Utilities Director for the City of Solvang

Position Description

Are you an experienced professional with experience in the field of water and wastewater operations?

Are you a self-starter who excels at leading others in the planning and monitoring of all daily operations, maintenance, repair, and construction of pipeline systems and structures?

Does the thought of positively impacting your local community excite you?

Are you looking for a collaborative work environment that will support your goals and growth?

If so, the City of Solvang may have an opportunity for you as their next Utilities Director!

Regional Government Services and its staff are conducting the recruitment on behalf of the City of Solvang.

Under general direction of the City Manager, the Utilities Director plans, organizes, and directs the Department of Utilities which include operation and maintenance of the water, wastewater treatment plant and sewer collection system, solid waste utilities, and groundwater sustainability management as part of the Ground Water Management Area.

The Utilities Director will provide the highest quality service in the most efficient, cost-effective, and courteous manner possible and deliver high quality water to your faucet, diversify sustainable water sources, treat wastewater, and maintain environmentally responsible solid waste program.

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Be curious and intelligent with demonstrated experience successfully leading tight-knit and diverse teams.
• Have experience leading, supervising, and guiding unionized employees.
• Be adept at vendor management including issuing RFPs, selecting contractors, and ensuring work standards are met.
• Have superior management skills, including experience monitoring contractual performance and overseeing various agreements including a history of developing and monitoring complex capital and operating budgets.
• Have direct working experience in at least one of the four major areas of responsibilities: water, groundwater sustainability, wastewater, or solid waste.
• Be motivated by the opportunity for professional growth and satisfaction that comes from working in an environment ripe with challenge and possibility.
• Be an innovative and creative problem solver who is a proactive, ethical, self-motivated, adaptable, and organized leader who is comfortable working in a team-focused environment.
• Communicate in a proactive, approachable, and responsive manner, demonstrating understanding of stakeholder interests and needs and commitment to meeting them.
• Be a successful relationship builder and team player accustomed to coordinating with a variety of partners.
• Have knowledge of principles and practices of teaming and project management work models coupled with solid skills in setting performance expectations, defining deliverables, holding people accountable, and supporting effort through well-designed work processes.
• Be analytical and appropriately detail oriented and have demonstrated experience managing projects and initiatives.
• Communicate effectively in writing and prepare professional agendas, staff reports, presentations, and other documents.

COMPETENCIES

Accountability - Accepts responsibility for themselves and their team.
Adaptability and Flexibility - Responds effectively to multiple demands, ambiguity, shifting of priorities, emerging situations, and rapid change.
Analytical Thinking - Identifies and defines problems; extracts key information from data; and develops workable solutions for the problems identified.
Collaboration - Fosters team communication and dialogue, identifies opportunities to building consensus for team options, decisions, and outcomes.
Communication - Effectively conveys and exchanges thoughts, opinions, and information verbally and in writing.
Creativity and Innovation - Applies original thinking in approach to job responsibilities and improving processes, methods, systems, or services.
Influence - Exerts a positive effect on other's views, attitudes, decisions, perceptions, and/or beliefs.
Initiative - Identifies and takes action to address problems and opportunities.
Interpersonal Relations - Builds relationships based on mutual trust and respect.
Judgment - Makes decisions that are based on careful thought and input from others.
Leadership - Inspires others toward a common vision and fosters trust andethical conduct.
Results Orientation and Execution - Translates objectives into action plans, including identifying task interdependencies.

About the City

With a population of approximately 6,200, located in Santa Barbara County, the City of Solvang is known as “The Danish Capital of America.” Just 34 miles north of the City of Santa Barbara and 21 miles from the Pacific Coastline, the historic Danish village of Solvang offers the best of the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara wine country in a relaxed and peaceful setting.

You can indulge in authentic Danish pastries at Solvang’s world-famous bakeries, while strolling through the village to admire the old-world European architecture. Food and wine lovers will find more than 120 wineries throughout the Valley, with beautiful vineyards to explore, and plenty of farm-to-table dining options. This picturesque city is known for their many annual events, including Julefest and Danish Days, both of which celebrate the city’s heritage; along with charming boutiques and quaint shops; family-oriented attractions and recreational activities are plentiful! Solvang is an ideal place to live, work and play-a place where you can have a great career and is a safe and exceptional location to raise a family or retire!

Solvang is a Charter City, operating under the City Council/City Manager form of government. City leadership is committed to the preservation of Solvang’s unique character and quality of life of its residents. Solvang has an annual budget of approximately $20 million, and a staff of approximately 30 employees serving an engaged and invested community.

Examples of Duties

For an overview of the job duties, please review the job description here: LINK

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in engineering, natural science, environmental science, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in utilities systems administration, including at least two (2) years in a management or supervisory capacity.

License:

• Valid California class C driver's license with satisfactory driving record

Desirable Qualifications:

• Possession of a Grade III and eligibility for a Grade IV Wastewater Treatment Operator Certificate issued by the State of California Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is highly desirable.
• Possession of a Grade III and eligibility for a Grad IV Water Distribution Operator Certificate, a Water Treatment Operator Certificate issued by the State of California Department of Public Health (DPH), and a Wastewater Collection System Maintenance Certificate issued by the California Water Environment Association are highly desirable.
• Other related water and wastewater licenses and/or certifications associated with the assignment.

Supplemental Information

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary:
$149,739 - $182,000 annually

Benefits:

• Retirement
  • California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
    • “Classic” Members”: 2.5% at 55, employees hired prior to January 1, 2013 Employer contribution: employee pays 8% of reportable compensation Employee contribution: city pays entire 8%.
    • “PEPRA MEMBERS/Non-Classic” (members new to CalPERS after 1/1/13):
      • 2% at age 62
      • Employer contribution: The City pays fifty percent (50%) of the total “normal” cost of the benefit (as determined by CalPERS annually).
      • Employee contribution: employee pays fifty percent (50%) of the total “normal” cost of the benefit (as determined by CalPERS annually).

The City participates in Social Security. Housing Allowance

• $750 per month

Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life

• The City offers both PPO and HMO medical plans, in addition to dental, vision and group term life benefits. The City provides Section 125 Cafeteria plan which provides $1,100.00 for employees enrolled in Employee Only, overages paid to employee.
• The greater of $1,100.00 or 75% of the 2023/2024 premium for employees enrolled in Employee + One.
• The greater of $1,100.00 or 75% of the 2023/2024 premium for employees enrolled in Employee + Family.
• If you opt-out and purchase medical insurance elsewhere, the City provides a Cafeteria amount of $900.00 /month.
• Life Insurance and AD&D: The City provides up to 1x the employee’s annual salary, with a minimum amount of $50,000.

Long Term Disability

• The City provides a long-term disability benefit at no cost to the employee.

Vacation Time

• Employees receive 12 days per year of combined service, increasing to 15 days after five years of combined service, 20 days after 10 years of combined service, and 25 days after 15 years of combined service.

Holidays:

• Employees receive 12 days per year, and two floating holidays.

Sick Leave

• Employees receive 12 days per year with unlimited accumulation.

Administrative Leave

• Management employees receive 80 hours per year.

Deferred Compensation

• The City offers deferred compensation plans for employees to set aside a portion of their salary on a pre-tax or after-tax basis to supplement retirement.

Flexible Benefit Program

• A Flexible Spending plan is available which allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for reimbursement of out-of-pocket health care expenses and dependent care costs.

Cell Phone

• Department Heads are eligible for a $50 per month Cell Phone Allowance for use of their personal cell phone.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Applications must be submitted on-line through this applicant tracking system. Materials must be complete and clearly indicate the candidate meets the minimum qualifications. Incomplete, late, emailed, and faxed applications are not accepted. Resumes are not considered in lieu of the required employment application.

Certificates, resumes, and/or cover letters must be uploaded with your application through this applicant tracking system.

All statements made on the application, resume, and supplemental materials are subject to verification. False statements may be cause for immediate disqualification, removal from eligibility list, or discharge from employment.

The deadline to apply is July 7, 2024, at 11:59 PM PST.

LINK TO APPLY HERE
Appraisal Process - (Pass/Fail) After the closing deadline, applications will be screened in relation to the criteria indicated in this announcement.
This process may also include various interviews and/or a skills assessment exam to rank applications, and to prepare a Qualified Candidate List.

Application - Minimum Qualification Assessment - (Pass/Fail) All completed applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and assessed for each applicant's ability to meet the minimum work experience, training, and education qualifications.

Remote Screen Interview Exam - (Pass/Fail) Candidates who pass the application assessment will be invited to a Remote Screen Interview Examination to evaluate training, experience, and other job-related qualifications for the position. The Remote Screen Interview will be conducted via a video conference platform and is tentatively scheduled for July 2024.

Successful candidates will be submitted to the City of Solvang for further consideration.

All communication and notices will be sent via e-mail. Additional inquiries about the position may be directed to dprieto@rgs.ca.gov.

Neither Regional Government Services nor the City of Solvang are responsible for failure of internet forms or email in submitting your application. Candidates who may require special assistance in any phase of the application or selection process should advise Regional Government Services by mailing dprieto@rgs.ca.gov.

The City of Solvang is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Closing Date/Time: 7/7/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

149,739

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