California Water Service

California Water Service (Cal Water) invites you to pursue a career with the largest investor-owned American water utility west of the Mississippi River and the third largest in the country. Formed in 1926, the San Jose-based company was named one of the Bay Area’s Top Workplaces several years in a row. Cal Water employees pride themselves on sharing a commitment to being the leader in providing its customers and communities with traditional and innovative utility services.

Cal Water offers a generous total compensation package. We have competitive salaries and match a portion of employees' contributions to their Company 401(k). In addition, we provide a Company-funded pension plan, great healthcare benefits that provide coverage to employees and dependents, and generous tuition reimbursement. In addition, employees receive 11 paid holidays and three floating holidays per year, and two weeks of sick leave and vacation.

We are committed to hiring the best candidates, developing current employees, and promoting from within. Continuous improvement and employee development opportunities allow employees to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to progress and reach your career goals.

Background

Reporting to and under the direction of the Community Affairs & Government Relations Manager, the Government Relations Associate serves as a liaison between Cal Water and local, county, and state governments in order to build and maintain effective, professional relationships with these constituencies.  During the ongoing drought in California, the Government Relations Associate will focus on planning, developing, organizing, and implementing drought-related outreach programs to various elected officials, their staffs, and community stakeholders.  The Government Relations Associate will not be responsible for supervising other employees.  This is a temporary position, through February 2016.

Responsibilities, Duties, Tasks

During the ongoing drought in California, the responsibilities and duties of the Government Relations Associate will include, but not be limited to:

• Building and maintaining effective, professional relationships with elected officials, their staffs, and community stakeholders in Cal Water’s service areas across the state (“stakeholders”), and assist District Managers and other local employees do the same;
• Identifying and coordinating opportunities for Cal Water to make presentations to and/or meet with stakeholders to provide them with information on Cal Water’s drought response;
• Identifying and coordinating opportunities for Cal Water to partner and coordinate with stakeholders to improve customer understanding of and compliance with mandatory water conservation requirements;
• In collaboration with the Community Affairs & Government Relations Manager and District Managers, representing Cal Water during drought-related presentations to and/or meetings with stakeholders;
• Assisting District Managers prepare for presentations to and/or meetings with stakeholders;
• In collaboration with the Corporate Communications Department (“Communications”), preparing drought-related presentations and written materials for distribution to stakeholders;
• Monitoring the agendas of local and county governments in order to identify drought-related items of relevance to Cal Water, and tracking and producing written analyses of relevant items;
• Analyzing the municipal and county codes of those government entities in Cal Water’s service areas to identify existing water use restrictions that may impact Cal Water’s customers and assist Communications in disseminating that information to customers;
• Based on the analysis of municipal and county codes of those government entities in Cal Water’s service areas, identifying opportunities for Cal Water to coordinate with stakeholders to improve compliance with mandatory conservation requirements;
• Drafting letters, emails, and other correspondence to stakeholders regarding the drought, and assist District Mangers do the same.

Qualifications

Education: The applicant should have a degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, public policy, public affairs, political science, communications, or a related field.  Relevant work experience shall be considered in lieu of formal education.

Experience:  The applicant should have experience developing and executing strategies to engage elected officials and their staffs, as well as building effective, professional relationships with them.  The applicant should have experience monitoring and analyzing municipal and county agendas and codes.  Prior experience working in the water utility sector is desirable.  Prior experience working in local, county, state, or federal government, especially on similar issues, is desirable. 

Skills & Abilities: The applicant should have excellent professional-level verbal and written communication skills with the ability to represent Cal Water in a professional manner at all times.  The applicant should have the ability to plan, organize, prioritize, negotiate, and network.  The applicant should have superior organization skills in order to handle multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work independently.  The applicant should be proficient with computers and Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook.

The applicant must have a valid California driver’s license.

Travel: The applicant should be willing and able to travel within California extensively (50% to 75% of the time), including overnight stays (25% to 50% of the time).

The deadline to submit applications should be Thursday, May 28.

The Equal Opportunity Policy of the Company is based upon the philosophy that all people should be treated fairly and with dignity.  California Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company and Washington Water Service Company do not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected class.  The Company makes all employment decisions in a non-discriminatory manner. EOE, VET, DISABILITIES