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Clackamas River Water (CRW) General Manager Opportunity - Clackamas, Oregon

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About Clackamas River Water

Clackamas River Water is a regional water service provider organized under Chapter 264 of the Oregon Revised Statutes as a special district. As an autonomous governmental entity accountable to the voters it serves, CRW provides clean, safe drinking water to approximately 50,000 customers directly, with up to 80,000 people served when wholesale customer populations are included.
 
Governed by a five-member elected Board of Commissioners, the District operates with a strong commitment to operational excellence, fiscal responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
 
CRW draws its water supply from the Clackamas River and has maintained exceptional water treatment operations for more than 60 years.

Hunter Ambrose Int. has been retained by Clackamas River Water (CRW)

Clackamas River Water (CRW) is seeking an experienced and principled executive leader to serve as its next General Manager. Reporting directly to an elected Board of Commissioners, the General Manager is responsible for the total operation of the District, translating policy direction into sustained operational excellence, fiscal discipline, and long-term resilience. This is a rare opportunity to lead a respected public utility at a defining moment in its history.

For Consideration- Book a Meeting with Hunter Ambrose Int.
Clackamas River Water (CRW) is a regional water service provider organized under Chapter 264 of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) as a special district.
  • CRW map
  • Drop of water falling into the water and leaving it circles.
  • Office workplace with laptop and smart phone on wood table

An Exceptional Opportunity in Oregon

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Clackamas River Water is entering a period of strategic renewal shaped by infrastructure modernization, seismic preparedness, long-range water system planning, and increasing regional coordination.
 
The next General Manager will play a central role in positioning the District for long-term reliability while maintaining the trust of the community it serves. 
 
This role offers meaningful authority, stability, and the opportunity to lead with purpose in a public service environment where decisions have lasting impact.

Organizational Snapshot

  • Source water: Clackamas River
  • Biennial budget: $46 million
  • Infrastructure assets: 16 reservoirs, 13 pump stations, approximately 13,000 service connections
  • Treatment capacity: 30 million gallons per day
  • Distribution system: 266 miles of pipeline
  • Staffing: 44.4 total positions (43 FTEs)
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Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Leadership and Policy Implementation
    Implement Board-adopted policies and priorities, lead the execution of the Water System Master Plan and Capital Improvement Program, and guide long-term strategic initiatives aligned with best practices in utility management.

  • Financial Management and Fiscal Stewardship
    Oversee financial reporting, administer the biennial budget, guide rate-setting and capital financing strategies, and maintain standards required for financial reporting excellence.

  • Operations and Regulatory Compliance
    Ensure reliable operation of the water treatment plant and distribution system, maintain full compliance with EPA and Oregon Health Authority regulations, and oversee emergency preparedness and crisis response planning.
  • Environmental Stewardship and Source Water Protection
    Advance water conservation initiatives, represent the District on source water and watershed issues, and lead long-term water supply and drought resilience strategies.

  • Board Relations and Stakeholder Engagement
    Support informed Board decision-making, maintain transparency and accountability, serve as the District’s chief spokesperson, and manage complex intergovernmental and regional partnerships.

  • Organizational Leadership and Team Development
    Lead and mentor a professional workforce, promote a strong safety culture, support labor relations, and foster technical excellence and employee engagement across the organization.

General Manager Clackamas River Water

Located in the Portland Metro area

Role Overview

Reporting directly to the Board of Commissioners, the General Manager serves as the District’s chief executive officer and appointing authority.

Accountability

The General Manager is accountable for executing Board-adopted policy, maintaining regulatory compliance, ensuring financial sustainability, and leading the organization with clarity, professionalism, and integrity.

Defining Success

The successful General Manager will lead CRW through disciplined capital investment, maintain strong regulatory compliance and water quality performance, strengthen seismic resilience and emergency preparedness, and foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.

Interested?

The Board of Commissioners has retained Hunter Ambrose International to conduct this executive search. Interested candidates and nominators are encouraged to contact Hunter Ambrose International.

Work Environment

The position is primarily office-based with regular travel to treatment facilities, project sites, and regional meetings. Evening Board meetings and occasional emergency or weekend availability are required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions

Centennial Milestone

The incoming General Manager will have the unique opportunity to join CRW during this historic Centennial—honoring a century of service while helping shape the vision and infrastructure needed for the next hundred years of clean, reliable water.

Book a Meeting with Hunter Ambrose Int.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The Board seeks a proven executive who combines strategic vision with operational rigor and strong relationship management. The ideal candidate demonstrates political acumen, financial discipline, and an authentic leadership style grounded in trust, consistency, and accountability.

Experience in complex utility or infrastructure environments, capital planning, labor relations, and emergency management is highly valued, along with the ability to communicate effectively with elected officials, regulators, staff, and the public.

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in public administration, engineering, environmental science, business administration, or a related field is required; a master’s degree is strongly preferred. Candidates should bring at least ten years of progressively responsible management experience, including a minimum of five years in senior leadership roles.

Experience managing capital projects, budgets, regulatory compliance, and professional teams in utility, public works, or infrastructure settings is expected.

Compensation and Benefits

Clackamas River Water offers a competitive executive compensation package, including a base salary range of $175,000 to $225,000, participation in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, comprehensive health benefits, executive-level paid time off, a vehicle allowance, and professional development support.

Review the Job Profile for Additional Information

General Manager CRW | Job Profile

Interested? Let's Connect.

The Board of Commissioners has retained Hunter Ambrose International to conduct this executive search. All candidate inquiries should be forwarded to Hunter Ambrose Int.

Questions? Send us an email.
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About Hunter Ambrose Int.

At Hunter Ambrose, we specialize in placing transformative leaders in roles where performance and trust are non-negotiable. Our retained, founder-led search model delivers precision, speed, and discretion for clients in healthcare, law, energy, water infrastructure, and other mission-critical industries.