Executive Director Water Forum

THE POSITION

• Lead and direct the activities within the Water Forum.
• Manage and support the diverse group of stakeholders involved in the Water Forum Successor Effort.
• Engage with city, county and agency officials, including councils and boards, and state and federal officials, to discuss and influence water policy and regulations.

• Expertise in Water and Environmental Issues: Strong technical knowledge in water policies and management, with a focus on environmental regulations and ecosystem health.
• Leadership and Communication: Demonstrated ability to lead a small organization effectively, managing budgets, contracts, and grants. Exceptional communication skills are essential, with the capability to convey complex technical information clearly and engage diverse audiences.
• Consensus Building: Proven experience in fostering consensus among disparate groups and managing conflicting viewpoints with diplomacy. The candidate should be adept at facilitating discussions and negotiations, maintaining neutrality and transparency.
• Relationship Management: Strong interpersonal skills with a proven track record of building and maintaining relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including government entities, community groups, and environmental organizations.
• Strategic and Operational Acumen: Experience in strategic planning and execution, including the development and oversight of budgets. The candidate should be action-oriented and capable of thinking globally while managing detailed project implementation.
• Advocacy and Representation: Ability to serve as a spokesperson for the Water Forum, representing the organization at state and national levels in conferences, workshops, hearings, and through the media.
• Regulatory and Legal Insight: Keen awareness of legal and regulatory developments that could impact water management and forum agreements. Skills in monitoring and implementing necessary adaptations to strategy based on these changes.
• Mission-Driven: A strong personal commitment to the Water Forum’s mission, with the enthusiasm and dedication to advance its objectives and initiatives.
• Calm and Flexible Leadership: Ability to remain composed under pressure, adapt to changing project scopes based on stakeholder feedback, and inspire others to achieve collective goals

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage staff and consultants providing support for implementation of the Water Forum Agreement to achieve two coequal objectives: 1) Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development to the year 2030; and 2) Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the Lower American River.
• Manage staff and consultants providing support for implementing the Water Forum Agreement.
• Manage staff and consultants providing support for negotiations responding to changed conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.
• Preserve and enhance the good-faith interest-based process which developed the Water Forum Agreement.
• Oversee compliance with reporting requirements for the Water Forum Agreement and its Environmental Impact Report.
• Monitor, identify, and analyze legal developments including legislation, rules, regulations, and court decisions as well as other developments at the local, regional, state, and federal levels which may impact the implementation of the Water Forum Agreement.
• Represent the Water Forum to elected representatives and other local, state, and federal officials, citizen groups, and media.
• Serve as spokesperson for the Water Forum in various venues such as state and national conferences, workshops, hearings and with the media.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive communication strategy concerning the purpose and progress of the Water Forum Agreement and continue the public support for the Agreement.
• Direct and participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Evaluate and recommend professional consultants and contracts.
• Supervise and participate in the development and implementation of the budget for the Office, which includes working with the City, County, and other stakeholders who fund the operations of the department.
• Analyze and evaluate fiscal data to identify and project resource needs, obtain required resources, and monitor and approve budget expenditures.
• Oversee technical and facilitation support of local groundwater planning activities.
• Coordinate activities and provide information and staff reports to City Council and County Board of Supervisors.
• Manage preparation of complex statistical and narrative reports, correspondence, presentations, GPS maps, and other documents for presentation to stakeholder groups.
• Work with state and federal agencies to identify grant opportunities. Monitor grant-funded projects to ensure compliance with grant requirements.
• Respond to difficult inquiries and complaints.
• Coordinate with local, state, and federal officials on issues related to local water management, the American River Parkway, and the lower American River.
• Select, supervise, train, motivate, and evaluate professional, technical, and clerical staff. Conduct performance evaluations, implement discipline procedures, and maintain discipline and high standards necessary for the efficient and professional operation of the Office.
• Other related duties may also be performed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Rules, laws, policies, and regulations governing California water supply, management, conjunctive use and other water related issues..
• Environmental regulations including the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Endangered Species Act, the California Endangered Species Act.
• Fishery, wildlife, recreational and aesthetic values of the lower American River.
• Principles of interest-based collaborative bargaining and alternative dispute resolution.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information regarding water supply management and environmental issues related to water supply. Principles of organization, administration, budget, and personnel management.
• Groundwater hydrology and analysis techniques.
• Report writing techniques and statistical concepts and methods.
• Numerical modeling associated with water system operations, reservoir operations, fluvial dynamics, water temperature, and groudwater hydrology.
• Financial and budgeting principles and practices.
• Experience with state and federal grant requirements.

• Organize, direct and coordinate the activities of the Office.
• Mediate collaborative interest- based bargaining which respects both the diversity and the legitimacy of the interests of all stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders, elected officials, staff of local, state and federal agencies, external water users, and state-wide environmental organizations, media, and the public.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing; analyze, interpret, and explain the Water Forum Agreement.
• Communicate complex technical issues related to water management and riverine systems to lay-person audiences.
• Prepare, administer, and monitor a comprehensive budget.

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE

HOW TO APPLY:
For consideration, apply by February 24, 2025 at: https://www.cpshr.us/recruitment/2432/

SAVE THE DATE!

• Email: pderby@cpshr.us
• Phone: (916) 471-3126