The Assistant Department Director of the Business Support Branch for the Public Utilities Department oversees the Finance, Innovation and Technology, and Employee Services & Quality Assurance divisions. The Business Support Branch manages financial forecasts, rate setting for water and wastewater enterprise systems, budgeting, accounts payable, grants management, innovative and technological solutions, security, training, human resources, contracts management, procurement, and records management. Additionally, this role supports the Department Director and Executive Assistant Director in making critical policy decisions that impact the department's staff, other City of San Diego departments, PUD consumers, and the general public.
Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the branch.
• Lead efforts to proactively identify and support creative and viable business solutions for efficient utility operations.
• Provide focused leadership for enhanced customer service and customer satisfaction.
• Manage diversity in the workplace and encourage high-performing teams.
• Represent the Department before various governing bodies within the City, including oversight committees, City Council, Civil Service Commission, etc.
• Participate in negotiations with various agencies, working closely with elected officials, community leaders, and representatives from those agencies to achieve resolutions or decisions.
• Cultivate relationships with key regulatory agencies to ensure all regulatory requirements and milestones are met.
• Lead the preparation of the Branch’s annual operating, capital outlay, and personnel budget, including justifying budget requests and monitoring expenditures against goals and objectives.
• Represent the Department at various industry and professional forums.
• Establish and coordinate Department administrative policies within assigned areas of responsibility.
• Work collaboratively with other department managers and their staff to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Department.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field, and 
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible managerial experience and experience managing large water or wastewater utilities.

Desirable Qualifications: 

• Progressively responsible management experience in water or wastewater operations.
• Progressively responsible experience demonstrating readiness to lead a department comprised of administrative, field operations, technical, and finance staff.
• Highly ethical and objective, with the ability to navigate a political environment without being political.
• Demonstrated exceptional ability to manage and motivate people and teams.
• Focus on enhanced customer service and customer satisfaction.
• Ability to communicate effectively with different audiences, including elected officials, various levels of City management, and members of the public.
• Ability to balance competing interests in a regulatory and political environment.
• Ability to comprehend technical details and understand how they relate to and impact the “big picture.”
• Strong quantitative analytical abilities, including a thorough understanding of common data analysis tools and programs.
• Ability to communicate complex and technical information in a simple, clear, and straightforward manner, including using graphs and tables as needed.
• A commitment to public service, fiscal responsibility, and innovation in government.
• Experience in developing and managing a complex budget.
• Demonstrated commitment to quality improvement and performance excellence.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to successfully interact with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Energetic and motivated, with the ability and desire to take initiative.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with tight time constraints.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to proactively identify and support creative and viable business solutions.
• Active and genuine commitment to managing diversity in the workplace and encouraging high-performing teams.
• An understanding of public entity personnel and labor relations principles, policies, and procedures.
• Has background overseeing finance, IT, and/or employee services and quality assurance.

Benefits:

• Defined retirement plan, including pension reciprocity, dependent on an employee’s eligibility status (new hire, rehire, etc.). 
• A wide variety of cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and 1 floating holiday per fiscal year.
• Approximately 176 hours of paid annual leave for an employee’s first 15 years of service and approximately 216 hours for 16 years of service.
• Up to 24 hours of paid discretionary leave per fiscal year.
• Up to 320 hours of paid Parental Leave per childbirth or placement of a child.
• Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave per fiscal year.
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $2,000 per fiscal year and complimentary LinkedIn Learning professional development opportunities.
• Free transit pass (including MTS Trolley, MTS Bus, and all Rapid and Rapid Express bus services).
• Access to premier City golf courses at a discounted rate. 
• Reduced-rate fitness center memberships.
• City-paid life insurance.

For additional details, please review the Benefits Summary for Unclassified Employees (Download PDF reader) or contact the Benefits Division of the Risk Management Department at (619) 236-5924.
 
The Department: 
The Public Utilities Department (PUD) comprises four branches primarily funded by the Water Enterprise Fund and the Sewer Enterprise Funds: the Water Recovery Branch, the Water Delivery Branch, the Business Support Branch, and the Pure Water and Technical Support Branch. The Department is committed to the following in its management of Water and Wastewater services:
The Public Utilities Director is responsible for setting the overall direction for the department and providing high-level guidance on day-to-day activities. The External Affairs and Water Policy group reports directly to the Director. All other departmental activities are reported directly to the Executive Assistant Director, responsible for daily department operations. Day-to-day operational responsibility for PUD rests with the Assistant Directors of each branch, who report to the Executive Assistant Director. The Public Utilities’ management team comprises Deputy Directors, who report to the Assistant Directors and head each major division within each branch. PUD currently has a staff allocation of approximately 1,900 and a Fiscal Year 2024 budget of $1.9 billion.
 
The water system serves the City and certain surrounding areas, including retail, wholesale, and reclaimed water customers. Its service area covers 403 miles, including 342 miles in the City, and has approximately 1.3 million retail customers. This water system can treat up to 378 million gallons of drinking water daily and includes 49 pump stations, 3 water treatment plants, over 3,400 miles of pipeline, more than 320,000 service connections, and 135 separate pressure zones. 
 
The wastewater system comprises the Municipal Sub-System and the Metropolitan Sub-System. The Municipal system is a sewage collection and conveyance system for the City's residents, and the Metropolitan system treats and disposes of the wastewater generated by the City and 12 other cities and districts near the City. The Metropolitan system has sufficient capacity to accommodate a regional population in excess of 2.5 million. The entire wastewater system covers approximately 450 square miles and has a population of over 2.2 million. The system can treat up to 255 million gallons of wastewater per day and includes 79 pump stations, 3 wastewater treatment plants, a bio-solid processing plant, 2 ocean outfalls, and more than 3,000 miles of pipeline.
The City is implementing a large-scale potable reuse project called Pure Water San Diego that uses proven water purification technology to produce a safe, sustainable, and high-quality water supply for San Diego. The Program is a cost-effective investment providing a reliable, locally controlled, drought-proof drinking water supply. An initial 30 million gallons per day water purification facility is planned to be operational as early as 2021. The long-term goal, producing 83 million gallons of purified water per day (one-third of San Diego's future drinking water supply), will be reached in 2035.
Additionally, the City is further enhancing its Dam Safety Program, which includes inspecting, maintaining, planning, evaluating, repairing, and improving the City’s nine dams. Four of these are currently rated “poor” or worse by the California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD). The program's goal is to ensure the dams continue to perform as intended, remain in compliance with the jurisdiction of DSOD, and provide public safety.
 
The City:
With more than 1.4 million residents, the City of San Diego is the eighth largest City in the United States and the second largest in California. The City of San Diego’s strong economy, diverse population, great educational institutions, unsurpassed quality of life, and world-renowned location make it the ideal place to work, live, and play. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego has something to offer for everyone.
 
The City’s Mission, as stated in the Strategic Plan, is “Every day we serve our communities to make San Diego not just a fine city, but a great City.” The City’s Vision is "Opportunity in every neighborhood, excellent service for every San Diegan".
 
As one of the region’s largest employers, the City of San Diego employs nearly 11,000 highly dedicated employees and has a combined Fiscal Year 2024 operating and capital budget of approximately $5 billion. Additional information about the City of San Diego can be found on the City’s website.
 
Pre-Employment Requirements and Screening Process:
Employment offers are conditional, pending the results of all screening processes applicable to the position. All the processes required by the City of San Diego must be completed before employment begins. For additional information, please refer to the City’s pre-employment requirements and screening process webpage. Nothing in this job posting constitutes or should be construed as part of an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. 
 
Application Instructions: Please adhere to the instructions provided in the "Selection/Application Process" section below. We regret to inform you that online applications will not be considered. 

Selection/Application Process:To be considered for this position, you must submit the following items to the Human Resources Department at HumanResources@sandiego.gov1) Resume;
2) Letter of Interest highlighting your relevant work experience and qualifications for this position; and
3) List of three professional references.

NOTE(S): 

1. Attachments must be submitted in either PDF or Word Document format. 
2. Reference Recruitment Number U2506 in the Subject Line.
3. Candidates are encouraged to apply promptly, as interviews and selection may begin upon receipt of resumes from qualified individuals.

Following the closing date, resumes will be screened according to the abovementioned qualifications, and the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview. If you have any questions, please email the City’s Human Resources Department at HumanResources@sandiego.gov. 

 The City of San Diego has an active Equal Opportunity/ADA Employment Program and vigorously supports workplace diversity.