Job Description
Meet Santa Margarita Water District
Santa Margarita Water District is a dynamic, forward-thinking agency dedicated to delivering high-quality potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to its 200,000 customers across Southern Orange County. As one of the region’s largest and most impactful utilities, we are committed to the highest standards of transparency, innovation, and environmental stewardship.
Our people drive our progress, innovation, and results. Our collaborative, human-first culture fosters the sense of fun, comradery, and a rewarding sense of purpose as we do work that matters.
Dynamic teams of intelligent individuals work collaboratively to achieve SMWD’s goals and solve challenges with a common aim that fosters a unique bond that is not often found in governmental agencies.
Santa Margarita Water District’s Values Include
- Exemplary service excellence
- Intelligent innovation that is forward-thinking and adaptive
- Ethical fiscal responsibility and transparency
- Environmental and resource stewardship
- Employee development and leadership training
- Building relationships that strengthen communities
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed by individual positions.
Job Summary
Under general supervision of the Water Efficiency Manager, assists in the development and implementation of water use efficiency programs, community outreach activities and resources to achieve the District's water reliability goals and objectives; serves as liaison to and/or represents the District at community events and industry-related meetings.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
A Water Efficiency Specialist performs journey-level professional duties in implementing water use efficiency programs and explaining conservation program provisions and requirements to customers. Work requires extensive interaction with customers, public agencies, vendors, installers and others to explain water efficiency program provisions and requirements, as well as the District's water budget rate structure, clearly, accurately and effectively. This position is distinguished from the Senior Water Efficiency Specialist in that latter position is given assignments broader in scope, requiring additional independent decision making and analysis that impact the District's water reliability goals and objectives.
This position typically reports to the Water Efficiency Manager but may receive general direction form the Sr. Water Efficiency Specialist
Essential Functions
ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.
- Receives and responds to a wide variety of questions from customers, vendors, landscapers, installers and the public, regarding the District's water use efficiency programs and water budget rate structure; explains water use efficiency program benefits, requirements and procedures and provides materials to customers; asks questions to obtain information needed to identify issues and problems and takes appropriate follow-up actions or solutions; researches and resolves technical issues with customers, representatives from other utilities, vendors and installers; prepares program-related records and reports.
- Conducts on-site surveys stemming from high water use bills, rebate applications, or customer requests; inspects and adjusts irrigation systems; identifies leaks; explains results and repair options to customers; answers customer questions regarding on-site survey findings; measures landscape areas for water budgets and/or rebate programs; coordinates with internal staff and staff from other utilities, as needed.
- Creates and maintains databases and tools to track programs and customers; prepares queries to obtain data for analysis of trends and targeting of communications and program efforts; generates a variety of reports.
- Represents the department with homeowner associations and at community workshops and events; assists with the development and distribution of water efficiency program materials; explains efficiency programs and resources available to meet specific customer needs.
- Performs site surveys to assist customers in complying with water budgets, promoting and facilitating sustainable landscape design and irrigation scheduling.
- Operate a vehicle and a variety of hand tools and test equipment related to the work.
- Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.
Ability To
Requisite Abilities/Qualifications & Guidelines
- Learn, understand, interpret, explain and apply detailed provisions, requirements, rules and procedures applicable to water conservation and efficiency programs.
- Quickly, efficiently and calmly handle customer interactions by telephone and in person.
- Research customer, vendor and installer questions and issues tactfully and effectively; obtain required information and reach sound conclusions and decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- Effectively participate in the calculation and preparation of indoor and outdoor water budgets; investigate, calculate, and process customer water budget variance requests.
- Prepare clear and accurate reports, documents, memos, data entries and files.
- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
- Represent the District effectively in dealings with customers, community organizations and the public.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.
- Use basic measuring devices such as tape measures and wheel distance measuring tools and calculate landscape areas from such measurements.
- Safely operate a District vehicle on city streets and freeways.
Knowledge Of
- Principles and practices of effective customer service and customer-oriented communication.
- Principles, practices and methods used in developing and executing educational, public relations, and community outreach programs.
- Provisions, benefits, eligibility requirements and regulations applicable to a wide variety of water efficiency and conservation programs.
- Principles and practices of sound business communication and presentations; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- General horticulture, irrigation, and sustainable landscape design principles.
- Safety policies and safe work practices applicable to the work.
- Records management, recordkeeping, reporting and basic purchasing practices and procedures.
- Uses and operations of computers; standard business software; and specialized database, geographic information systems and business analytics applications.
Additional Information
Qualifications
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education, Training And Experience
Graduation from high school or GED equivalent with college-level coursework in environmental science, landscape architecture, horticulture, business administration, geography, or a related field, and two years of progressively responsible experience in customer service; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. A bachelor’s degree and experience in a public agency are preferred.
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:
- Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid California Class C driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District’s vehicle insurance program.
- Possession of, or ability to obtain within one year of employment, Water Conservation Practitioner Level 1 certificate, issued by American Water Works Association.
Santa Margarita Water District offers a comprehensive benefit package for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. These benefits include the following: retirement benefits; medical, dental, vision and life insurance; and a variety of other benefits. Benefits may vary based on employment status.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM: As a public agency, the Santa Margarita Water District has enrolled in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) for retirement benefits. The retirement formula and required employee contribution may vary based on employment status.
HEALTH INSURANCE: The District contracts with the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) for medical insurance coverage. Employees may elect coverage from PPO or HMO plans. Medical premiums for plans in an amount up to or equal to the highest HMO are paid for by the District for all full-time employees. The District shares the cost of medical insurance for dependents with the employee. Coverage is effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment with full-time status.
DENTAL INSURANCE: The District provides dental insurance for all full-time regular employees. Optional dependent dental coverage is available at the District's rates. Coverage is effective the first of the month following 60 days of employment with full-time status.
VISION INSURANCE: The District provides each full-time employee and their eligible dependents with vision insurance through Vision Service Plan (VSP). Coverage is effective the first of the month following 60 days of employment with full-time status.
LIFE INSURANCE AND ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT: The District provides term-life insurance for all full-time employees through Lincoln Financial with Employee benefits equaling 2 1/2 times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $200,000. Adjustments are made based on the employee's salary. Coverage is effective the first of the month following 60 days of employment with full-time status.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP): The District provides all employees and their dependents with an EAP that provides confidential, professional assistance with a variety of services such as legal/financial concerns, ID recovery, mental health, and more.
GENERAL LEAVE ACCRUAL: General leave is a multi-purpose leave providing for vacations, personal affairs, and non-job related illness/injuries.
- First year through five-year anniversary date of continuous employment: 11.67 hours per calendar month (140 hours per year) with an accumulated maximum of 304 hours.
- Sixth through ten-year anniversary date of continuous employment: 16 hours per calendar month (192 hours per year) with an accumulated maximum of 350 hours.
- Eleventh through fifteen-year anniversary date of continuous employment: 19.33 hours per calendar month (232 hours per year) with an accumulated maximum of 350 hours.
- Sixteenth year and beyond of continuous employment: 22.67 hours per calendar month (272 hours per year) with an accumulated maximum of 380 hours.
While accrual begins from the date of hire, for the most part, general leave may not be taken until completion of the employee's six-month probationary period.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Regular full and part-time employees are eligible to participate in the District's deferred compensation program. The District shall match an employee’s contribution into the deferred compensation plan up to a maximum of $2,400 per employee per year, or $100 per pay-period. The contributions occur each pay period except the third pay period in those months with three pay dates.
HOLIDAYS: The District provides 11½ holidays (92 hours) per year for full-time employees.
FLEX SPENDING ACCOUNT: Through the District's Flexible Spending Account (FSA), employees may set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible "out-of-pocket" (unreimbursed) medical expenses, child or dependent care.
LIFESTYLE SPENDING ACCOUNT: A benefit in which your employer sets money aside for you to use on eligible expenses related to physical, financial and emotional
well-being.
EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT: All full-time employees are eligible for reimbursement for educational training or certification training taken from any college, university, or accredited institution, up to the IRS annual limit with Department Head approval.
The aforementioned information is only a summary of the District's benefits. Detailed information may be found in the Personnel Rules and Regulations and/or the Memorandum of Understanding between the SMWDEA and the Santa Margarita Water District.
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Please describe why water efficiency is important in southern California.