Join Our Team - Seeking Candidates for District General Manager
The Southwestern Water Conservation District (“District”), based in Durango, Colorado, is seeking candidates for the General Manager position. The District was created by Colorado statute in 1941 to lead in the protection, conservation, use and development of the water of the San Juan and Dolores River basins for the welfare of the District, and to safeguard for Colorado all waters of the basin to which the state is entitled. The District encompasses all of La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta, San Juan, San Miguel and Dolores counties and parts of Montrose, Hinsdale and Mineral counties. The District has a nine-member board of directors with an appointee from each board of county commissioners.
The General Manager serves as the chief executive and management official of the organization reporting directly to the District’s Board of Directors. The General Manager is responsible for all business operations (administrative, financial, technical and external affairs) and manages a small team of staff and contractors. The General Manager must be able to lead the team, delegate, and play to the strengths of others. The General Manager must possess strong oral and written communication skills and be capable of clearly communicating difficult issues with candor. The General Manager works collaboratively to bring together groups of diverse interests in complicated and sometimes contentious matters. The General Manager is expected to offer creative solutions to the Board that take into consideration the varying water-related priorities and perspectives of the District’s diverse constituency. The General Manager represents the District’s broad range of constituents and priorities at conferences, speaking engagements and on local, statewide, and national matters, as directed by the Board. The General Manager must be able to work and negotiate with other stakeholders throughout Colorado and other Colorado River basin states in a professional manner, seeking win-win solutions whenever possible.
Candidates must have at least a bachelor’s degree and significant experience with water-related issues and conditions in the arid West. Candidates must have a strong working knowledge of Colorado water law and intrastate issues, Colorado River basin interstate issues, public sector administration, budgeting, and multi-party negotiations. Please see the Job Description for additional information about the position available on the District’s website.
All interested candidates must submit: (1) a cover letter explaining the basis for your interest in the position, any outstanding qualifications the Board should be aware of, and a short explanation of why you are a good candidate for the job; (2) a resume; (3) a fully completed Application for Employment form; and (4) a fully completed Disclosure Regarding Background Investigation form to be considered for this position. The employment application and background investigation forms are available on the District's website. Please direct any questions regarding the General Manager position, required submittals, or hiring process to Chris Treese at SWCD_Search@swwcd.org.
All application materials should be submitted electronically (PDF preferred) to SWCD_Search@swwcd.org. Applications will be accepted until March 19, 2026. The board may conduct initial and potentially follow-up interviews with candidates at times arranged with the Board. No offer of employment will be made until 14 days after the Board makes public the list of finalists under consideration for the General Manager position.