Technical Services Manager - Operations

At Western Municipal Water District (“Western Water”) we’re looking for an experienced Operations Field Manager for Technical Services with an interest in developing and implementing programs involving energy management and optimization in water and wastewater systems and plants, including the development and establishment of new systems integration, baseline performance metrics and tracking systems. We need someone who is experienced, organized, detail-oriented and can support a variety of team needs while balancing shifting priorities and a range of day-to-day tasks.

 If you’re a team player with strong technical skills in energy management and optimization, and project management experience, with demonstrated interpersonal skills who strives to raise the bar and is looking for a challenging new opportunity to elevate Western Water’s technical services management program, then this is your chance to join an exceptional agency and be part of something bigger.

ABOUT WESTERN WATER

• Western Water is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County providing water and sewer services to nearly one million people; and
• We see ourselves as more of a business than a bureaucracy; and
• We view our customers as an essential partner in ensuring long-term water security for our region; and
• Together, the Western Water team is focused on being the definitive leader in water and sewer services, upholding the highest level of stakeholder trust.
• Western Water was awarded the Top Workplace Award for 2023. The Top Workplace Award recognizes organizations that excel in creating a positive working environment for their employees. This award is based on employee feedback regarding various aspects like workplace culture, values, leadership, compensation, benefits, and work-life balance. 

Western Water’s values include:

• Service Excellence
• Efficiency 
• Water Supply Reliability
• Fiscal Responsibility and Value
• Public Trust, Accountability and Transparency
• Environmental Stewardship
• Employee Empowerment
• Innovation

Western Water is a dynamic, forward-thinking agency dedicated to delivering potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to nearly one million customers across Riverside 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.

THE TEAM

The Technical Services team is slated to become the Operations Department’s primary internal resource to lead project management efforts for commissioning and start-up for new facilities, development of standard operating procedures (SOPs), and operations and maintenance (O&M) manuals, and will coordinate closely with other Western Water departments including Engineering and Water Resources. Goals for this team will be to provide critical support assistance in troubleshooting difficult technical issues such as water quality, process control, and new or emerging environmental compliance requirements. 

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, the Operations Field Manager for Technical Services provides a variety of field and office operations related to a broad range of services and programs for the Operations Division and requires water/wastewater industry knowledge and experience, ability to troubleshoot difficult technical problems and to develop solutions for implementation. The incumbent shall be collaborative, team-oriented, and a self-starter with the ability to produce written plans, documents, and reports.   

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is an experienced professional with a proven track record of managing and collaborating on projects for a high-performing team in a complex public utility environment. In addition to technical expertise, you bring exceptional emotional intelligence, communication skills, and a talent for building productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders between departments within Western Water that we work with and support.

Your collaborative mindset and commitment to transparency will be key to partnering effectively with the Operations Director and peer leaders across Western Water. You’ll serve as a trusted advisor on critical agency technical issues and be an ambassador for the department’s priorities. Like the Director of Systems Operations, you believe in directly interacting with staff and will be a visible presence for both your team and customers.

Personal Competencies/Characteristics        

• A relationship-builder who is proactive in establishing and leveraging partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Open, approachable, and action-oriented; exercises good judgment; treats others with respect.
• Collaborative approach to working with others; able to bring people together and leverage common interests to perpetuate the goals of Western Water.
• Outstanding facilitation, presentation, and leadership skills.
• A self-starter who exhibits high initiative and a strong work ethic; embraces the opportunity to make a difference.

This advanced-level classification is responsible for independently performing diverse and specialized work in coordinating technical activities associated with energy management and optimization with accountability and ongoing decision-making responsibilities. The incumbent is responsible for providing technical-level support to management and staff as required in the areas of troubleshooting, project management, and program development and implementation. Positions at this level exercise mostly independent judgment and initiative in their assigned tasks, receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. 

Incumbents within this classification report to the Director of Systems Operations and may provide direction to assigned employees. 

District employees are expected to work overtime, weekends, evenings and holidays as required to accommodate Western Water’s needs, in addition to responding as a Disaster Emergency Service Worker.

Examples of Duties:

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.  

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 classification. 

Leadership exercised:

• Leads, plans, organizes, integrates and evaluates the work of the Operations functions through assigned staff by establishing goals and performance measures.
• Plans, leads, and coordinates new facility commissioning and start-up. 
• Develops energy management and optimization plans and programs.
• Provides project management and support services.
• Manages asset management planning and implementation activities.
• Troubleshoots water quality and wastewater process problems.
• Monitors and establishes performance requirements while providing coaching for performance enhancement.
• Works closely with Directors, Deputy Directors, Managers, Supervisors, and staff on technical issues and challenges, including regulatory compliance.

 Support provided:

• Assists in determining safety policies and procedures, while ensuring the emergency response procedures are current and adequate.
• Participates in the development of Western Water strategic plans and initiatives.
• Participates in developing and monitoring department and capital improvement budgets. 
• Participates in the implementation of energy management and system optimization programs.
• Develops and implements Operation division business plans, programs, processes, procedures and policies required to achieve strategic initiatives and overall division results in alignment with Western Water objectives and priorities related to the water, wastewater, and recycled water systems.
• Coordinates with other local water districts and agencies on an as-needed basis.
• Participates the implementation of Western Water and the Operations Department strategic goals and initiatives.
• Supports activities that may include the development of scopes of work (SOW) and purchase orders/contracts for consultants; requests for proposals (RFPs); evaluation of proposals received, and other associated tasks with procurements for services.

Typical Qualifications:

• Plan and implement the principles, practices, techniques, materials and equipment utilized in the operation and maintenance of large, complex water distribution and collections systems, as well as water and wastewater treatment systems.
• Experience in program and project management.
• Experience in the development of SOPs and O&M Manuals.
• Experience in the commissioning and start-up of new facilities.
• Principles and practices of budgeting, purchasing, and maintenance of public records.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, plans, schematics, and specifications.
• Familiarity with GIS and electronic asset management programs.
• Experience in reviewing consultant proposals, scopes of work, and contracts.
• Experience in developing Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
• Ability to prepare clear, concise and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies and other written materials.
• Ability to successfully manage, lead, and supervise a group of employees who have widely varying job duties.
• Ability to act independently, troubleshoot effectively, make sound decisions, exercise good judgement, and provide clear, calm direction to the division in emergency situations.
• Ability to safely and skillfully use Personal Protective Equipment and enforce safety procedures.
• Use of modern office equipment including computer software applications related to the field of work.
• Analyze and make sound recommendations on complex problems.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of Western Water staff, other governmental officials, contractors, vendors, and the public.
• Proper English usage, punctuation, grammar and spelling.
• Utilize exceptional customer service and communication skills both verbally and in writing, with the ability to cultivate professional business partnerships and inspire team collaboration.
• Make effective and engaging oral presentations clearly, logically and persuasively in meetings.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and confidential situations.
• Perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines on multiple concurrent tasks.
• Highly motivated professional who is a self-starter, resourceful and able to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Provide transparent, high quality and fiscally responsible services, while meeting the needs of Western Water and its customers.
• Think creatively and seek alternative solutions in order to produce results that benefit Western Water, its internal and external customers, while clearly articulating options to executives and policy makers.
• Define and explain key processes and business requirements within the department.
• Utilize successful leadership skills with the ability to inspire and influence with a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and creativity coupled with a positive attitude.