The Water Collaborative Delivery Association, formerly known as the Water Design-Build Council, is a leading professional association dedicated to advancing successful collaborative delivery solutions for the water and wastewater industry. Since our inception in 2006, we’ve served as a leading source of best practices, knowledge, and resources with the tools designed to help owners, design-build firms, engineering firms, construction firms, and suppliers leverage the power of collaborative delivery to achieve better project outcomes, together.

From accelerating critical repairs and jumpstarting new systems, to helping owners and communities find innovative paths forward to maximize water resources while keeping delivery safe, economical, and sustainable, we believe that collaborative delivery methods such as design-build and construction management at-risk have the power to transform water systems with more efficiency, effectiveness, and success.

Founded in 2006 by a small group of competing water and wastewater design-build firms, the Water Collaborative Delivery Association, formerly known as the Water Design-Build Council, has grown to become a leading professional association serving a diverse array of industry experts, practitioners, suppliers, and owners.

The Opportunity

  Position

Executive Director

  Location:

Remote

  Reporting Relationship:

Board of Directors

  Website:

https://watercollaborativedelivery.org

Purpose of the Position

The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for the development and execution of an innovative strategic vision for WCDA and the effective administration and oversight of all operations, staff direction and programs to achieve the strategic goals set in collaboration with the Board. The Executive Director will maintain a dynamic and effective workplace culture rooted in the values of WCDA, generate significant growth in brand awareness and programmatic growth as well as the diversification of revenue streams to expand and deepen the organization’s member base and reach.

The WCDA Executive Director must bring a strong business acumen and industry expertise paired with a committed stake in member development and engagement. The ideal candidate is an industry thought leader with the credibility and skill to serve as an authentic leader and partner who can clearly communicate the WCDA mission and value.

Key Responsibilities

WCDA seeks an executive with the passion, skills, and qualifications to successfully lead the organization through its next phase of value delivery and growth. This is a great time in WCDA’s history to capitalize on great momentum, relationships and stability to further build, engage, diversify and create significant impact.

The Executive Director will be a visionary and dynamic leader who values and promotes WCDA’s history and mission and who can leverage their people management, relationship management, industry insights and Association best practices for the benefit of the organization. Serving as the face of the WCDA, the Executive Director will assume ultimate responsibility for the leadership, vision, strategy execution, and overall management of WCDA.

Specific responsibilities will include, but not be limited to the following:

Executive Leadership & Strategic Vision

 Serve as a visionary to guide and oversee the WCDA and principles in partnership with the Board of Directors.

 Thoroughly understand WCDA, its mission and policies, culture, values, history, key partners and stakeholders, programs, and finances.

 Employ a strategic planning approach that balances continued growth and long-term sustainability. Anticipate, identify, and address strategic challenges WCDA may face as it transitions into the next phase of its growth.

 Establish WCDA position on issues including training and publications.

 Oversight, review, and final decision of all WCDA documents: handbooks; publications; educational materials; contract templates; white papers; research reports.

 Serve as industry influencer and external point of contact for WCDA stakeholders.

 Establish staff policies and procedures; serving as routing point for all questions received by staff, members, and third parties.

 Work closely with the Executive Committee, Board, and membership to design and execute strategic and operational plans.

 Inspire, lead, engage and steward a wide network of volunteers and staff as both a partner and a champion.

Operations & Financial Management

 Maintain a well-functioning, efficient organization through effective communications and teambuilding;

 Develop measurable goals and objectives to enable WCDA’s commitment to provide the highest quality of programming and member deliverables;

 Oversee the planning and budgeting process to maintain a sound financial basis, supporting both short-term and long-term needs and objectives.

 Ensure productive and effective staff performance, providing guidance, feedback, and opportunities for professional development.

 Establish a performance-oriented, accountable culture with appropriate performance management systems. Work with Executive Committee to establish and monitor performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, and establish priorities.

 Develop and maintain appropriate levels of internal controls and communicate the designated processes and procedures to the Board. Recruit, lead, develop, and inspire a diverse staff to manage and advance WCDA’s work in support of the strategic plan, operational goals, and objectives.

Board and Member Engagement

 Build strong, trusting, and dynamic relationships with WCDA’s Members, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors.

 Collaborate with the Board to determine and build alignment around WCDA’s direction and priorities.

 Ensure the Board has a holistic and accurate understanding of the organization’s performance, strengths, challenges, and opportunities.

 Work collaboratively with the WCDA President to set and implement the Board governance, policies, and bylaws.

 Keep the Board informed of the organization’s progress, activities, and challenges, providing accurate monthly reports and annual budget to the Board.

External Relations & Resource Development

 Provide executive leadership to all marketing, communications, and branding initiatives for WCDA to ensure the organization is best positioned among key constituents.

 Serve as the public face and official spokesperson of WCDA. Assure proper representation of the organization in front of all audiences and effectively convey the mission and articulate the value of WCDA.

 Seek opportunities to enhance WCDA’s work and increase visibility of the organization by leveraging existing industry relationships.

 Attend industry conferences, sit on industry panels, interface with other organizations.

 Develop a sound strategy for diversifying and expanding the organization’s revenue strategies.

 Develop a knowledge of and acumen for platforms, education programming and technologies.

 Expectation of some travel for trainings, stakeholder coordination, and WCDA events.

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications

 The successful candidate will bring passion and enthusiasm for WCDA’s mission and have at least 7 years of executive leadership experience in an organization of similar or larger size and complexity. They will be a very strong culture builder, stellar communicator, strategic thinker, and a proven leader who will articulate a vision that others embrace and follow. Other desired qualifications and leadership characteristics include:

 Management positions with progressively increasing responsibility.

 Experience in many, if not all, the chief executive officer functions, including interfacing with a board of directors, managing a major budgetary function, educational program design & delivery, revenue generation/resource development, and public relations.

 A thorough understanding of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, leadership technique, human behavior and performance, and the coordination/collaboration of people and resources.

 Experience with an organization comprised of a strong constituent and member/stakeholder focus

 Gravitas and credibility required to be the public face of WCDA.

 Strong communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to convey the WCDA value.

 A firm commitment to the organizational mission and the belief that WCDA resources standards will advance successful implementation of US water infrastructure projects.

 Results driven, a high-level of maturity, sound business and financial acumen, proven leadership skills, and demonstrated success in leading an organization with measurable results.

 Demonstrated commitment to building a diverse and inclusive environment and recruiting and retaining members that reflect WCDA values.

 A collegial style that reflects mutual respect, engenders trust, and motivates people to work in highly effective teams.

Additional Information

The Executive Director will work remotely from their home office in the United States. However, the position will require moderate to significant travel as needed:

 4 quarterly meetings

 January Board retreat

 Travel to interface with members for program implementation & training oversight

 Strategic attendance at key Industry Conferences (e.g. DBIA spring W/WW conference, WEFTEC, ACE, UMC, NACWA, AMWA, etc.)

 Training sessions on occasion.

Education

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required.

Compensation

Compensation and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience with an expected range from 175-225k annualy. 

Application Process

Interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit a resume and cover letter to: WCDAExecutiveDirector@kornferry.com

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.