort to ensure the communitys future needs remain a priority. Stafford has a wide variety of living choices including waterfront golf club communities gated communities suburban country and active adult communities.

Stafford County is a flourishing community that continues to achieve all that our residents businesses and visitors have come to imagine. Stafford is a great place to call home from its early beginnings that are deep-rooted in our nations history to the evolution into a progressive and well-designed locality. It places the citizens first ensuring that our home is always welcoming and our businesses continue to prosper.

Staffords Smart Growth Strategy leads with a comprehensive transportation system resulting in safe and efficient travel for residents businesses and visitors. This approach also includes efforts to preserve and provide access to the Countys vast inventory of natural and historic resources including distinctive historical sites forests and wetlands along the Potomac River Potomac Creek Aquia Creek and the Rappahannock River. These efforts protect thousands of acres of public parklands for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

Founded in 1664 the County has strong connections to events that shaped the nations history. Most notably the Countys prosperous iron industry attracted Augustine Washington and his family including a six-year-old son named George to Ferry Farm in Stafford. The future president spent his formative years there until he reached young adulthood.

During the Civil War Stafford served as a logistical and transportation center for both northern and southern forces.

The Organization

Stafford County has an overall budget of $896 million and 1350 employees support this community. The organization promotes and values leadership at all levels that empowers and engages employees in decision-making processes.

Through a performance management system the organization focuses on developing its employees by allowing them to grow and advance within the organization.

The organization has adopted six key values that are integrated into the organization and support the community and each other: customer first stronger together infinite possibilities ardent learners unwavering respect and proactive ownership. The established Executive Leadership Team of the organization guides its work through a charter. The team promotes high performance continuously throughout the organization. They foster and help develop an organization that strategically plans for and adapts to a changing community creating a supportive work environment and championing a culture of excellence.

The County of Stafford operates under a traditional Board-Administrator form of government with a seven-member elected Board of Supervisors serving as the legislative body of the local government with each member serving a four (4) year staggered term. The Board is responsible for enacting laws setting policies approving the budget for county services and appointing citizens to several boards authorities and commissions. The County Administrator is appointed by the Board and serves at the pleasure of the Board carrying out the Boards adopted policies directing business procedures and overseeing day-to-day operations and activities of all County departments. The County has demonstrated sound financial management as recognized in their Triple-A (AAA) Bond ratings from all three rating agencies where they join only 48 localities across the country with this distinction.

The Board of Supervisors established the Stafford County 2040 strategic plan focusing on Multimodal Infrastructure and Transportation a Vibrant Community Quality Educational and Wellness Opportunities a Dedicated and Responsive Public Safety Team Economic Diversification Organizational Excellence and Growth Management for Community Sustainability. The strategic plan along with the Countys five-year financial plan and Comprehensive Plan is a road map for the organization in meeting the needs of a growing community. The County is invested in and engaged with a governance philosophy that is fiscally efficient in delivering core services responsive to the ever-changing needs of this multi-dimensional community.

The Position

Stafford County is actively seeking an experienced and visionary leader to serve as its Director of Utilities. The County is looking for a highly skilled leader who thrives in a dynamic environment and demonstrates emotional intelligence adaptability and tactical empathy in decision-making. This is a pivotal role reporting to the Chief Director of Community Operations where the Director will be responsible for directing the Departments programs and staff.

The Director of Utilities oversees the operation maintenance and expansion of Stafford Countys water and wastewater systems ensuring reliable service for the community while responsibly managing the Utilities Fund. The combined annual budget is $121 million consisting of a $51.75 million operational budget and a $69.3 million capital budget. Furthermore the 10-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is projected to require an investment of approximately $700 million. This role provides strategic leadership and direction for 151 employees in delivering safe high-quality service guiding infrastructure development and fostering a culture of excellence within the department. The Director plays a vital role in ensuring the Countys water and wastewater systems are effectively managed strategically improved and aligned with Stafford Countys commitment to service excellence and community growth.

The work encompasses complex professional and difficult administrative duties overseeing the Countys public utilities systems. The Director is responsible for directing public utilities construction operations and maintenance ensuring compliance with County State and Federal regulations and industry standards. This includes establishing standards and managing operations for water and wastewater treatment plants as well as the distribution and collection systems.

A core function of the position involves fiscal and strategic planning. The Director will develop and implement strategic plans departmental policies and long-term financial plans rates and fees. The Director will also oversee the preparation review and monitoring of operating and capital budgets providing recommendations to the County Administrator and Board of Supervisors. The Director is tasked with developing and presenting agenda items for the Board of Supervisors and monitoring legislation rules and regulations affecting utilities to evaluate their impact and implement changes as necessary.

Oversight of infrastructure projects and development is also key. The Director reviews and approves development and subdivision plans coordinates with regulatory agencies and supports industrial growth initiatives. This includes overseeing engineering design inspections and infrastructure projects. The Director is also responsible for preparing and updating the Master Water and Sewer Plan and directing capital improvement programs to support economic development.

Finally the Director manages staff including hiring training performance evaluation and professional development. The Director also oversees public relations planning coordinates communications with County Communications and Media and represents the County at various meetings hearings and with civic groups.

The Successful Candidate

The ideal Director will possess a thorough understanding of the technical and managerial components necessary to lead a modern utility. This includes comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of civil and sanitary engineering and a thorough understanding of public utility operation planning and design. The successful candidate must bring proven financial acumen to balance departmental needs with resources paired with an understanding of business management practices as applied to utility operations. This fiscal expertise extends to a strong understanding of enterprise fund accounting principles including budgeting rate setting cost recovery and long-term financial planning as the Director will be directly responsible for setting rates and presenting them to the Board.

The new Director will have experience in public utilities and must demonstrate the ability to review and analyze plans and specifications for the construction and operation of treatment facilities and collection and distribution systems. A key function of the role is the ability to formulate comprehensive operational policies and procedures. The ideal candidate should also be familiar with modern utility systems including the current SCADA and GIS implementations and the upcoming effort to implement a computerized maintenance and asset management system.

On the leadership front the Director needs a proven ability to supervise the work of a wide-ranging professional staff and must provide decisive leadership to technically skilled staff fostering confidence and clarity in action. This individual must possess exceptional communication and presentation skills for diverse audiences and the capacity to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Federal State and County officials as well as the public. Finally the Director must have a track record of proven ability to collaborate and negotiate with various groups customers employees contractors and the public while maintaining an ethical leadership role.

The Director will assume immediate oversight of several critical high-profile initiatives over the next few years. These include guiding the multi-year implementation of the Countys first reclaimed water system to recycle wastewater for industrial cooling at new data centers and leading the Department through a major project to re-locate its operations maintenance and administrative facilities. The Director will also be responsible for guiding the organization through the planned implementation of a computerized maintenance and asset management system.

Inside the Utilities Department

The Utilities Department implements the Stafford County Water and Sewer Master Plan which serves as the guiding framework for long-term infrastructure and service delivery. The Plan prioritizes system improvements directs project planning and cost allocation and provides structured financing through Pro-Rata fees. It ensures all investments align with regulatory requirements fiscal responsibility and the Countys vision for sustainable growth.

Stafford Countys Department of Utilities is actively executing a comprehensive 10-year over $500 million capital program designed to meet the growing demands for service while addressing critical needs for infrastructure rehabilitation. This commitment to sound financial management and fiscal stability was recently recognized when the Department successfully completed the bond rating process earning two AAA ratings.

The Utilities Department provides services in four primary areas each with a unique mission:

• Operation & Compliance: Ensure the reliable delivery of safe high-quality water and wastewater services by directing operations construction and maintenance in full compliance with all County State and Federal regulations.
• Engineering & Infrastructure Development: Provide sustainable and forward-looking utility infrastructure by overseeing engineering design inspections and capital projects that support community growth and economic development.
• Financial & Administrative Oversight: Safeguard the Countys resources by managing budgets rates and long-term financial planning while ensuring transparent reporting policy development and informed decision-making for leadership and the public.
• Leadership & Staff Management: Build and lead a skilled motivated workforce through effective hiring training evaluation and professional development while fostering a culture of excellence safety and service.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements include the possession of a bachelors degree with eight years of responsible engineering and administrative experience in the construction or operation of public utilities such as water distribution systems and/or wastewater treatment facilities or any equivalent combination of experience and training. Possession of an appropriate drivers license valid in the Commonwealth of Virginia is also required.

Preferred qualifications include the possession of a Professional Engineer license.

Compensation and Benefits

The expected hiring range is $150000 to $185000 depending on qualifications with an excellent benefits package. Benefits include participation in the Virginia Retirement System; medical dental and vision coverage; group life and disability insurance; vacation administrative holiday and sick leave; employee assistance program; and professional dues and conference expenses.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis at . Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position will be open until filled with a first review of applications beginning December 16 2025.

Questions

Please direct questions to Anne Lewis at or or Robert Colichio at .

For more information about Stafford County visit the Countys website here.

RECRUITMENT BROCHURE

Required Experience:

Director