- Salary: $236,767.00 – $287,792.00 Annually
- Location: 11615 Sterling Avenue, Riverside
- Job Type: Full-Time
- Department: Planning
- Opening Date: 04/30/2025
Description
The Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) is seeking a highly skilled and experienced candidate to fulfill the role of Assistant General Manager for Planning Services and advise the General Manager in the development, implementation, and evaluation of short- and long-term goals, objectives, plans, programs, projects, and policies focused on achieving SAWPA’s mission and Commission priorities. The Assistant General Manager is an executive-level manager position and will direct staff activities, analyze functions, make operational decisions, and implement policy directives from the General Manager and Commission.
The Assistant General Manager will manage SAWPA teams supporting water resources planning, data management, and communications. The Assistant General Manager will provide leadership in working with SAWPA member agencies, other water agencies, as well as Federal, State, and local agencies.
For additional details about the position and our agency, refer to the Recruitment Brochure (Download PDF reader).
Examples of Duties
These examples are illustrative of the various types of work which may be performed. 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 classification.
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for SAWPA’s Planning, Communications, and GIS functions; guide managers and staff in setting organizational standards, implementing policies, and achieving goals aligned with the General Manager’s direction.
- Develop and implement strategic plans, goals, and policies for water resource planning and related functions, ensuring alignment with SAWPA’s mission, regulatory frameworks, and the Commission’s priorities. Provide policy recommendations to advance the Agency’s strategic initiatives.
- Select, train, mentor and department personnel; evaluate and review work for acceptability and conformance with department standards, including program and project priorities and performance evaluations; work with employees on performance issues; recommend appropriate corrective/disciplinary action to address performance deficiencies; respond to staff questions and concerns.
- Oversees SAWPA’s public information and communication activities.
- Lead the development of long-term water resource management strategies and integrated planning efforts across SAWPA, focusing on innovative approaches to water use efficiency, climate resiliency, and regional collaboration.
- Represent SAWPA at high-level meetings and negotiations with member agencies, regional stakeholders, and external partners. Advocate for SAWPA’s interests in water resource policy and sustainability initiatives at the state and regional levels.
- Oversee large-scale water resource planning projects, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, cost controls, and timelines. Manage consultants and staff to deliver high-quality planning and water resource programs.
- Manage budgets for Planning, Communications, and GIS activities, ensuring efficient resource distribution, cost management, and financial stewardship of projects and programs.
- Coordinate cross-agency initiatives related to water resource planning, outreach, and GIS data management. Develop and manage interagency agreements and contracts to support shared water resource goals.
- Ensure effective communication and outreach strategies for SAWPA’s water resource planning efforts, utilizing reports, presentations, and digital platforms to engage public stakeholders and member agencies.
- Oversee technical analyses including hydrologic, geologic, and socio-economic studies, ensuring their integration into strategic planning and decision-making processes.
- Ensure seamless integration of the Planning, Communications, and GIS units, fostering collaboration to achieve shared goals and maximize operational efficiency.
- Negotiate contracts with consultants and subcontractors providing specialized services to the Agency. Carry out the General Manager’s instructions and delegate tasks with clear accountability.
- Prepare and review reports and recommendations for the General Manager and Commission, including agency agendas and periodic updates on operations. Act as necessary to represent the Agency in the absence of the General Manager.
Typical Qualifications
Any combination equivalent to experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
- Experience: Ten years of successful senior level management experience, preferably in water, wastewater, and/or a water resources agency.
- Training/Education: Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in engineering, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
- License or Certificate: A valid California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the Agency’s vehicle insurance program is required to drive any vehicle for SAWPA-related business.
Supplemental Information
Knowledge of:
- User-level capabilities of geographical information systems (GIS) and their applications to water resources planning and analysis.
- Principles of communications and public outreach.
- Principles, procedures, standards, practices, trends, and information sources in the field of water resources planning. Principles, practices, and theory of water resource management.
- Planning practices and concepts of surface and groundwater modeling.
- Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs.
- Advanced principles, practices, methods, and techniques of project management and administration.
- Advanced facilitation, coordination, negotiation, and consensus building techniques.
- Leadership and development for staff and agency stakeholders.
- Principles and practices associated with the planning, development, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of projects.
- Knowledge of methods for preparing designs, plans, specifications, cost estimates, reports, and recommendations relating to water projects.
- Principles, techniques, and methods of investigation, research, and survey.
- Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
- Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
- State and regional organizations in assigned areas of responsibility.
- Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations including safety regulations and environmental review and project permit requirements.
- Theory, principles, practices, and techniques of organization design and development, public administration, public financing, financial management, and long-range planning as they apply to a complex regional water resources agency.
- Theories, principles, practices, and techniques involved in water resources planning and management of arid complex watersheds.
- Principles, practices, and techniques involved in the planning, construction, maintenance, and operation of complex potable water and water reclamation systems.
- Federal, State, and local laws, and regulations applicable to a water and reclamation system.
- Legislative process, programs, and program funding practices.
- Agency functions and associated management, financial and public policy issues.
- Principles and practices of budgeting, purchasing, and maintenance of public records.
- Organization and functions of the SAWPA Commission.
- State contracting and grant administration practice and regulation.
- The Brown Act and other law and regulations governing the conduct of public meetings.
- Social, political, and environmental issues influencing program/project development and implementation.
- Research methods and analysis techniques.
- Negotiation and consensus building techniques.
- Leadership and motivation for staff and agency stakeholders.
- Agency’s personnel rules, policies, and labor contract provisions.
- Principles and practices of sound business communication.
- Safe driving principles and practices.
Skills and Abilities:
- Operate modern office equipment including computer hardware and software.
- Operate a motor vehicle safely.
- Analyze and make sound recommendations on complex water resources, management, and administrative issues.
- Plan, organize, and direct the water resources planning effort undertaken by the Agency.
- Plan, organize, and direct the operations of a complex water and water reclamation system.
- Understand, interpret, explain, and apply Agency policy and procedures.
- Present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically, and persuasively in public meetings.
- Represent the Agency effectively in negotiations and stakeholder interactions.
- Develop and implement appropriate procedures and controls.
- Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies, and other written material.
- Exercise sound, expert independent judgment within policy guidelines.
- Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential issues and situations
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
Selection Process
SAWPA communicates with candidates via e-mail. You are responsible for providing a valid e-mail address that you access regularly and checking your spam folder. To apply, click on the “Apply” link located at the top of this page. New users must create an account first. Click on this link for instructions on how to set up your account and apply for the first time: Online Employment Application Guide.
Those applicants possessing the most pertinent qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process.
For additional details about the position and our agency, refer to the Recruitment Brochure(Download PDF reader).
Employer: Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA)
Address: 11615 Sterling Avenue, Riverside, California, 92503
Website: https://sawpa.gov/
