Westlands Water District

Fresno, CA

Deputy General Manager – External Affairs

Bargaining Unit: At Will
Salary Code: Band C
Fair Labor Standards Act Designation: Exempt
Effective Date: November 16, 2023

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Under general direction of the General Manager, plans, organizes, and directs the District’s external affairs. The Deputy General Manager – External Affairs works with the management team to support the Board of Directors’ policies, develops and implements the District’s strategic plan, and manages the District’s communications, outreach, and public affairs efforts. The position facilitates correlation between the District and its Board of Directors, other governmental agencies, legislative bodies, commercial, non-profit, public policy organizations, and the general public. This is an “at-will” position that serves at the discretion of the General Manager.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

The information listed below is meant to serve as examples of the job duties and responsibilities for this classification. This list is neither inclusive nor exclusive, but indicative of several types of duties performed.

  1. Develops and implements the District’s water policy and public affairs goals and objectives.
  2. Oversees government affairs, legislative and lobbying activities:
  3. Advises the District on regulatory efforts at the State and Federal level.
  4. Oversees and manages the District’s public affairs department including managing outreach to the San Joaquin Valley Farmers, local communities, and public on District Matters.
  5. Oversees and manages the District’s science efforts.
  6. Provides leadership and management to a diverse group of professional and technical members.
  7. Develops, implements, and monitors performance measures for external affairs.
  8. Develops and administers the annual budget for external affairs.
  9. Provides professional advice and assistance to the General Manager, management, board members and other departments on public information, media relations, community outreach, member agency communication, internal communication, and related matters.
  10. Speaks before local, state, and federal agencies on legislative and other policy matters.
  11. Develops and implements the District’s strategic plan.
  12. Carries out special projects as assigned by the General Manager.
  13. Performs other duties as assigned.

CLASSIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that has led to the acquisition of the knowledge required by the position. A typical way of acquiring the knowledge would be:

A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Policy, Economics, Agricultural, Environmental, or a related field and at least eight (8) years of recent progressively responsible experience as a legislative analyst, lobbyist, program manager, or similar related work in the public sector, water industry, or a public utility, including at least three (3) years that must have included supervision of professional and technical staff.

Knowledge of:

  • Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation and evaluation, project management, and supervision of staff, either directly or through subordinate levels of supervision.
  • Principles, practices, and techniques used in the conduct of an effective public information and publicity program for a water district.
  • Principles, practices, and procedures related to media relations, reporting, and news writing.
  • Practices, theories, methods, and techniques of public policy development and public affairs.
  • Practices, theories, methods, and techniques used in the design, administration, and evaluation of water use efficiency programs.
  • Organizational practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned division and the District.
  • Practices of researching program issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
  • Local, state, and federal policies and regulations related to water resources management for the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.
  • Principles and practices of management, supervision, and budgeting.
  • The operation of computer systems and equipment.
  • Record keeping principles and procedures.
  • Techniques for effectively representing the District in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations, and various media.
  • Principles of National Environmental Policy Act, California Environmental Quality Act and Endangered Species Act compliance requirements.
  • Water conservation and management practices including plant-soil-water relationships.
  • Word processing, spreadsheet, and database software applications

Skills/Abilities to:

  • Organize, interact, communicate and manage staff and sensitive situations.
  • Understand local, state, federal, District and legislative processes.
  • Represent District policies, programs, and services effectively with employees, contractors, representatives, or other agencies and the public.
  • Conduct highly complex problem-solving related to administrative, regulatory, and legislative law in area of expertise.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both written and oral, to a wide variety of audiences.
  • Prepare detailed complex oral and written communications on a wide variety of issues.
  • Understand and accurately interpret complex rules, regulations, laws, legislation, policy, and guidelines affecting public agencies, particularly water agencies.
  • Plans, researches, organizes, reviews, and evaluates complex interrelated services.
  • Establishes and maintains cooperative and effective working relationships with a variety of representatives of public and private organizations, board members, local, state, and federal legislative representatives, District staff and the general public.
  • Maintain and exhibit discretion and integrity when handling sensitive information.
  • Manage complex projects involving multi teams and requiring coordination and collaboration with external agencies and high-level executive managers.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Possess the physical characteristics to perform the critical and important duties of the job.
  • Work hours other than normal work schedule.
  • Travel occasionally by airplane and automobile.

STANDARD REQUIREMENTS

  • Possess a valid California Class C Driver’s License with a driving record acceptable to the District’s automobile insurance provider.