Water Utility Manager

Today Paso Robles is best known as a premier wine region home to over 200 wineries producing world-class Zinfandels Cabernet Sauvignons and Rhône varietals. But wine is just the beginning. The city boasts a vibrant downtown filled with boutique shopping award-winning restaurants and a bourgeoning local arts scene. Cultural highlights include the Paso Robles Wine Festival California Mid-State Fair and a variety of community events that bring residents together year-round. A wide array of housing options good schools a welcoming business environment and proximity to outdoor destinations make it an ideal place to live and work. Whether youre a young professional a growing family or someone looking to make a lifestyle change the City of Paso Robles offers the perfect balance of opportunity community and California charm.

The Organization

The City of Paso Robles was incorporated in 1889 as a general law city and operates under the Council-Manager form of government. As of January 1 2025 the Citys population has grown to approximately 31061 reflecting consistent growth over recent years as more residents are drawn to the Citys high quality of life strong community identity and comprehensive municipal services.

The City is a full-service municipality meaning it provides a wide range of essential public services directly to its residents. These include police and fire protection emergency medical response water and wastewater utilities parks and recreation planning and development services public works and community enrichment programs. The City is committed to delivering responsive effective and efficient services that enhance the well-being of its residents and support a safe sustainable and vibrant community.

The governing body consists of a five-member City Council: the Mayor elected at large by the voters of the City; and four Councilmembers elected by district. Voters also elect one City Treasurer at-large. All six elected positions are non-partisan. The City Manager appointed by the City Council serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is authorized to appoint all non-elected employees with the exception of the City Attorney.

The City operates with a total annual budget of $145.7 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and employs 314.44 full-time equivalent positions across the departments of Administrative Services City Managers Office Community Development Community Services Fire and Emergency Services Police Public Works and Utilities. The Utilities Department is currently budgeted 50 FTEs 22 of which report to the Water Utility Manager.

The following duties are typical of this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the duties set forth below and/or may be required to perform additional related duties to address City needs and changing business practices.

• Provides leadership and works effectively with staff and other stakeholders to cultivate a productive collaborative customer-service oriented work environment reflecting the Citys mission plans objectives and values
• Plans organizes oversees and reviews programs and activities for all water quality testing distribution and treatment
• Ensures that all plant and operational activities conform to regulatory agency standards and that plant certifications are maintained
• Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of division maintenance and operations programs policies and procedures
• Assists in compiling and administering the budget; conducts short and long-term departmental planning
• Reviews inspects and monitors compliance with the Citys Municipal Code relating to division operational activities
• Identifies opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures identifies resource needs reviews with appropriate management staff and assists with implementation of improvements
• Prepares reviews and completes various reports including City Council agenda reports and division-related documentation and correspondence
• Prepares and/or manages the development of complex design work reports studies planning documents environmental documents permits plans specifications cost estimates and contracts
• Plans schedules assigns supervises and reviews the work of assigned staff
• Assists in preparing and reviewing specifications and requests for proposals for system construction modification and improvements; inspects work-in-progress and upon completion
• Provides leadership of water management activities for compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
• Contributes and assists in the long- and short-range planning of facility construction modification and improvement projects
• Works with the City Engineer and Utilities Engineering to review private development submittals and agreements
• Prepares and directs the preparation and timely submission of a variety of written correspondence reports procedures ordinances and other materials
• Monitors changes in laws regulations and technology that may affect division operations; implements changes to policies and procedures
• Attends meetings conferences workshops and training sessions and reviews publications and materials to become and remain current on principles practices and new developments in the field of municipal water production
• Evaluates the risk to City water sources from various threats including biological and physical contaminants
• Develops and conducts water resources exploration programs to determine optimum well and well field locations for future drinking water supply sources
• Interacts with the public and/or community groups in response to complex complaints requests for information and conflict resolution; develops and participates in activities/programs with community partners
• Conducts assessments for City drinking water sources as required by state and federal mandates
• Represents the City and the department in meetings with a variety of public private and regulatory agencies
• Implements the Citys Water Master Plan and Groundwater Sustainability Plan
• Prepares Urban Water Management Plans
• Periodically prepares water rates study and leads the City through the public process of adjusting rates
• Develops well drilling specifications and directs well construction evaluation and restoration

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of program management and employee supervision including goal setting program development and evaluation work planning staff supervision performance review and training
• The operation maintenance and repair of water pumps booster stations mains laterals and other related equipment
• Public agency budget development administration and accountability
• Equipment materials supplies mechanical and electrical control systems and hydraulic principles and practices related to the production distribution treatment and testing of the Citys water supply
• Coordination and implementation of City water resource plans including water management strategies water resource assessments policy outreach and education
• Contract negotiation and administration
• Computer applications related to the work including word processing spreadsheet and database applications
• Recent developments and current technology regarding the field of municipal water production
• Development and advancement of potential funding opportunities and partnerships with local governments academic institutions private sector state and agency partners
• Federal state and local laws ordinances and programs regarding a municipal water system and hazardous materials control
• Safety practices and equipment related to the work including the handling of hazardous chemicals
• Methods of effective and efficient public outreach
• Recycled water engineering standards laws rules and regulations
• City representation at stakeholder meetings technical workshops board meetings and forums
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff in person and over the telephone
• Instrumentation telemetry and SCADA systems
• The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and the associated implications for groundwater extractors in the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin

• Plan organize supervise coordinate review evaluate and participate in the functions of a municipal water system
• Administer complex and technical operations maintenance and related programs in an independent and cooperative manner
• Exhibit professional expertise critical thinking and independent judgment using tact and discretion within established policies and legal guidelines
• Plan assign supervise review train and evaluate the work of staff including providing ongoing coaching and professional development.
• Recognize and correct or report unusual inefficient or dangerous operating conditions
• Analyze interpret and present administrative and technical data and prepare clear written and oral reports for technical and non-technical audiences
• Effectively address and solve customer complaints and issues regarding water services construction activities and other related issues
• Design perform and evaluate drilling water quality testing and aquifer pumping test programs
• Utilize complex computational analytical and mapping software
• Serve as project manager on utility related improvement and repair projects
• Envision prioritize and develop measures in cooperation with staff and other agencies to provide for the Citys future water needs
• Analyze and evaluate hydrologic and water quality data
• Read and interpret construction drawings plans and specifications
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with those contacted in the course of the work
• Assess drinking water well vulnerability to contamination
• Work in a collaborative atmosphere and participate on a variety of departmental and City-wide committees to enhance the provision of all City services
• Understand and work with wellhead treatment technologies
• Analyze policies procedures and federal state and local regulations and to make recommendations to ensure compliance
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies community groups and various businesses professional and regulatory organizations and in meetings with individuals

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in civil engineering environmental engineering mechanical engineering or a related field; and
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible related professional experience including at least three years in a managerial role. Experience in municipal water utility operations including water treatment distribution and water quality programs is highly desirable. Experience with groundwater management regulatory compliance and capital improvement project management is preferred.