Director of the Verbano Water Purification Consortium

About the job

The Verbano Water Purification Consortium (CDV) protects an essential resource for the
population, the territory and contributes to the environmental quality of one of the most important water basins
in Switzerland: Lake Maggiore, at the heart of a region of great tourist significance. With a
team of 20 people, we manage the treatment of wastewater for over 120,000 inhabitants in 22
municipalities through two large purification plants, more than 120 km of network, 43 pumping stations and 23 clarification basins. We invest in human resources, infrastructure reliability,
biogas valorisation and future-oriented solutions for water and energy management to face new climate challenges.

The Consortium Delegation opens a public competition for the position of

Director, employment level 80% – 100%

with start date 1 February 2027 or by agreement.

The chosen candidate will assume operational management of the Consortium, report to and be accountable to the
Consortium Delegation and collaborate with the Presidency in implementing strategic guidelines. Within
the scope of competences and regulatory limits, they will be able to provide a modern and
proactive direction, represent the CDV at key moments and personally contribute to the development
of environmental, energy and regional redevelopment projects.

Main responsibilities

• Technical and operational management: ensure continuity, safety, compliance, reliability and
  cost-effectiveness of plant and infrastructure operations; ensure compliance with
  legal provisions, emission limits set by applicable legislation, process performance and safety standards; monitor and manage operational, financial,
  environmental and reputational risks and coordinate interventions in crisis situations in concert with
  Consortium Delegation contacts.
• Leadership and development of personnel: lead a team of 20 collaborators,
  defining objectives, roles, responsibilities and decision-making margins; delegate clearly, verify results, develop skills and promote a climate of trust,
  encouraging responsibility and collaboration without resorting to micromanagement.
• Infrastructure and innovation planning: plan and monitor maintenance, proposing investments, supplies and projects throughout the lifecycle of
  plants and plant components; promote upgrades and innovative technological solutions, with
  particular attention to energy efficiency, resource valorisation and the effects of
  climate change on water and energy availability.
• Governance, institutional relations and representation: implement Delegation guidelines,
  formulate precise and strategic proposals, maintain constant and open dialogue with
  relevant consortium bodies; prepare clear reports and decision bases for the Presidency
  and Delegation, coordinating administrative functions within assigned competences. Represent the CDV authoritatively with member municipalities (and others),
  the Canton, Confederation and partners, even in critical situations, strengthening
  visibility and role as a central actor for the Lake Maggiore area.

Profile and requirements

• University or University of Applied Sciences degree in engineering, environmental sciences or related technical disciplines;
  additional training in business management, project management, public administration,
  finance or personnel management is preferred.
• Solid professional and managerial experience in responsible roles,
  preferably in technical, infrastructural, industrial or public service organisations, with
  ability to ensure medium- to long-term stability and continuity.
• Predominant technical skills in plant management, maintenance, investments and
  projects, complemented by proven management skills in budgeting, suppliers, control,
  reporting and preparation of decision documents.
• Proven experience in personnel management and defining delegations,
  responsibilities and decision-making processes.
• Knowledge of the Ticino institutional framework and ability to interact with public bodies and political authorities; experience in water, purification, energy or environmental sectors is preferred.
• Excellent command of Italian; knowledge of German and/or French is preferred.
• Good IT skills and ability to use management and reporting indicators and tools.
• Willingness to be present at plants and manage interventions required by extraordinary situations.
• Residence within the Consortium area, or willingness to relocate there, is preferred.

Personal and managerial skills

• Authoritative leadership: maturity, solidity and appropriate professional distance; ability to motivate,
  empower and develop human resources and their skills.
  Communication and collaboration: clear, concise, transparent style adapted to different
  interlocutors; ability to listen, build trust and translate technical (even complex) topics into
  targeted and essential information, understandable and implementation-oriented.
  Governance and institutional sensitivity: ability to understand and respect different institutional roles
  and to operate with care, sensitivity, loyalty, transparency and firmness in the Consortium’s interest.
  Technical and managerial orientation: overview, sense of priorities, method,
  reliability and practical spirit; ability to decide clearly, even in emergencies, and to
  maintain focus on results, efficient resource management and continuous improvement.
• Vision and initiative: environmental awareness, curiosity and networking ability; aptitude to
  anticipate sector developments and develop sustainable proposals, respecting the institutional framework.
  

We offer a managerial position as described above, with high responsibility and
public utility, leading one of the main territorial public bodies in the sector in Switzerland and serving a central area for Lake Maggiore. The role offers operational autonomy within
assigned competences, qualified support from the Presidency, Delegation and a
concrete opportunity to increase the Consortium’s visibility and influence the future development of
our organisation and the region. Employment conditions comply with the CDV staff regulations.
Workplace: Foce Maggia and Foce Ticino purification plants in Locarno and Gordola-Locarno.
Possibility of partial remote work, according to agreed times and methods.
Salary level: class 12 of the cantonal salary scale provided by the State Employees Salary Law.

Applications, accompanied by

• cover letter
• curriculum vitae,
• copies of diplomas and/or study certificates (if applicable with equivalence certificate),
• copies of work certificates, references
• original criminal record extract (issued within the last 3 months),
• original extract from the Office of Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy (issued within the last 3 months or
  self-declaration for the last 5 years for candidates residing abroad)
• self-certification of health status (form downloadable from www.cdverbano.ch)

must be sent by post by Thursday 26 November 2026 (date of delivery to Swiss Post counts) to the Verbano Water Purification Consortium, attn. Ms Beatrice
Morena, PO Box 414, 6601 Locarno, in a sealed envelope marked "Director Competition".
Documents sent by email will not be accepted. For further information, please contact the consultant appointed by the Verbano Water Purification Consortium, Ms Daniela Lanini of mpw Beratungsteam AG, only via the address.
The selection process may include one or more structured interviews, practical case analyses,
reference checks and an assessment of managerial skills. Only complete applications meeting the requirements of the announcement will be considered.
The Consortium Delegation reserves the right not to appoint any candidate if no application adequately meets the sought profile.
Locarno, 2 November 2026 Consortium Delegation