Director, Communications and Intergovernmental Coordination
Director, Communications and Intergovernmental Coordination
System Overview: The Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) is one of the largest and oldest water agencies in the Northeast. They are a public drinking water supplier owned by the cities of Paterson, Clifton, and Passaic. Their 225 employees supply water to nearly 800,000 people with demand averaging approximately 80 million gallons per day to the municipalities of Paterson, Passaic, Clifton, Prospect Park, Lodi, and North Arlington, and 22 wholesale customers.
PVWC owns and operates the Alan C. Levine Little Falls Water Treatment Plant, which underwent an extensive upgrade in 2001 to use ozone technology for treatment. It was the largest drinking water treatment plant in the world employing this technology, and it remains a model for treatment operators from around the world to emulate. Their process is tuned for optimum treatment of the nature of their water supply to remove particulate matter, pathogenic bacteria, and organic contaminants.
PVWC has approximately 65,000 service connections. Their system also includes over 650 miles of mains ranging in size from 4 to 51 inches in diameter, 3,000 fire hydrants, a complete meter repair, and testing department, two maintenance yards and warehouses, and a corporate office. They operate three finished water reservoirs with a combined storage capacity of 250 million gallons, and they are evaluating adding an additional 75 million gallons. PVWC has removed more than 34,800 utility-owned lead service lines since the 1980s, and their Lead Service Line Replacement program offers replacement solutions for customer-owned service lines.
PVWC is dedicated to the communities it serves. They know how important it is to provide their customers with high-quality drinking water, reliability, and service. They have been serving the citizens of Northeast New Jersey since 1849 and will continue to in the years to come.
Opportunity:
The primary responsibility of the Director, Communications and Intergovernmental Coordination is to build trust and enhance PVWC communications and relationships with employees, customers, community groups, elected officials and governmental agencies to advance PVWC’s brand as a modern water utility staffed by a team of highly skilled professionals. This leader will develop and mentor a cohesive team of communications professionals that proactively work with internal staff, the public, the media, political leaders and government organizations to inform and educate people about the scope and value of the services that PVWC provides its customers. As a key collaborator, the Director will consult senior-level stakeholders across the entire organization to compile a library of key contacts, press and social media content, presentations, and other communications tools such as internal newsletters, external mailings, videos, and public service announcements. As a trusted facilitator, the Director will develop and execute an overall communications and intergovernmental coordination plan that connects PVWC and the communities it serves.
Education:
Graduation from an accredited college with a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, psychology or advertising is preferred.
NOTE: Applicants who do not meet the above educational requirements may substitute additional experience as indicated below on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester credit hours being equal to one (1) year of experience.
Experience:
Six (6) years of experience in work involving the dissemination of information in the field of news media, public relations, publicity and/or advertising. At least three (3) years in a supervisory capacity within public relations is preferred.