Position Information

Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is looking for their next

Assistant General Manager - Operations and Maintenance!

Sonoma Water is a recognized leader in California water management, sanitation services, flood protection, and environmental stewardship. Sonoma Water is seeking a visionary and innovative Assistant General Manager (AGM) to lead our Operations and Maintenance Division. This position assists the Sonoma Water General Manager in the overall management of activities related to the core functions of operations and maintenance which includes water delivery to more than 600,000 residents in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties, wastewater management for seven sanitation districts/zones, maintenance of 75 miles of flood protection channels, and environmental compliance and sustainability. This position is a member of the executive committee, which works together to develop organizational policies, budgets, and strategic plan oversight.

This AGM will plan, organize, and coordinate water and wastewater operations and services in the Maintenance and Operations (O&M) division which consists of three sections: Operations, Maintenance, and Internal Program Services (Emergency Management/Project Management/Security). They will be responsible for maintaining collaborative relationships with community Sonoma Water’s staff, Board of Directors and Water Contractors, stakeholders, and local, state, and regional agencies. Additional responsibilities include:

Strategic oversight of the systems within the O&M Division to ensure ongoing continuity of services, compliance with local, state, and federal regulatory bodies, and appropriate communication with stakeholders
Plans, leads and directs all O&M staff and ensures Sonoma Water strategic priorities are advanced
Oversees and allocates O&M resources to ensure Sonoma Water priorities are advanced
Oversees the O&M Budget
Acts as Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Director during times of an EOC Sonoma Water activation
Participates in the overall management activities of Sonoma Water’s core functions and acts on behalf of the General Manager during their absence
Attends internal and external meetings and works closely with the Sonoma Water executive committee to move organizational priorities forward and to advocate for O&M needs and ensure appropriate prioritization of projects

The ideal Sonoma Water Assistant General Manager candidate will possess broad knowledge of business and public water utility operations, an interest in and expertise in Sonoma water issues, seasoned professional judgment, superior communication skills, and the ability to motivate staff and lead by example, and a dedication to serving our community. The ideal candidate will also possess:

Extensive experience with water & wastewater regulatory bodies
A demonstrated ability to maintain compliance with various water & wastewater permits and experience interacting with stakeholders and regulators
Experience representing a utility with stakeholders including: regional board, division of drinking water and state water resources control board
Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to adapt to changing and often challenging situations
Water Treatment, Water Distribution, and Wastewater certifications are highly desired

About Sonoma Water Sonoma Water is a special district formed by the California State Legislature in 1949 and is responsible for providing a safe and reliable water supply to its customers in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. Sonoma Water also maintains 75 miles of flood protection channels and provides sanitation services to seven districts/zones. Employing approximately 260 employees, Sonoma Water consists of four divisions including Engineering & Resource Planning, Environmental Resources, Business Services & External Affairs, and Water/Wastewater Operations & Maintenance. Sonoma Water supports the concept of environmental sustainability, focusing on renewable power sources, and strives to be a leader in its water use efficiency and fishery restoration programs. Sonoma Water is guided by a strategic plan that is updated every five-years, which includes amongst its highest priorities ensuring the organization supports its employees. Sonoma Water is dedicated to providing a safe, professional and career driven organization for its employees. Sonoma Water is a community service-oriented organization with primary customers including our wholesale water contractors, sanitation customers and those communities served by flood protection facilities. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors serves as the Sonoma Water Board of Directors.

Employees of Sonoma Water are employees of a special district and are not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma.

What We Offer Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

Sonoma Water is currently recruiting to fill a Water Agency Assistant General Manager position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list.Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE
COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and work experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include a Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in public administration, business administration, environmental studies, geography, economics, engineering, physical and biological sciences, or a related field and five years of senior-level administrative and supervisory experience, which included responsibility for the development and implementation of complex public works/utility projects, programs, goals, policies, and strategies. Extensive course work in water and/or waste water is desirable.

License:Possession of a valid certification of registration as a Professional Engineer issued by the State Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists is desirable.

Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of:modern principles, practices, and methods of public administration and general management; principles and practices of environmental management in relating to water, wastewater, and flood control activities; principles and practices of supervision and performance management; principles and practices of budget and fiscal management; principles of organization and management applicable to local government; principles and methods of effective communication, facilitation, and teambuilding; and principles, practices, and methods of project management.

Considerable knowledge of: utility operations and maintenance; County government; Federal, State, and local agencies which must coordinate work with Agency; environmental regulations; citizen and public interest groups dealing with water, wastewater, and environmental matters; design, location, construction, and maintenance of public works, water resources, enhancement, and other public projects.

Ability to:Make good decisions; exercise independent judgment; analyze administrative problems and a variety of programs, systems, and procedures; develop goals, objectives, and performance measures consistent with Agency mission, vision, and strategic plans; plan, organize, coordinate, supervise, guide, motivate, and evaluate professional and technical employees; communicate with others at all levels; deal tactfully, convincingly, and effectively with department personnel, government officials, representatives of interest groups, and the general public; effectively assemble, organize, and present in written and oral form reports containing alternative solutions and recommendations; and balance resource and conservation needs with Agency goals of providing water, sanitation, and flood control services.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions may be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
AnApplication & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: KK

IMPORTANT NOTE:Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off:Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan:Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan:Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical:County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 10/8/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

Sonoma County, CA

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Sonoma Water Assistant General Manager - Operations & Maintenance