Public Affairs Manager - Costa Mesa, United States - Mesa Water District

Description

Salary : $127, $175,302.40 Annually

Location : Costa Mesa, CA

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number:

Department: Public Affairs & Water Policy Department

Opening Date: 04/12/2024

Closing Date: 5/13/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

Mesa Water District (Mesa Water) is thrilled to now be accepting applications for a Public Affairs Manager to join our team The Public Affairs Manager assumes full management responsibility of our Public Affairs department which is comprised of a Water Use Efficiency and Education Coordinator, a Public Affairs Specialist, and a Department Assistant. The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies:

• Professional & Technical Expertise - Experience managing public communications, outreach programs, and communication strategies.
• Crisis Management - Ability to effectively navigate the media and public communications during a major threat to agency operations or reputation.
• Action & Results Focus - Sees goals and projects through to completion despite hurdles.
• Adaptability - Ability to quickly shift priorities as the situation requires.
• Innovation - Devising new and better ways of doing things.
• Professional Integrity & Ethics - Can be counted on to be true to one's word and take accountability for one's actions.
• Written & Oral Communication - Expert communicator both orally and in writing.
• Presentation Skill - Develops and delivers effective and persuasive presentations.
• Customer Focus - Puts oneself in the customer's shoes when designing and providing services.
• Involving Others - Engages others for input, contribution, and a shared responsibility for outcomes.
• Professional Impact - Presents self as a positive representative of the organization, commands positive attention in large group settings, and is comfortable talking to the media.
• Developing Others - Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities.
• Leadership - Creating a positive work environment in which staff are motivated to do their best.
• Managing Performance - Recognizes superior or improved performance and intervenes quickly in response to developmental needs.
• Project Management - Ensures projects are on-time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives.
• Strategic Perspective - Understands factors that are shaping the industry and anticipates opportunities that will be opening and closing; keeps an eye on the "big picture and long range implications.

Interested candidates must submit their applications by 11:59 PM on Monday, May 13, 2024 (deadline extended). Qualified candidates will be invited to participate in a selection process that may consist of a skills test and interview panels. Contact recruiter, Camille Shehadeh, at with any questions.
The Position

The Public Affairs Manager plans, directs, manages, and oversees the activities and operations of the Public Affairs department including public information, community outreach, education, marketing, and communication programs for the District. They also serve as the District's liaison with the news media, oversee and participate in the development and dissemination of a wide variety of information and publications of public interest, lead the development of communication strategies and plans to enhance the District's visibility, oversees and participates in special events, oversees water education and water use efficiency programs, policies, procedures and rebates, coordinates assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies, and provides responsible and professional administrative support to management personnel.

This is a management classification responsible for planning, organizing, reviewing, and evaluating District public affairs, water education, and water use efficiency programs. The Public Affairs Manager requires specialized knowledge and understanding of public relations, marketing, outreach, communications and community information needs. Advanced interpersonal and mass communication, writing and presentation skills are required. Work requires creativity and resourcefulness to accomplish goals and objectives and involves exercising discretion in applying general goals and policy statements and in resolving organizational and service delivery problems. Incumbents serve as a professional-level resource for organizational, managerial, and operational analyses and studies. Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines.

Receives administrative direction from the General Manager. Exercises direct or general supervision over professional, technical and/or administrative staff.
Representative Duties

• Assumes management responsibility for the full range of communication, water education, and water use efficiency functions, including planning, coordinating, implementing, and promoting public information, outreach and communications programs.
• Establishes schedules and methods for providing communication strategies and activities; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate management staff; allocates resources accordingly.
• Plans, directs, manages, and oversees the preparation and editing of various projects including bi-monthly customer newsletter, District brochures, event flyers, and bill inserts; develops, designs, organizes, and maintains District public display materials.
• Serves as the District's primary contact with the media and acts as District spokesperson; proactively pitches media and issues media releases for positive positioning of the District; prepares information for distribution to staff, general public, and other agencies.
• Develops a variety of strategic public relations plans, which includes: issues/crisis management, organizational objectives, annual strategic plans, and other related plans.
• Fosters positive relations and good communications with Chambers of Commerce, local cities, civic associations, homeowners associations, and non-governmental organizations such as environmental groups.
• Manages the development of department goals and objectives, as well as policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; participates in the implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Plans, directs, and coordinates through subordinate level staff; provides or coordinates staff training and professional development; coaches/mentors and evaluates assigned employees; works with employees to correct deficiencies; recommends and implements discipline procedures.
• Oversees operation of the Mesa Water Education Center, participates in and/or guides tours, visits, and water education classes.
• Oversees a variety of water use efficiency functions and programs including water surveys, investigations, and evaluations of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional customers; assesses the efficiency of water use, particularly for landscape irrigation; provides recommendations on water usage and conservation techniques, equipment improvements, and other methods of achieving more efficient water use; rebate programs with Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) and various vendors.
• Oversees preparation of water use efficiency mandated reporting and the District's Urban Water Management Plan and Best Management Practices Report through data collection and analysis in the areas of demand forecasting, historical trends in water use and hydrology, water conditions and quality, water savings, rate structures, and water supply economics; enters data results from all efficiency programs; query data for selected reporting ranges; analyzes and screens data for reporting accuracy.
• Oversees administration of annual customer survey.
• Manages various consultants and vendors that support public affairs functions.
• Represents the District at various public events and meetings; prepares and gives presentations and speeches as necessary.
• Responsible for preparation and administration of the department budget.
• Oversees and approves contributions and sponsorships requests.
• Oversees and participates in the preparation of request for proposals and agreements for various specialized professional services contracts.
• Conducts special studies involving research and analysis of complex and sensitive information; develops recommendations and alternative solutions; implements as needed.
• Represents the department to other departments within the District, elected officials, and stakeholders; coordinates assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations.
• Represents the District on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of public information and outreach as well as water-wise and water use efficiency programs; incorporates new developments as appropriate.
• Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive customer inquiries and complaints.
• Manage District's digital/online presence, including website, social media and customer water interruption notification system (email, text and voice), with an eye for usability and creative look and feel; develop content and supervise regular updates on sites.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum & Desired Qualifications

EDUCATION: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public relations, communications, journalism, public administration, or a related field.

EXPERIENCE: Eight (8) years of increasingly responsible experience in public relations or public affairs work preferably in a utility or similar government setting developing and implementing communications strategies to meet organizational objectives, including three (3) years in a management or supervisory capacity.

CERTIFICATE: An accreditation in Public Relations from Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) desirable.

LICENSE: Valid class "C" California Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive communications and public affairs program; water use efficiency laws, regulations, best management practices and techniques; principles of efficient landscape irrigation and design.
• Advanced principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Advanced principles and techniques used in development and disseminating communications for internal and external audiences.
• Current communications media sources, including but not limited to newspapers, radio, television, social media, and internet and the appropriate use of each.
• Advanced principles, procedures, standards, practices, trends, techniques, and information sources in the field of water efficiency; Local, state and federal legislation and regulations regarding water policies including SB120 and SB 998, Water use Efficiency Ordinance, long Term and short-term water shortage contingency plans.
• Principles of research, writing, editing, and preparing a variety of informational publications, reports, speeches, bulletins, press releases, feature stories, scripts, and distribution materials.
• Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Principles and practices of contract administration.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Standard organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, desk-top publishing, graphics, and databases

ABILITY:

• Communicate clearly and concisely and have excellent verbal, written and public speaking skills.
• Manage and direct communications/outreach, water education, and water use efficiency program services and activities.
• Provide expertise to identify communication needs, present ideas, and execute assigned tasks.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Identify target audiences and develop pertinent messages.
• Serve as a District resource on communications and public affairs programming.
• Understand the implications of public information and evaluate the news value of District activities and functions.
• Speak effectively in making oral presentations to the District, media, community, and elected officials.
• Effectively and professionally represent the District to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit.
• Supervise, organize, and review the work of assigned staff.
• Select, train, and evaluate staff.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for assigned area.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports.
• Understand the organization and operation of the District and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Persuade and convince others using verbal and written skills.
• Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems.
• Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Operate a motor vehicle safely.
• Work cooperatively with other departments, District officials, and outside agencies.
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, District staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Holidays - Mesa Water provides full-time employees with 105 holiday hours per year, comprised of twelve observed holidays (96 hours) and (9) floating holiday hours.

Vacation - Employees accrue between eighty-eight (88) and one hundred and sixty (160) hours annually, depending on tenure. Accrued time is available to use after six months.

Sick Leave - Employees accrue ninety-six (96) hours per year, with no maximum accrual cap.

Retirement - Mesa Water employees participate in CalPERS retirement.

Effective January 1, 2013, newly hired employees who are new CalPERS members, as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% at age 62 defined benefit plan with a three-year final compensation in accordance with PEPRA. New members will be required to pay 8.25% of pension reportable salary as their full share of their member contribution.

An employee who is a "classic" member of CalPERS or a current member of another California public retirement system who is hired on or after January 1, 2013, will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% @ 55 benefit formula with one-year final compensation. Effective 1/6/17, employees pay 7.0% of the employee contribution to CalPERS.

The District participates in Social Security. Please contact Human Resources if you have more questions.

Cafeteria Plan Benefits - Employees receive a $2,200 "Flex Credit" allocation per month to be used towards health benefits including medical, dental and vision. Flex credits not used towards benefits may be taken as additional taxable non-"Persable" income.

Deferred Compensation - A voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan (Section 457) is available to employees through Empower Retirement. Eligible employees may receive dollar for dollar employer match up to 3.5% of salary per calendar year.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - Employees may participate in either or both of Mesa Water's Section 125 plan flexible spending accounts: Dependent Care Reimbursement (eligible upon hire) and Medical Expense Reimbursement (after one-year).

Life Insurance - Full-time employees are covered by $200,000 in group term life insurance paid by District (benefit decreases at age 65).

Long Term Disability (LTD) - Full-time employees receive District-paid LTD insurance coverage equal to 2/3 of salary ($12,000 maximum monthly benefit) after a 90-day waiting period.

Short-Term Disability - The District participates in State Disability Insurance (SDI).

Automobile Allowance - Management employees receive an Automobile Allowance per month.

9/80 Work Schedule - Employees are offered a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off.

Tuition Reimbursement and Educational Incentives

Salary Increases - Based on performance, new Mesa Water employees are eligible for merit step increases at 6-months and 12-months, and annually thereafter.

01

In order to assist our recruitment efforts, please let us know how you heard about this recruitment?

02

Do you possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public relations, communications, journalism, public administration, or a related field?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have an accreditation in Public Relations from Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have at least eight (8) years of increasingly responsible experience in public relations or public affairs work developing and implementing communications strategies to meet organizational objectives?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have at least three (3) years in a management or supervisory capacity?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have any experience working in the government or utility industry?

• Yes
• No

07

Please provide a brief description of your work experience that summarizes your answers to Questions 4, 5 and 6. (If you have no experience in this area, please enter "n/a".)

Required Question