Sonoma Water Assistant General Manager Environmental Resources - Promotional

Position Information

THIS RECRUITMENT IS PROMOTIONAL ONLY. YOU MUST PRESENTLY BE A FULL- OR PART-TIME REGULAR OR PROBATIONARY COUNTY OF SONOMA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, SONOMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, OR SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY EMPLOYEE IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.

The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) has requested a department promotional certification to fill a Sonoma Water Assistant General Manager - Environmental Resources position. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time or part-time positions as they occur during the active status of the list.The formal title for this position is Water Agency Assistant General Manager.

The Sonoma Water Assistant General Manager - Environmental Resources position will serve as an ex-officio executive director of the Eel-Russian Project Authority (ERPA), supporting ERPA to meet regulatory timelines during the Potter Valley Project decommissioning process. They will manage ERPA board meetings and community engagement efforts, and policies set forth by the ERPA Board of Directors, support community engagement, policy development, regulatory oversight and overall governance management. This AGM will manage the Environmental Resources division, supervise internal staff, meet environmental regulatory requirements, manage the newly issued Russian River Biological Opinion, and address environmental compliance, public health and safety needs. This position will lead legislative outreach and coordination with stakeholders, budget management of the joint power authority, and budget oversight of Environmental Resource Division staffing/projects. Additional responsibilities also include:

• Strategic oversight of Environmental Resources Division operations
• Planning, directing, and coordinating the work of ERPA consultants and stakeholders
• Coordinating ERPA communications, administration, regulatory compliance, and legislative programs
• Oversees the Environmental Resources Budget
• Assisting the Water Agency General Manager in managing and directing the activities of Sonoma Water
• Attending internal and external meetings and working closely with the Sonoma Water executive committee to move organizational priorities forward and to advocate for ERPA needs and ensure appropriate prioritization of projects

The ideal Sonoma Water Assistant General Manager candidate will possess extensive experience and knowledge of the Potter Valley Project, Russian River Biological Opinion, Russian River and Eel River stakeholders, environmental compliance and regulatory landscape, and environmental compliance and regulatory requirements of Sonoma Water in its core functions. They will be a seasoned professional, have superior communication skills, and the ability to motivate staff and lead by example, and a dedication to serving our community. The ideal candidate will also possess many of the following:

• Extensive experience with water & wastewater regulatory bodies
• A demonstrated ability to maintain compliance with various water & wastewater permits and experience interacting with stakeholders and regulators
• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to adapt to changing and often challenging situations

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Education: Any combination of education, training, and work experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include a Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in public administration, business administration, environmental studies, geography, economics, engineering, physical and biological sciences, or a related field and five years of senior-level administrative and supervisory experience, which included responsibility for the development and implementation of complex public works/utility projects, programs, goals, policies, and strategies. Extensive course work in water and/or waste water is desirable.

License: Possession of a valid certification of registration as a Professional Engineer issued by the State Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists is desirable.

Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of: modern principles, practices, and methods of public administration and general management; principles and practices of environmental management in relating to water, wastewater, and flood control activities; principles and practices of supervision and performance management; principles and practices of budget and fiscal management; principles of organization and management applicable to local government; principles and methods of effective communication, facilitation, and teambuilding; and principles, practices, and methods of project management.

Considerable knowledge of: utility operations and maintenance; County government; Federal, State, and local agencies which must coordinate work with Agency; environmental regulations; citizen and public interest groups dealing with water, wastewater, and environmental matters; design, location, construction, and maintenance of public works, water resources, enhancement, and other public projects.

Ability to: Make good decisions; exercise independent judgment; analyze administrative problems and a variety of programs, systems, and procedures; develop goals, objectives, and performance measures consistent with Agency mission, vision, and strategic plans; plan, organize, coordinate, supervise, guide, motivate, and evaluate professional and technical employees; communicate with others at all levels; deal tactfully, convincingly, and effectively with department personnel, government officials, representatives of interest groups, and the general public; effectively assemble, organize, and present in written and oral form reports containing alternative solutions and recommendations; and balance resource and conservation needs with Agency goals of providing water, sanitation, and flood control services.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate’s personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant’s name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: VH

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: Management*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 11/12/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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