The City of Hillsboro has selected Niki Iverson as Hillsboro’s next Water Department Director and General Manager for the Joint Water Commission (JWC). She officially began her new roles on June 28, 2019.
Iverson has served as the City of Hillsboro Water Department’s Water Resources Manager since 2007. Overseeing the Department’s natural resource assets, her areas of responsibilities included water rights, water quality monitoring and reporting, and watershed management. Prior to joining the City of Hillsboro, Iverson worked for the Sunrise Water Authority in Happy Valley, Oregon.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the City of Hillsboro’s Water Department focusing on the delivery of high-quality drinking water to our community, and preparing for our new water supply integration,” Iverson said.
National recruitment results in Iverson’s selection
Iverson was chosen from among a group of highly qualified finalist candidates during a national recruitment. She will lead the Water Department’s employees in serving more than 89,000 customers.
“Niki is highly regarded and respected in the regional water community, and has the necessary skills and work ethic to lead the Hillsboro Water Department and JWC well into the future,” said Interim City Manager Robby Hammond. “Hillsboro has a long-standing reputation of forward thinking and strategic planning, and Niki is well prepared to continue that tradition.”
Experience with Hillsboro customers and partners
In her 12 years of experience with the City of Hillsboro’s water system, Iverson has developed strong relationships with the agencies, cities, and partners that work with the Hillsboro Water Department, including the JWC, the Willamette Water Supply Program, and the Barney Reservoir Joint Ownership Commission.
The JWC is a partnership that operates the largest conventional water treatment plant in Oregon to produce municipal water supply for more than 375,000 people — includes the cities of Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Beaverton, and the Tualatin Valley Water District (TVWD).
The Willamette Water Supply Program is a partnership between TVWD and the cities of Hillsboro and Beaverton to develop the mid-Willamette River at Wilsonville as an additional water supply source, beginning in 2026. Iverson served as the program’s Permitting and Outreach Manager from 2015 to April 2019.
Continuing Hillsboro’s leadership on water
Iverson succeeds longtime Hillsboro Water Department Director Kevin Hanway, who retired in late June after 14 years leading the department. During his tenure, Hillsboro secured water rights and created the Willamette Water Supply Program partnership to expand the City’s water supply to meet needs for at least the next 50 years.
The program also will create a second source of water supply for Hillsboro, which will provide security against the risks of drought, earthquakes, and other emergencies. The program recently learned it would be invited to apply for a low-interest federal loan that will save Hillsboro customers an estimated $125.2 million in repayment costs over 35 years.
Hanway praised the City’s Utilities Commission and City Council for their leadership and their support of the department’s work to engage community members in the decision-making process on long-range water system investments. He also praised the selection of Iverson.
“Niki is the most effective manager I know. She is recognized statewide for her expertise in the water field and in infrastructure finance,” Hanway said. “Our partners know Niki and trust her judgment, and Water Department staff are excited for the continued progress that her leadership will bring.”
Iverson received two Bachelor of Science degrees in biology and psychology from the University of Iowa, as well as a Master of Science degree in environmental science from the University of Oklahoma. She is a current member of numerous state and national organizations, and serves as the chair of the League of Oregon Cities Water and Wastewater Policy Advisory Committee, project manager for the Oregon Water Utilities Council, and lead for the Willamette Basin Review Study. Iverson previously was the chair and vice chair of the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority, and now serves as a board member.