Local recruitment: TWDB - 25-120: Regional Water Planning Manager (Manager IV-V)

General Description

Performs highly complex to advanced (senior-level) work administering the daily operations and activities of the Texas Water Development Board’s Regional Water Planning Department. Responsible for the the oversight of the statewide, high-profile, regional water planning program of the agency with significant stakeholder involvement and agency and legislative data requests. Responsible for the development of the 16 regional water planning contracts, the development, agency review, and Board approval of the regional water plans. Oversees regional water planning grant contracts, and provides extensive and ongoing technical and administrative assistance to regional water planning groups and various stakeholder activities. Work requires highly proactive management involving establishing goals and objectives. Develops guidelines, procedures, policies, rules, and regulations. Develops schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals. Coordinates and evaluates department activities. Develops and evaluates budget requests and monitors budget expenditures. Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others. Works under limited supervision, with moderate to considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Reports to the Director of the Water Supply Planning Division.

Essential Job Functions

• Manages the agency regional water planning program.
• Develops and oversees 16 regional water planning grant contracts for regional water planning and related studies, assuring that products meet the intent of the scope of work, rules, and statutory requirements.
• Assists Director with the agency activities in support of the Interregional Planning Council.
• Manages the Regional Water Planning Department. Manages activities and provides direction, coordination, technical guidance, support to and supervision of agency staff of the Regional Water Planning Department.
• Provides effective leadership and management of the Regional Water Planning Department.
• Directs, monitors, and anticipates program activities and develops and implements necessary revisions to agency rules, guidance, and procedures as a result.
• Identifies stakeholder needs and provides extensive and proactive communications regarding technical guidance and process requirements to ensure that 16 regional water planning groups meet deadlines and statutory requirements in the development of their regional water plans.
• Manages all project activities within the department, providing technical direction and guidance.
• Monitors and reports department work activities.
• Provides guidance and quality control for data analysis in support of legislative, agency, public, media, and other information requests.
• Represents the regional water planning program at meetings with other agencies (state and federal), with legislative staff, or at conferences and panels.
• Oversees the development of program guidelines, procedures, policies, and rules, and provides oversight of quality control reviews of regional water plans; communications and information dissemination; funding application process; internal policy development; and program development within established deadlines.
• Assists in compiling, writing, and otherwise completing agency activities for regional water plan review and approval by the Board, including overseeing the agency review process and materials and preparing and compiling review comments for Executive Administrator signature.
• Assists in compiling, writing, and otherwise developing the state water plan, including preparing materials for associated with amendments to the state water plan.
• Assists in reviewing SWIFT project prioritization information, including applicant eligibility and quality control reviews.
• Oversees development of section staff, including development of section and division goals, and identification and approval of employee job-related training.
• Authorizes department hiring, separations, disciplinary actions and employee performance rewards.
• Manages the performance of direct reports, to include, timely completion of performance appraisals, and follow-through on disciplinary actions as needed.
• Assigns job duties, conducts performance evaluations, clarifies roles and responsibilities, and monitors and measures performance against goals.
• Evaluates department performance and recommends and leads improvements.
• Supports department administrative requirements related to organization, budget and personnel.
• Ensures the provision of quality customer service from the department to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintains confidential and sensitive information.
• Ensures individual and team files (electronic and hard versions) are appropriately maintained and timely disposed of in accordance with the agency’s records retention procedures and schedule.
• Maintains required certifications and licenses and meets the continuing education needs and requirements of the position to include, attending mandatory training courses.
• May be required to operate a state or personal vehicle for business purposes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in City or Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Geology, Economics, Business or Public Administration, or a related field.
• Work experience: 
  • Manager IV: Seven years of relevant experience leading projects and teams in the analysis of water supply planning data sets, developing water supply plans or planning related projects. 
  • Manager V: Nine years of relevant experience leading projects and teams in the analysis of water supply planning data sets, developing water supply plans or planning related projects
• Professional experience with a public stakeholder process.
• Professional experience in contract management.
• Relevant education and experience can be substituted for each other on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in City or Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Hydrology, Geology, Economics, Business or Public Administration, or a related field.
• Six years of professional experience with regional and state water planning in Texas.
• Professional experience training or leading people (with supervisory authority).
• Professional experience managing budgets.
• Licensed as a Professional Engineer by the State of Texas.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the Water Supply Planning Division.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
• Knowledge of hydrology, geology, and water planning principles relevant to Texas.
• Knowledge of Texas water laws and institutions and the process for regional and state water planning.
• Skills in using Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and Access.
• Skills in use of internet, email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software.
• Skills in providing good customer service, both internally and externally.
• Skills in preparing reports.
• Ability to maintain the security or integrity of critical infrastructure within Texas.
• Ability to meet agency in-office requirements.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives.
• Ability to devise solutions to problems.
• Ability to identify and mitigate program and agency risks.
• Ability to complete multi-disciplinary planning projects involving diverse groups and stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both in writing and presentations, complex information to a non-technical audience.
• Ability to adhere to work schedules, follow procedures with respect to leave and submit accurate timesheets by prescribed deadlines.
• Ability to make mature, objective decisions and identify areas of potential problems.
• Ability to perform effectively and willingly when changes occur in scope and nature of the work and work environment.
• Ability to perform routine and non-routine work assignments accurately and on-time with little or no supervision.
• Ability to perform assigned duties and improve work habits and/or output.
• Ability to complete assigned work, on time, neatly and in order with infrequent errors.
• Ability to complete tasks and projects in a timely manner and persists until tasks are completed.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, and interpret policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ability to provide prompt, courteous and accurate assistance and clear and concise communication to agency staff, as well as to employees of other political entities and the public both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work with others in a team environment and cooperate with supervisors, co-workers, and others.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and schedule work in order to maintain regular progress on assignments and meet deadlines.
• Ability to stand/sit/move to perform activities such as retrieve/replace files in a large file system for boxes up to 30 lbs.
• Ability and willingness to travel 10% of the time, primarily within the State of Texas.
• Ability to operate a vehicle (state or personal) for state business and maintain a driver’s license and driving record that complies with state and agency requirements.
• Ability to work shifts that may exceed 8 hours, including early mornings, nights, and weekends.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to assign and/or supervise the work of others.