Capital Program Specialist

Founded in 1866, San Jose Water Company is an investor owned water company headquartered in Silicon Valley. With a service area of 140 square miles, it is one of the largest and most technically sophisticated urban water system in the United States. We serve over 1 million people with high quality, life sustaining water, with an emphasis on exceptional customer service.

We are actively seeking talented, driven and highly-productive applicants for the position of Capital Program Specialist to join our dynamic team. We offer a challenging and rewarding work environment along with a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Engineering Manager, Planning, the Capital Program Specialist provides strategic guidance and advanced analysis to optimize the Company’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), ensuring alignment with business priorities and operational goals. This role is responsible for evaluating and monitoring capital expenditures, analyzing performance metrics, and producing detailed dashboards, reports, and presentations to compare planned versus actual outcomes. The Capital Program Specialist facilitates collaboration between Engineering and other departments, ensuring efficient project execution, adherence to budgets, and compliance with policies and procedures. By leveraging lessons learned, best practices, and innovative approaches, this role identifies opportunities for process improvement and cost-effective solutions that meet technical and customer requirements. Additionally, the Capital Program Specialist contributes to the development and oversight of annual budgets and long-term strategic plans, while providing clear, actionable recommendations to leadership to drive continuous improvement and program success.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic analysis and guidance to optimize the CIP, ensuring alignment with company priorities and operational goals while mitigating risks.

• Refine capital spending forecasts and budgets by incorporating changes in project scopes, schedules, and costs, delivering actionable recommendations to address variances.

• Design and maintain performance dashboards and key metrics to track CIP progress, financial performance, and risk management, supporting data-driven decision-making.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prioritize and implement capital projects, ensuring effective communication and seamless execution across departments.

• Conduct program audits and quality assurance reviews to ensure compliance with policies and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Support the development and monitoring of annual and multi-year CIP budgets, including regulatory compliance for General Rate Cases.

• Analyze and prepare detailed reports on program performance, including variance analyses and progress evaluations, to inform leadership and drive continuous improvement.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Expertise in capital program planning, financial forecasting, and budgeting, with the ability to align investments with strategic goals and organizational priorities.

• Strong analytical skills for evaluating project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, and financial performance, and providing actionable recommendations to mitigate risks and address variances.

• Proficiency in designing and managing dashboards, key performance indicators, and data visualization tools to monitor and communicate program progress and outcomes effectively.

• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, enabling seamless coordination between departments and the ability to present complex information clearly to leadership and stakeholders.

• Knowledge of project management best practices, regulatory compliance requirements, and continuous process improvement methodologies to enhance program efficiency and effectiveness.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Project Management, Finance, Business, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in capital planning, project management, financial analysis, or a related role, preferably in utilities, infrastructure, or public works.

• Proven track record of collaborating across departments and delivering actionable insights to leadership for informed decision-making.

EEO Statement
Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.