Director of External Affairs

About the position

Under the administrative direction of an Assistant General Manager, the Director of External Affairs plans, organizes, and directs the programs, projects, services, operations, and activities of the External Affairs Department and provides leadership and direction to department staff in the implementation of District goals, policies, programs, and procedures. This is a newly established position that has been conceptually approved by the District's Board of Directors and is pending final Board approval.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements goals, objectives, programs, policies, and procedures for the External Affairs Department.
• Provides leadership and direction to department staff in the implementation of department and District goals, objectives, programs, policies and procedures.
• Facilitates collaboration with other departments in the delivery of services and operations.
• Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the customer service division, including field and office customer service functions and activities.
• Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the public affairs and communications division, including media relations and communications, public relations and education, and community outreach functions and activities.
• Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the resource conservation division, including environmental stewardship, watershed management, water conservation, and associated regulatory compliance.
• Participates in local, regional, state, and federal planning and partnerships to maintain the District's leadership role in water conservation.
• Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the legislative and government affairs program, including the development and implementation of the legislative priorities of the District and its joint powers authority.
• Directs the District's interactions with a variety of entities including elected and appointed bodies and officials, local, state and federal agencies, boards, bureaus, and forums, and media outlets.
• Directs the preparation and administration of the department budget.
• Keeps abreast of new and emerging trends and developments in the customer service, public affairs, resource conservation, and legislative fields.
• Develops policy and management recommendations to the Board of Directors through strategic planning and long-range program development activities.
• Develops and conducts a variety of complex and technical projects, studies, reports, and presentations.
• Interviews and recommends selection of candidates; establishes performance expectations and performance standards for the department.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, public relations, communications, journalism, public policy, political science, a technical or life science, or a related field.
• Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible related experience, with at least three (3) years of management experience.
• A valid California class C driver's license must be maintained at all times.

Nice-to-haves

• A master's degree in one of the relevant fields is preferred.