The Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer) is seeking a dynamic and solution-oriented leader for its Manager of Environmental Legislative & Regulatory Affairs. The position manages the government affairs program representing the District’s interests in the public policy arena advocating on a variety of local, state, and federal legislative and regulatory issues, primarily focused on environmental policy. This position also manages the Administrative Program Management Office (A-PMO) for Harvest Water, a multi-benefit agricultural water recycling program currently under construction. The A-PMO manages the program’s grants, permits, outreach, groundwater monitoring and accounting program, and habitat conservation work. The position also requires assigning work activities, managing staff, lobbyists, and consultants. The successful candidate will be a strong leader, communicator, and collaborator that provides strategic advice and has the ability to manage complex issues and integrate technical, legal, and political aspects into a cohesive advocacy strategy.

A provisional appointment is being made as there is no current eligible list for the Environmental Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Manager job class. The incumbent hired for this provisional appointment is encouraged to apply for the recruitment once it is open in order to be placed on the eligible list and considered for hiring into the permanent position.

Sacramento County is the current employer for this position; however, by January 1, 2025, SacSewer will transition all current County employees assigned to SacSewer to become SacSewer employees directly.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Successful candidates will have extensive experience with a proven ability to do the following:

• Manage and lead a government affairs program with expertise in environmental policy, with emphasis in the water quality arena.
• Build productive relationships and provide extensive liaison work to facilitate dialogue between diverse stakeholders, including legislators, the business community, regulatory agencies, environmental organizations, trade associations, elected officials, and similar jurisdictions.
• Be detail oriented, but still possesses the ability to see the “big picture”.
• Exercise political savvy to maneuver through complex political situations effectively and quietly.
• Integrate technical, legal, and political issues into a cohesive advocacy strategy and adaptively manage and change course as appropriate.
• Chair, participate in, and present to local, state, and federal boards, commissions, committees, and task groups in both the public and private sectors to represent SacSewer and the wastewater industry.
• Monitor, research, and perform detailed policy and technical analysis on a wide variety of local, state, and federal legislation and regulations to evaluate the impact on SacSewer operations and advocate for appropriate policy changes.
• Facilitate and lead multi-disciplinary teams comprised of contract lobbyists, and public relations, legal, engineering, and scientific staff and consultants while also managing specific high-profile projects and engaging in various policy discussions.
• Identify and seek potential funding opportunities for district projects and programs through state and federal grants, loans, appropriations, and authorizations.
• Develop reports, comment letters, “white papers,” fact sheets, and testimony that summarize the issues, provides technical information and offers solutions while advocating for the interests of SacSewer.

Other duties or skill sets include:

• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work for the legislative and regulatory affairs program; assigns work activities and projects; monitors workflow; reviews and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Directly or through supervisory staff selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
• Oversees and participates in the development of the assigned annual budget; participates in forecasting funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitors and approves expenditures; implements adjustments.
• Manages and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Identifies opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures; identifies resource needs; obtains approval for improvements as needed/required; implements improvements.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations related to the field of environmental legislative and regulatory analysis.
• Develops and/or participates in the agency, department, and section strategic planning and business planning efforts.

Six years of paid full-time experience performing project management, program management, advocacy, or legislative and regulatory research and analysis for environmental issues. Two years of this experience must have been in a supervisory role.

AND

Bachelor’s Degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university in Physical Science, Natural Science, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Project Management, or other field closely related to the intent of the class.