Are you a proven leader in the water sustainability industry? Are you committed to having a positive influence in the community you serve? Do you have the skills it takes to engage with a thriving, diverse community? If so, you could be the next General Manager for the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA).

Under general direction and in alignment with strategic plan and annual work plan development, the General Manager develops, implements, and manages six Groundwater Sustainability Plans in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin that meet California Department of Water Resources (DWR) requirements; the General Manager builds and maintains administrative and partnership structures and networks in which planning and committee approvals proceed; manages the process and narrative to facilitate open, transparent, and inclusive discourse; collaborates with state and local agencies; and facilitates outreach efforts with stakeholders of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Responsibilities include directing and managing the agency’s planning and implementation of programs and projects in coordination with a qualified and experienced staff team and scientific consultant team, coordinating administrative functions, and managing the agency’s budgeting, grant, and fiscal activities.

• The SVBGSA GM will work closely with the Board of Directors but is not managed by them. The Board of Directors of SVBGSA does, however, set policy direction for the SVBGSA.  The SVBGSA GM will report directly to the Executive Director of RGS, meeting regularly with him to develop a long-term working relationship and to make sure that he or she is aware of the full range of RGS resources.
• In addition, the RGS Director of HR Services will support the GM in navigating the processes of RGS and accessing the full resources and capability of the team on behalf of the GSA.
• We are a virtual organization; we all work administratively from home, using technology like Zoom, Ring Central and the VPN to communicate across the state.
• The SVBGSA GM will, however, need to attend all meetings for GSA-related activities in person and meetings are held throughout the Salinas Valley and Monterey area. All meetings related to the Board of Directors and committee structure of SVBGSA are Brown Act meetings.
• We do not work alone. We draw from a pool of professionals as a team. In this position, the collaborative RGS resources would primarily be from finance, H.R., outreach and community engagement, and other professional Water Resources team members. A clerk of the board and finance professional have already been added to RGS’ existing team to support this project.
• The GM is primarily a project manager, not a people manager. Although working with and through the RGS team assigned, he or she will not be responsible for traditional GM HR functions like hiring and performance management. 
• Senior Advisors manage the various service teams such as Finance, H.R., and Water Resources. Therefore, the GM will give technical direction and feedback to assigned team members and will communicate with their team managers as needed.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE will have:

BOTH BROAD AND DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Public works and water resource management issues and projects
• The legislative process
• Local government roles, responsibilities, and processes
• Development of funding approaches and fiscal sustainability practices
• The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and associated policy directives including federal and state Clean Water Act

• Facilitation and collaboration to develop consensus with groups of diverse stakeholders
• Communication of complex technical issues and difficult realities knowledgeably and compassionately, in understandable language, to a range of audiences
• Outstanding listening skills, an interest-based approach, and the ability to achieve effective compromises
• Political savvy, the ability to establish a network to form effective political alliances
• Courage to stand up respectfully for the communities served

• Knowledge of water science and hydrology
• Strong analytical, organizational, and grant-writing skills
• Strong commitment to accountability, inclusion, and transparency
• Proactive, approachable, and responsive to stakeholder interests and needs

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Five years of experience at a senior management or executive level, or any combination of education and experience equivalent to education below.

Experience in public or private sector employment in an executive or management position that requires the planning and execution of work programs or administrative operations, and the coordination of varied activities of public works and water resource management issues and projects.

Demonstrated accomplishment in achieving results in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in planning, public policy, public or business administration, or a field closely related to the work of the Agency.

Compensation
The salary for the General Manager is up to $120 hourly and $18,200 per month DOE/DOQ at 35 hours per week. This is a part-time position and may be performed remotely as appropriate.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Please apply immediately as this recruitment will close once a candidate has been selected.

FIRST SCREENING OF APPLICATIONS IS SCHEDULED FOR Mid JANUARY 2023

To be considered for this exciting opportunity, candidates are invited to submit an application with a statement of interest and a focused resume detailing their recent (within the past 10 years) work experience and highlighting demonstrated career accomplishments relevant to this position.

When describing projects and programs managed, please include the name of each employer, number and composition of team(s) and your role(s), scope of responsibilities, and delivered products or services. Submit your qualifications by January 8, 2023, before 11:59 PM PST, to: https://bit.ly/SVBGSA-GM 

Each candidate's background will be evaluated based on information submitted at the time of application, and qualified candidates will participate in a preliminary remote or phone interview. Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in a structured interview process, tentatively scheduled for mid-January 2023.

Regional Government Services is not responsible for failure of internet forms or email transmission in submitting your application. 

Candidates who may require special assistance in any phase of the application or selection process should advise us by emailing krandolphpollard@rgs.ca.gov. 

Regional Government Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer