Senior Water Resources Planner, Zone 7

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online.

THE AGENCY

Zone 7 Water Agency supplies treated drinking water to retailers serving approximately 260,000 residents and businesses in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and, through special agreement with the Dublin San Ramon Services District, the Dougherty Valley area of San Ramon. Zone 7 also supplies untreated irrigation water (mostly to vineyards) and provides flood protection to eastern Alameda County.

For more information regarding the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7, please visit their website at http://www.zone7water.com.

THE POSITION

Under general direction, the incumbent performs the most difficult professional planning program work including studies and projects; serves as the project manager for major planning and policy issues related to the operation of a major municipal water supply utility; serves as the section lead on the work of professional and technical staff; and performs related work as required.    

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Senior Water Resources Planner, Zone 7 (#4968)

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate has experience with a proven track record of success that demonstrates knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas:

• Proven experience working within the principles, practices and trends in water and other environmental resource (e.g., energy) management including research techniques, codes, ordinances and laws related to planning and environmental management. 
• Established experience performing qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Ability to prepare concise and clear reports and presentations 
• Effectively works in a multi-disciplinary team and professionally interacts with the public is a plus
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale or complex water resource and/or energy planning projects
• Successful development and maintenance of collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals
• Experience in supervising staff including selection, training, evaluating performance is a plus
• Effectively able to identify problems and use logic, judgment, and data to evaluate alternatives and recommend solutions to achieve the desired organizational goal or outcomes
• Experience in keeping up with the latest developments and industry trends as they relate to water resource planning and other resource management issues (e.g., energy)

EITHER I  

Experience:  

The equivalent of two (2) years of full-time experience in the class of Associate Water Resources Planner, Zone 7 in the Alameda County classified service.  

OR II  

Education:  

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in urban or regional planning, economics, environmental studies, or a closely related field.    

AND

Experience:  

The equivalent of four (4) years of full-time professional planning experience including one (1) year of urban planning or working for an utility district or department and two (2) years of leading or supervising experience over subordinate staff.  

Physical Requirements:

• Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required.
• Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.  

Special Requirements:  

Must be willing and able to work in exposure to chemical, mechanical, and electrical hazards, and outdoors in all weather conditions.  

Licenses:  

Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.    

NOTE:    The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:  

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and trends in water resources and water operations including research techniques; codes, ordinance and laws related to planning and environmental protection.
• Organization of local governments including special districts; language and techniques used in planning and mapping.
• Principles and practices of project management and contract administration, including planning, organizing, delegating, scheduling, and controlling.
• Principles of supervision, including selection, training, and performance evaluation.      
• Applicable codes, regulations and standards relating to water resources and energy management.
• Principles and practices of energy system development and planning.
• Principles and practices of environmental impact assessment and regulatory processes related to energy programs and projects.
• Practices of researching, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
• Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to water resource planning and energy and power related issues.
• County and Agency personnel and administrative policies and procedures.
• Organizational practices as applied to the analysis, evaluation, development, and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures; statistical analyses and various methods of presentation of data and recommendations.
• Administrative principles and methods, including goal setting, planning, program and budget development and implementation.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed. 

Ability to:

• Train and supervise professional and technical support staff.
• Effectively manage large-scale and/or complex water resources and energy planning projects, studies, and contracted services.
• Prepare and oversee preparation of plans, designs, sketches, estimates and specifications for technical reports.
• Apply water resource and energy planning principles and the use of computer programs to the solution of water resource planning and energy problems.
• Conduct water resource planning and energy studies and analyses.
• Analyze and interpret complex data and reports reaching sound conclusions and forecasts.
• Read, understand, and interpret engineering/geological data, maps, survey notes, legal descriptions, and other material.
• Reach collaborative solutions, using problem-solving skills.
• Interpret, explain, and ensure compliance with Zone 7 policies and procedures, complex laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
• Conduct effective negotiations and effectively represent the Zone 7 in meetings with governmental agencies, contractors, vendors, and various businesses, professional, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with public, other agencies, developers, engineering firms and contractors and other employees.
• Perform administrative work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative in assigned area.
• Analyze, interpret, draw conclusions, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Interpret budgetary and financial statements.
• Devise methods and procedures for obtaining a variety of data.
• Develop, implement, and interpret goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the department.
• Maintain accurate data and records; prepare clear, concise, and complete reports and other written material.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

The examination will consist of the following steps:

1. A review of candidates' application to verify possession of minimum requirements.  Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified.
3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score.  The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.  

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @jobaps.com, acgov.org and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box Noreply@jobaps.com are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions, please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Erika Beams, Human Resources Analyst 
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
Email Address: ERIKA.BEAMS@ACGOV.ORG    Phone: 510-272-6393
www.acgov.org/hrs

Disaster Service Worker

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.