The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have a wide-ranging set of skills and experiences. There is no one set path to this role, but it is clear what the role requires:
Negotiation: First, the role requires honed negotiation skills. The incumbent will be constantly negotiating the disparate and potentially conflicting interests of its members as well as with the SFPUC, which owns and manages the Regional Water System.
Perspective: Next, the ideal candidate must understand the significance of this role. Through its enabling legislation, BAWSCA is charged by the State to represent the collective water interests of its members and their water customers. Additionally, BAWSCA is responsible for ensuring the Regional Water System continues to meet the needs of its members and their water customers. Through formidable connections developed over time, BAWSCA brings its legislative power to bear to deliver critical results and meet these obligations.
Finance Expertise: Further, the ideal candidate will have significant finance expertise and, in general, be able to interpret highly complex data to make wide-ranging decisions. The CEO is expected to oversee management of BAWSCA’s existing revenue bonds and BAWSCA’s financial auditing of over $300M each year in water revenues paid by its member agencies to San Francisco for water supply purchased. Being able to communicate with bond issuers, bond counsel, the SFPUC Finance Team and other professionals, the public and others is a must.
Water Resources Management: The next CEO/GM will also have strong familiarity, and ideally experience with, water resources management. Further, BAWSCA’s next leader must be able to have detailed and extensive discussions with engineers on all sides regarding technical and operational matters.
Political Astuteness/Problem Solving: The next BAWSCA CEO/ GM must have highly developed skills in navigating politically fraught, complex, multi-party issues. Experience in dealing with regional and Statewide issues is strongly preferred. BAWSCA’s political power to effectively meet the needs of its 1.8 million residents relies on garnering and using the influence built over the two decades since BAWSCA’s inception, its close and successful relationship with the State legislature, and its ability to bring to bear the influence of all 26 members and other interested stakeholders. The next BAWSCA CEO/GM must excel in diplomatic, clear, concise yet persuasive writing necessary for legislative advocacy, successful negotiations and public relations.
Commitment: Finally, BAWSCA is seeking a candidate who can commit to BAWSCA for the long haul. BAWSCA recognizes the benefit long-tenured staff and leadership bring to the results the agency can deliver for the water customer. The organization desires a strong leader, who has the professionalism, levelheadedness and above all, the patience, to see through multiyear projects.
Please check the Job Brochure for more detailed information!