Director of Infrastructure and Planning

The West County Wastewater (WCW) seeks a strategic leader for our Infrastructure and Planning Director!

West County Wastewater is seeking a seasoned and strategic senior level leader to serve as the Director of the Infrastructure and Planning (I&P) Department. The Infrastructure and Planning Department is comprised of three divisions Capital Programs Collection System Operations and Planning and support Services with each division led by a manager who reports to the Director. The Director will lead the Department as divisions provide the planning development and implementation of major infrastructure projects and strategic planning initiatives collections systems maintenance and engineering and permitting services serving our residents and local businesses.

As the Infrastructure and Planning (I&P) Director you will manage cross-functional teams coordinate with stakeholders and ensure that projects align with organizational goals regulatory requirements and community needs. You will oversee the maintenance of collections system assets and preventative maintenance programs engineering services and environmental initiatives and planning initiatives. In this role you will also be supporting the growth and development of WCW personnel.

Who We Are

WCW is an award-winning wastewater treatment and resource recovery agency that collects and treats wastewater for reuse. We are committed to protecting public health our community and the environment. West County Wastewaters administrative office and Water Quality & Resource Recovery Plant are located in beautiful Richmond California where we serve west Contra Costa County.

The district has approximately 34000 residences and 2450 commercial and industrial businesses with a total population of nearly 100000. Founded in 1921 today we are transforming our organization and shaping the future of the regional wastewater industry with a team that is dedicated to innovation progress collaboration service and ecofriendly practices. Additionally we are deeply committed to our community and inspired by the diversity of our employees and the integrity and commitment they bring to our community and to each other every day

West County Wastewater (WCW) celebrates our innovative leadership style where we have reimagined our work culture. WCW is committed to maintaining a diverse equitable and inclusive working environment where new ideas and approaches are encouraged and every person is valued.

The Ideal Candidate will be a seasoned and experienced public sector manager with a track record of achievement and delivery of high-quality programs and projects will be a successful leader and manager experienced in developing staff and programs will possess a strategic and analytical approach to opportunities and have extremely strong and well-developed communications skills. This candidate will demonstrate an ability to lead a department comprised of technical subject matter experts in a wide variety of disciplines programs and initiatives and will demonstrate the ability to lead initiatives and make solid decisions based on the input of technical experts. This candidate will demonstrate the ability to work with all levels of the organization effectively including the General Manager and the Board as well as with other Departments and cross-functional teams where influencing and persuasive presentation of their positions rather than directing will be required.

The Ideal Candidate will be able to manage and develop staff reporting to them using a variety of supervisory and managerial approaches. They will model and provide clear delegation and direction to staff as received from executive leadership and will ensure performance that aligns with the goals and objectives of the organization. This candidate will also have the ability to work independently and to deliver excellent results and work product with a minimum of oversight and direction and will develop a strategic plan and vision for the Department they lead.

We are looking for someone who:

• Can anticipate future needs and plan proactively for growth sustainability and resilience and has a strategic vision for the direction of this department
• Can develop build and lead an effective team
• Is ethical and committed to making sound decisions which honor the vision and values of the organization
• Can be adaptable to changing priorities and being able to work under pressure maintaining composure and effectiveness
• Is skilled at building and maintaining collaborative relationships

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Leading the strategic planning design and execution of infrastructure and capital improvement projects.
• Developing and implementing comprehensive infrastructure plans policies and standards.
• Managing projects and staff performance to ensure high-quality service delivery
• Managing maintenance and permitting functions so that WCW systems function effectively with a minimum of disruption
• Lead the departmental initiatives the interface directly with the public including capital projects permitting and regular and emergency management activities
• Effectively leading and managing emergency response efforts for system failures
• Collaborating with other government agencies consultants contractors and various stakeholders
• Cultivating a culture consistent with the WCWs core values and professional growth within the department

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will have the opportunity to influence policy and strategy alongside WCW leadership
• You will be able to make a meaningful impact on the team and the organization
• You will have the ability to plan develop deliver and commissions capital projects for WCW and see those improvements function to serve the community
• You will be instrumental in managing and delivering environmental initiatives which will help WCW meet its aggressive and audacious environmental goals

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• Managing time-sensitive situations while balancing competing priorities
• Managing regulatory requirements for the WCW permit and reporting requirements for emergencies involving environmental contamination
• Managing competing demands from internal and external customers and making the best use of the resources provided helping to prioritize among competing priorities
• Directing a department with a wide variety of disciplines and specialized knowledge and leading in situations where others are the subject matter experts
• Ensuring compliance with evolving policies and regulatory requirements

Competencies Required:

• Delivering Results:Meeting organizational goals and customer expectations and making decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledgeproblem analysis and riskcalculations and assessments
• Innovative Problem Solving:Identifyingand analyzing problemsand proposingnewand creativewaysto doresolve issues where appropriate
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation:Understanding interpreting and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Adaptability:Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requiresdemonstratingthe ability to shift focus when needed toother assignments or duties
• Building &MaintainingRelationships:Establishingrapportandmaintainingmutually productive relationshipsacross the organization and with all levels
• Teamwork:Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals ensuring that diversity and inclusion are part of thedepartmentalorganizational approach
• Political & Organizational Savvy:Working skillfully with politics procedures and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries
• Effective Leadership and SupervisionManaging staff so that they feel valued and supported while being accountable for work deliverables anddemonstrating skills in developing subordinate staff and helping them grow in their career path.

Depending upon assignment duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Develop and implement strategies and policies related to the planning design management construction and delivery of District capital improvement projects.
• Supervise and participate in the conduct of complex programmatic and project-related assignments including planning and execution of capital projects delivery related to District infrastructure engineering systems operations initiatives design investigation and research activities.
• Supervise direct and participate in all aspects of project and program administration including inter-agency agreements schedule definition cash flow analysis environmental review and permitting processes design and right-of-way acquisition construction management including developing requests for proposals advertising awarding and administering of construction projects and the selection and retention of consultants.
• Ensure that appropriate levels of state and regional funding are pursued received appropriately allocated and for projects and that practices maximize the use of all available funding sources.
• Provide oversight for initiation of the environmental review process for District initiatives in the Department obtaining environmental clearance for projects and ensuring coordination with partner agencies when necessary to accomplish these objectives.
• Coordinate work of the department and assess risk and return on investment related to Department projects in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders and other departments.
• Direct and support the preparation of engineering plans designs specifications cut sheets the establishment of grades estimates for quantities of materials various surveying functions the calculation of sewage flows and line capacity and the assessment of easement and encroachment needs.
• Direct and ensure a thorough review of improvement plans for subdivisions and review recommendations for changes in designs.
• Direct and review the preparation of preliminary and final cost estimates; legal descriptions for annexations deeds easements and right-of-ways; review building plan checks and supervise field inspections.
• Ensure proper inspection of buildings and construction projects within the District for conformance to regulations codes and ordinances pertaining to sanitary sewers and industrial waste disposal.
• Represent the District at public and professional meetings and conferences; confer with the public and representatives of other agencies.
• Assign schedule train and supervise department employees; perform and participate in a variety of personnel actions including performance evaluations selection dismissal transfer and disciplinary actions.
• Responsible for the communication of District policies and procedures through departmental staff meetings delegating responsibilities and authorities to various personnel and divisions of the department.
• Attend Board of Director and Board committee meetings and prepare and present staff reports and agenda items for consideration by the Board. Represent the District and make presentations to other governmental regulatory or private organizations media representatives or District employees.
• Administer the fiscal affairs of the department including controlling expenditures ensuring appropriate cost and revenue allocation and documentation and preparing the annual department budget.
• Act on behalf of the General Manager as assigned and perform other related duties consistent with the responsibilities assigned to this classification and necessary to the operations of the department and District.
• Provide effective management and leadership for the department in a manner that actively demonstrates a commitment to the Districts core values principles of continuous improvement the Districts safety programs and policy characterized as openness to innovative approaches.
• Actively promote the Districts focus on effective and respectful communications to build better work relationships at all levels in the organization by emphasizing the concepts of self-awareness emotional intelligence productive conflict conflict resolution and the prompt resolution of relational issues or miscommunication.
• Ensure the preparation of high-quality well-written and logical Board communications and provide well-considered engaging and responsive presentations to the Board as needed during regular committee and special meetings.
• Support development and implementation of the Districts Strategic Business Plan by directly engaging in periodic revisions to the plan and leading department-level discussions and multi-disciplinary teams to identify prioritize and implement Strategic Business Plan Initiatives on an annual basis.
• Support the development and deliver the implementation of meaningful key performance indicators at the District and department level to measure performance relative to goals and drive organizational improvement over time.
• Ensure the completion of department work activities in a manner consistent with District policies and procedures and applicable laws codes statutes and regulations. Identify revised or new policies and procedures to address.

Any combination of experience and training that demonstrates that a person has obtained the required knowledge and is able to perform the required work (with reasonable

accommodation if needed) will be considered. A person with the following combined training and experience would typically qualify to compete in a selection process:

Experience:Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional project management experience in a public entity environment such as a public works or general services department or an engineering firm consulting or performing projects for public entities during which at least four (4) years must have been in a management position with a publicly-owned or private water or wastewater utility municipality related industry or similar organization.

Education:Education or training that is equivalent to four (4) years of formal education with significant course work that is directly related to the knowledge skills and abilities is required for this position. This may include but is not limited to a combination of the following disciplines: project management; construction management; code and regulation interpretation for buildings roads and infrastructure; operation of a public utility business or public administration supervisory techniques management of project budgets and timelines technical writing public contracting law and administration organizational management and leadership understanding financial statements organizational and capital budgeting and forecasting and strategic planning.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with project management software

• Experience developing a long-range strategic plan for infrastructure
• Experience with environmental initiatives such as Greenhouse Gas Emissions inventories carbon emissions tracking and reduction programs
• Experience with project management and certification in the field
• Experience with engineering work engineering design and related activities or experience working with SMEs in that field
• Experience presenting to Boards and Commissions and public speaking
• Experience in the Wastewater Industry and a senior level
• Experience in leading an organization of department
• Experience in staff development coaching or mentorship

Applying for this Position:
Applicants interested in the Director of Infrastructure and Planning position must apply at by June 15 2025

This recruitment requires a cover letter and resume with the application. You must submit a well-crafted cover letter that highlights your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role. A compelling cover letter allows us to see who you are beyond your resume.

Selection Process:

1. Application Filing and Evaluation:Applicants must complete a supplemental questionnaire at the time of application; applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.
2. Oral Interview:Conducted by a Qualifications Appraisal Panel which will evaluate candidates in job-related areas.