Description:
The City of Palo Alto’s Watershed Protection Group has an exciting opportunity for a Project Manager on its Public Education and Policy Team! *The application deadline has been extended to May 3, 2024*. Watershed Protection Team Overview: Public Works- Watershed Protection is part of the City of Palo Alto Public Works Department-Environmental Services Division. The team is charged with protecting water quality in local creeks and the San Francisco Bay by working with industry, businesses, residents, and City operations to reduce pollutants entering surface waters by way of the sanitary sewer and storm drain systems. Public Works-Watershed Protection creates and implements innovative watershed protection projects and programs, develops policies, ordinances and public education, and ensures compliance with the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit. In addition, the Watershed Protection team oversees the City’s programs for industrial wastewater pretreatment, recycled water, and maintains regulatory compliance for the Regional Water Quality Control Plant which serves Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, East Palo Alto Sanitary District, and Stanford University.
The Opportunity: The City seeks an energetic and resourceful individual with proven project management experience, a strong knowledge of water pollution prevention and the environment, and experience in science-based public education and outreach.
Key Responsibilities:
- Project management: Develops and implements projects aimed at reducing environmental pollutants to creeks and San Francisco Bay. This includes public education initiatives, policy development and assisting with capital improvement or multi-agency project management. Prepares scopes-of-work and related materials for contract solicitations and vendor selection. Manages consultants and contract deadlines.
- Public Engagement: Outreach, education and public engagement for the Watershed Protection Team programs and projects including those related to pollution prevention for stormwater and wastewater, recycled water, and sea level rise planning efforts.Represents the team at internal, regional and stakeholder meetings, public events, training sessions, and assists or leads on technical and program-development committees and working groups.
- Classroom Education Program: The Project Manager will hire and oversee a consultant to implement established curricula for the Watershed Protection School Outreach program, which historically reached more than 3,000 students in the Regional Water Quality Control Plant service area each year.
- Develop and Implement City Policy: Coordinates the development and implementation of City Policy in the areas of sea level rise, pollution prevention, integrated pest management, green purchasing initiatives, and others.
The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate for our Watershed Protection Program is a dedicated environmental steward with a strong background in project implementation. A collaborative communicator, who excels in engaging diverse stakeholders and fostering partnerships to achieve goals. Has a passion for public education, with a creative and inclusive approach to outreach. Additionally, is committed to continuous learning and stays informed about emerging trends and best practices in watershed protection, contributing to the sustainable management of our precious natural resources.
Other ideal preferred candidate traits:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Extensive background in public education, including planning outreach campaigns, creating multimedia outreach materials, and fostering community partnerships to promote environmental awareness.
- In-depth knowledge of stormwater pollution prevention, wastewater treatment, recycled water, and sea-level rise, and ability to interpret the importance of technical environmental concepts to diverse audiences.
- Experience in policy and procedure development, with a track record of successfully implementing and enforcing effective policies.
- Proven capability of driving a project forward while maintaining positive communication and interpersonal relations.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment to achieve project goals.
- Subject matter expert who identifies issues and proposes innovative solutions to address challenges.
- Collaborates effectively with others within the organization, other agencies, and with the public.
Benefits: Fantastic benefits package! To learn more, click HERE .
Compensation (Management): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click HERE .
Schedule: Enjoy the option of a 9/80 work schedule (with e very other Friday off) or a 5/40 work schedule. T his position is also eligible for a Hybrid work schedule (up to 2 remote days per week).
Essential Duties:
Please note: While t his position description applies to multiple project manager positions city-wide; this recruitment is specifically for the Project Manager in the Watershed Protection Group, Public Works Department.
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: - Coordinate the development, implementation, and supervision of program goals, activities, and strategic initiatives, and evaluate outcomes.
- Serve as a technical resource for City information in assigned areas of responsibility.
- Serve as lead participant in preparing requests for proposals for outside contractors.
- Draft scopes of work, manage contracts and related processes for consultants.
- Coordinate with partner agencies and attend public meetings representing the City of Palo Alto to communicate and relay technical program information.
- May assist with budget preparation, administration, and cost estimates.
- Make presentations to the public, stakeholders, partner cities, Council and committees.
- Prepare and lead project meetings.
- Address citizen's complaints.
- Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.
Specific to Watershed Protection Group:
- Administer consultant contracts, writing scopes of work, preparing RFPs, evaluate and select consultants, review consultant work, monitor associated budgets, and ensure compliance with established schedules.
- Coordinate with various departments, public groups and agencies on Watershed Protection and pollution prevention topics.
- Outreach and public education.
For the full job description , click HERE .
Minimum Qualifications:
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge and skills, which would typically be acquired through: Two (2) years of college with emphasis on civil, mechanical and/or electrical engineering, general construction and space planning and four (4) years of experience in civil engineering or facilities maintenance, at least two of which have been in coordinating and monitoring work of contractors or in a lead/supervisory capacity.
Licensing Requirements:
- Valid California Driver's License
Desired Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
- Minimum of four (4) years project management experience including defining project scopes, managing contracts, overseeing consultants, coordinating with project stakeholders, prioritizing tasks, assigning work, overseeing project timelines, and budgeting funds.
Supplemental Information:
The Selection Process:
- Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email (governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates).
- Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
- The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
Technical Support:
Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
The City of Palo Alto offers its employees a generous benefit package, featuring family medical coverage, retirement, life insurance, plus 12 paid holidays per year. - Participation in a Governmental 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
- Fully paid employee and dependent Dental Plan
- Fully paid employee and dependent Vision Plan
- Fully paid Life and AD&D insurance equal to annual salary
- CalPERs sponsored medical plan with City flat rate contribution
- Fully paid Life Insurance equal to one-times annual salary
- Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability plan
- 12 annual paid holidays
- Two to five weeks vacation annually depending on years of service per MOA
- 96 hours annual sick leave
- Direct Deposit
- Flexible Spending Account for Healthcare and Childcare expenses
- Paid Parental Leave- Six weeks of Parental Leave at 100% of salary, for the first twelve-month period, immediately following the birth, adoption or placement of a child with the employee.
Some Management classifications may qualify for
- 80 hours of Management Leave
- Professional development reimbursement
Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)
- 2% at60 formula for Classic Misc Employees, one-year calculation for final compensation
- 2% at 62 formula for New Misc CalPers Members, three yearcalculationfor final compensation
- 3% at 50 formula for Classic Safety Employees, one-yearcalculationforfinal compensation
- 3% at 55 formula for New Safety CalPersMembers, threeyearcalculationfor final compensation
- Retiree Medical benefits for employee and dependents according to Retiree Medical Group
Please note: The City does not participate in CA State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security.Since they City does not participate in SDI, City employees are not eligible to claim against the State's Pregnancy Disability Leave or Paid Family Leave programs.
Closing Date/Time: 5/3/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
