Full-Time
Senior Manager
DC Water
501-1,000 employees
Provides drinking water and wastewater services
Compensation Overview
$160k - $180k/yr
Washington, DC, USA
Hybrid
 Business & Strategy (2) |
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- Ten (10) years of progressive experience related to providing administrative, financial and/or business operation services for an organization, including five (5) years of demonstrated supervisory/managerial experience
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or Policy, or related field from an accredited university or college
- Project and Program Management
- Strategic Planning and Problem Solving
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Analytical Thinking
- Organizational Skills
- Negotiation Skills
- Verbal and Written Communication Skills
- Computer Skills
- English
- General office conditions
- Leads programs across the Administration Cluster (for example Succession planning – critical roles, tenure of key talent, essential learning and development where additional support is needed, OCAO cluster dashboard development and deployment; Service delivery improvements across Shared Services, Meter Operations initiative to improve accuracy, performance, cost) and deployed on a need basis to take on specific assignments
- Provides executive support and hands on assistance in driving progress and cross functional collaboration on Administration Cluster specific projects
- Stay abreast of project related risks in real time; coordinates resolution of risks and gaps pertaining to Administration Cluster initiatives and projects
- Establish touchpoints with all relevant stakeholders to track and provide support on programs to ensure deliverables are met
- Interface with Department Leads and staff to identify, address, and resolve cross-department issues, and monitor and mitigate risks
- Seamlessly interface with the management team of the Authority’s operating and administrative departments to facilitate and coordinate the design, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives, particularly regarding administration services
- As directed, represents CAO in meetings with stakeholders to review and resolve issues on behalf of the CAO
- Provides executive support and hands on assistance in matters pertaining to Administration, additional support requirements and mitigation of performance gaps
- Assists in the development of long-range business operations plans and objectives to impact business results and cost-effective service delivery
- Performs other related duties and projects as assigned at the discretion of the CAO
- Provides daily planning and administration to subordinates as applicable and is responsible for the selection, assignment, supervision, promotion, discipline, and training of personnel within the business unit’s functional area
- Interacts with internal stakeholders, senior management and executive staff
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
DC Water provides water and sewer services to Washington, DC, handling the collection, treatment, and distribution of drinking water and the treatment and management of wastewater. Its products and services work through a network of water mains, pumping stations, treatment plants, and sewer infrastructure to deliver clean drinking water and protect the environment by treating wastewater before releasing it back to the environment. The company emphasizes its team of thoughtful leaders, problem-solvers, and innovators who work to solve environmental challenges in the nation’s capital. Unlike many private utility competitors, DC Water operates as a public utility focused on serving residents and the city, prioritizing reliability, safety, and environmental stewardship. The company’s goal is to provide dependable water services while addressing environmental challenges and protecting public health in Washington, DC.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Washington DC, District of Columbia
Founded
1996
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Maryland lawsuit April 20, 2026 forces accelerated Potomac Interceptor rehabilitation.
- DOJ Clean Water Act complaint April 23, 2026 mandates sewer upgrades enhancing compliance.
- AI partnership with Planet Technologies boosts operational efficiency in public sector.
What critics are saying
- Maryland imposes $10,000 daily penalties draining reserves in 3-6 months.
- DOJ penalties and rehab projects cripple budget within 6-12 months.
- Aging Interceptor collapses again in unrehabbed sections within 12-24 months.
What makes DC Water unique
- DC Water operates 1,350 miles of pipes serving 2.5 million across DC suburbs.
- Manages Blue Plains plant treating Dulles Airport wastewater via 54-mile Potomac Interceptor.
- Leads Clean Rivers Program with $819 million Potomac Tunnel launching Mary TBM November 2025.
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Benefits
Hybrid Work Options
Professional Development Budget
Company News
Maryland sues DC's water authority over massive sewage spill in Potomac River. 4/20/2026 7:55 p.m. EDT The state's attorney general and Department of the Environment say DC Water failed to assess and implement infrastructure upgrades. Maryland's attorney general and Department of the Environment are suing the District of Columbia's water and sewer authority over a massive sewage spill that polluted the Potomac River earlier this year. Attorney General Anthony Brown announced Monday that his office and the environment department had filed the complaint against DC Water, which owns the Potomac Interceptor sewer line, for failing to assess and institute improvements in their infrastructure. A 72-inch section of the sewer line collapsed on Jan. 19, sending roughly 240 million gallons of untreated wastewater and "catastrophic" levels of pollutants into the Potomac River. In a lawsuit filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Maryland officials accused DC Water, an independent authority of the District of Columbia, of negligence and violating state water pollution laws. "DC Water knew this aging infrastructure was corroding, yet it delayed repairs and failed in its duty to protect this treasured waterway," Brown said in a news release. "We are going to court to make sure they make it right for Marylanders." The U.S. Department of Justice filed a Clean Water Act complaint against the authority and the District of Columbia the same day Maryland announced its lawsuit. Apr 23, 2026 The DOJ is seeking "financial penalties, sewer assessment and rehabilitation projects, and pollutant mitigation work to remedy DC Water's failure to operate its sewer system in compliance with the Clean Water Act and its permits," the department said in a news release. DC Water officials said in a statement that they are "fully committed to the long-term rehabilitation of the Potomac Interceptor." "From the outset, DC Water's highest priority was to safely and quickly contain the overflow and repair the damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor," the authority said. "Crews implemented an emergency bypass system that successfully managed the majority of the overflow within five days and fully stopped all discharges to the Potomac River within 21 days. The repairs of the affected segment were completed in 55 days." DC Water said that it is working to rehabilitate more than 2,700 linear feet of pipeline in the area that were scheduled for improvement and that "initial remediation efforts are nearly complete." Ongoing testing of water quality is finding "downstream conditions have returned to normal and have remained stable for several months," with low bacteria llevels near the site of the break, the authority says. The state of Maryland is asking a judge to impose civil penalties of $10,000 per day for each violation and require DC Water to cover Potomac River cleanup costs, environmental testing and other damages. State officials note that the release occurred for more than eight days. Last month, a New York firm sued DC Water on behalf of local property owners who claim they "incurred out-of-pocket costs, business interruption damages, property contamination, cleaning costs or other concrete economic losses." DC Water dates back to the 1850s, according to its website. The authority reports serving around 700,000 residents in the District and 1.8 million people in its surrounding suburbs, including Montgomery and Prince George's counties, with wastewater collection and treatment. The authority operates pumping stations, reservoirs, water storage tanks and flow-metering stations in the region. DC Water also operates more than 1,350 miles of pipes and 1,800 miles of sanitary and combined sewers. The Potomac Interceptor was constructed in 1960 as a sanitary sewer to connect Washington Dulles International Airport to the D.C. sewer system. Though it's a shared sewer system, Maryland Secretary of the Environment Serena McIlwain said in a news release that the Potomac River is Maryland's and urged DC Water to restore it to health. "The utility must take full responsibility for the damage caused and take immediate and lasting action to prevent future spills," McIlwain said. "The river is part of our identity, our economy, and our way of life." Darreonna Davis is an express desk reporter at The Baltimore Banner. She previously reported at the intersection of gender, politics, health and economic policy as a fellow for the 19th News. Apr 23, 2026 Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. Please review our community guidelines.
Potomac disaster demonstrates environmental hypocrisy. Washington's climate crusaders obsess over carbon while ignoring a real environmental disaster in their backyard: hundreds of millions of gallons of sewage pouring into the Potomac. March 12, 2026 Politicians in and around Washington, D.C., posture as guardians of the planet while standing by seemingly unconcerned for weeks as raw sewage from their backyard spills into the Potomac River, flowing through the nation's capital and into the Chesapeake Bay's fishery. The spill started on January 19 with the failure of a 60-million-gallon-a-day pipe in the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) system. While DC Water reported that a bypass around the break had been completed five days later, Betsy Nicholas, president of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN), said about 300 million gallons of sewage had gone into the river, and residual spillage had continued to pollute for an extended period. Testing by PRKN and scientists from the University of Maryland revealed a river teeming with disease. Water samples collected nine days after the disaster showed levels of fecal bacteria more than 2,700 times the safe limit established by Maryland and Virginia. Even 10 miles downstream, at the Thompson Boat House along the D.C. waterfront, contamination levels ranged from two to 59 times above the recreational safety limit. Dean Naujoks of PRKN said that officials understated the effect of the spill. "DC Water claimed... that the sewage leak was fully contained in the C&O Canal, but on February 4 it acknowledged that 'overflow risks remain,' which have resulted in 'slight increases' in coliform levels near Lock 10 over the past two days. Our February 3 data show that the actual E. coli contamination is, in fact, 4,227 times over the safety limit. This is hardly slight." DC Water and others, including Maryland Governor Wes Moore, have drawn heavy criticism from PRKN and political opponents for an apparent lack of urgency. "At a time when faith in our leaders is dishearteningly low, the wholly insufficient response by the D.C. government at all levels only adds to that loss of faith," said PRKN's Nicholas. "Our conscience should be shocked when we remember that what is at risk here is public health - for millions of area residents." The inaction on the part of policymakers is baffling. Governor Moore's claim that containment work was nearly done was damage control and downplayed the scale of the disaster. Having been asked a month after the spill to help with the recovery, Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, minced no words: "The... overflow is a sewage crisis of historic proportion. Never should any American family, community, or waterway ever have to experience this level of extensive environmental damage." Indeed. How does the wealthiest nation on Earth allow a major river to become a septic system? At least in part, by having modern environmentalism hijacked by a climate industrial complex that obsessively demonizes carbon dioxide, a colorless, odorless gas essential for life. While the likes of Governor Moore direct billions to so-called green programs to address a fabricated climate crisis, a 60-year-old line - six feet in diameter - is allowed to deteriorate to the point of releasing toxins that are an immediate threat to wildlife and a hazard to people. The same politicians who lecture working-class families about their gas stoves and internal combustion engines are blind to the moral failing of an incompetence that dumps human waste into a river used by those same families. The irony is bitter. This is the difference between real accountability for ecological care and the climate elite's preening over phony achievements in "fighting" a made-up crisis. Legitimate environmental concerns have more to do with the health of habitats for animals and people than fanciful visions of managing a climate system that is much too complex and too large to control - even if there were reasons to do so. While the Potomac Riverkeeper Network has been vocal about the sewage spill, many other environmental groups have been missing in action. Such organizations, Amgreatness suspect, have mission statements that call on them to step forward. In any case, let's hope that the cherry blossoms of March replace mid-winter's poisons and stench along the Potomac's shores. Vijay Jayaraj is a Science and Research Associate at the CO2 Coalition, Fairfax, Virginia. He holds an M.S. in environmental sciences from the University of East Anglia and a postgraduate degree in energy management from Robert Gordon University, both in the U.K., and a bachelor's in engineering from Anna University, India. He served as a research associate with the Changing Oceans Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
5 things to know today, March 12, in Montgomery County. It's Thursday, March 12, and here are five things to know in Montgomery County. Check the weather forecast here. 1. Lawsuit filed in Potomac River sewage spill: A class-action lawsuit has been filed against DC Water over a 243-million-gallon sewage spill that released untreated wastewater into the Potomac River. 2. Adventist Germantown emergency center to close July 1: Adventist HealthCare's Germantown Emergency Center will close July 1 due to a decrease in the number of patients served there. The health care facility will refocus efforts at its Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville. 3. Ask Me Anything: At 7 p.m., County Council President Natali Fani-González will host her first live online "Ask Me Anything" session for residents who live in her council district (district 6). Residents can sign up here. 4. County Council: There will be two county council committee meetings today, starting at 1:30 p.m. The meetings will be livestreamed on YouTube. See agendas here 5. The Pulse: The latest episode of The Pulse takes viewers to the banks of the Potomac River, where the massive sewage spill has sparked growing concern among residents and environmentalists. For the latest news and events in Montgomery County, stay with MyMCMedia. We hope you will also follow MyMCMedia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Jan 28, 2026 - letter from Councilmember Allen on Potomac River Sewage Spill. Posted by Erik Salmi on January 30, 2026 The following text is from a letter dated January 28, 2026 to the Director of DC Department of Energy and Environment and the CEO & General Manager of DC Water: Re: Update and Briefing Request on Potomac River Sewage Spill Response Dear Director Jackson and General Manager Gadis, I write to you about the sewage spill resulting from a pipeline rupture on January 19 at a major section of the Potomac Interceptor sanitary sewer line located in the C&O Canal National Historical Park near Lockhouse 10. Between the initial rupture on January 19 and the near-success of the bypass pipe and pump installation on Saturday, January 24, around 40 million gallons of untreated sewage overflowed from the pipe per day. Some overflow continues to stream into the river, and samples collected by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network showed levels of E.coli bacteria that are exponentially higher than most authorities deem safe for human contact. So far, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority ("DC Water"), the Department of Energy and Environment ("DOEE"), and relevant federal agencies have responded by developing and executing a plan to construct a bypass pipe and pump installation. Thanks to the DC Water team for providing courtesy updates on the cleanup process to me, my committee staff, and the public. I am, however, disappointed to see that DOEE has provided little new information on this emergency to the public or the Council until more than a week after the spill began. Recognizing limitations on staff resources during this emergency response, please respond to the following questions-and coordinate with my office to provide a joint DC Water and DOEE briefing to the Council on the Lockhouse 10 sewage spill. * What caused the initial pipeline rupture? * When was either DC Water or DOEE notified of the rupture? Who was the lead responding agency and has that changed throughout the response? * To date, what is the total volume of sewage resulting from the rupture that has entered District waterways. When will the overflow into the Potomac River be completely halted? * Residents have already reported fish-kills along the river and impacts for pets who have been exposed to contaminated water along the Potomac River. Yet my office has been informed that the National Park Service has removed signs with public safety information. What are the potential threats to District residents resulting from the spill, and what steps has the District government and D.C. Water taken to inform the public of the short-term dangers for human health? * At this early stage, what are the possible long-term impacts of hundreds of millions of gallons of contaminated water entering the Potomac River? * DC Water has received $625 million as part of its Capital Improvement Program for rehabilitating the Potomac Interceptor. The Potomac Interceptor is 54 miles long and receives 60 million gallons of wastewater daily. Is this spill a symptom of broader issues with the aging sewer line, and are future spills possible? * On January 27th, DOEE provided a statement to the media recommending that "residents and their pets continue to avoid direct contact with the Potomac River," and stating that DOEE inspectors are currently evaluating the sewage spill's likely impacts within the District's jurisdiction. What have these initial inspections shown, and what should District residents expect in the coming weeks and months from DOEE's response? * In a January 21 email to me, DC Water staff noted that a bypass was deployed on January 26-27, eventually allowing for full containment as of the week of the date of this letter. Please confirm whether the bypass is properly conveying all wastewater to the Blue Plains treatment plant, and why, based on recent reports, "some of the wastewater continues to escape around the break site." What is the timeline for completion of the repairs to this damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor pipeline? * What is the permanent solution to ensure that the rupture is capped? While responding to a sewage release of this size is burdensome and its drinking water source is secure, I have been frustrated by the lack of information provided to the public about the public health and environmental risks posed by more than a week of raw sewage polluting its region's primary waterway. Sincerely, Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6 Chair, Committee on Transportation and the Environment The Honorable Muriel Bowser, Mayor, District of Columbia Kevin Donahue, City Administrator, Executive Office of the Mayor Betsy Nicholas, President, Potomac Riverkeeper Network Dean Naujoks, Potomac Riverkeeper, Potomac Riverkeeper Network * Erik Salmi published this page in Newsroom 24 days ago How Can Charles Help You? UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH CHARLES Time: 8:30 AM
DC Water launches boring machine to build underground Potomac River Tunnel project. DC Water launches "Mary" tunnel boring machine for Potomac River Tunnel project, part of Clean Rivers Program. Mayor Bowser leads ceremony, marking start of tunneling to divert sewage overflow. Project aims to improve water quality and reduce environmental impact in DC. November 5, 2025 - Northeast Edition DC Water and Sewer Authority DC Water and Sewer Authority photo The machine named Mary honors 19th century abolitionist Mary Edmonson, who, along with her sister Emily, attempted a daring escape from slavery via the river in 1848. A major milestone was celebrated in the DC Water and Sewer Authority's Potomac River Tunnel project on Nov. 3, 2025, with the ceremonial blessing of "Mary," the tunnel boring machine (TBM) that will dig the northern leg of the underground passageway. The event at West Potomac Park, adjacent to Washington's National Mall, marked the official start of tunneling for one of the final and most ambitious phases of the District of Columbia water department's Clean Rivers program. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser led the ceremonial blessing with a bottle of D.C. tap water, symbolizing the district's commitment to cleaner waterways and marking the beginning of the TBM's historic journey beneath the Potomac River. She was joined by Manager David L. Gadis, DC Water CEO and general manager, Dr. Unique N. Morris-Hughes, DC water board chair and other district leaders to celebrate the beginning of this transformative infrastructure project. "The DC Clean Rivers program plays such an important role in ensuring that we are the safe, clean and beautiful city that we are today," Bowser told the event's guests. "Whenever you make this type of investment in world-class infrastructure, that's an investment in our collective future, it's an investment in safe neighborhoods and clean, swimmable waterways and it's an investment in our position as a beautiful waterfront city." The machine named Mary honors 19th century abolitionist Mary Edmonson, who, along with her sister Emily, attempted a daring escape from slavery via the river in 1848. Later this year, another TBM, aptly named "Emily," is scheduled to arrive from Germany to dig the southern leg of the tunnel. Together, they will construct the 5.5-mi. Potomac River Tunnel, designed to intercept and divert nearly 1 billion gal. of combined sewage and stormwater overflow from entering the waterway in an average year of rainfall. "Today we celebrate not just a machine, but a movement," Gadis said. "The Clean Rivers Program has been a game-changer for our city. We've watched the Anacostia River come back to life, and now, with Mary leading the way, we're turning our focus to the Potomac. This tunnel is one of the final pieces of a legacy that will leave our rivers cleaner, our communities healthier and our future brighter." At $819 million, the largest-ever construction contract awarded by DC Water went to the joint venture of CBNA Halmar based on its best-value proposal to the agency. In a design-build contract, the construction and design contractors work together as a team to complete the project. The builders - CBNA, a Miami, Fla.-based subsidiary of Bouygues Construction in Australia and Halmar International LLC of Nanuet, N.Y. - will be working with the tunnel's designers to complete the project. TBM blessings honor important tunnels, their builders. The tradition of blessing TBMs before they begin tunneling is rooted in centuries-old mining customs, DC Water noted in a news release. Saint Barbara is revered for her protection against the dangers of underground work, and DC Water has embraced this tradition in past projects, including the Anacostia River Tunnel, as a way to honor the workers and the significance of the infrastructure being built. Following the Nov. 3 ceremony, attendees toured the launch site and viewed the 100-ft.-deep drop shaft where Mary will begin her excavation. This shaft is a critical part of the tunnel system that will carry stormwater and sewage to DC Water's Blue Plains advanced wastewater treatment plant. The Potomac River Tunnel project is a key component of DC Water's clean rivers program to reduce combined sewer overflows and improve water quality across the city of Washington and the District of Columbia. Once completed in 2030, the tunnel will reduce overflow events from 74 to just four in an average year of rain and cut overflow volume by 93 percent, according to the agency. The TBM's blessing marks a turning point in the Clean Rivers Program - a moment that blends engineering excellence with environmental stewardship. As Mary begins her journey underground, she carries with her the hopes of a cleaner, healthier Potomac River, and a legacy of progress for the district. For more information about the clean rivers program and the Potomac River Tunnel project, visit dcwater.com/prt.