General Manager

General Manager

This is an excellent opportunity for a leader with a steady hand to join a dedicated staff in managing a charming and peaceful special district community on California's Central Coast.

Located along California's Central Coast, Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) is a multi-service special district with a five-member Board of Directors and nine staff members who serve approximately 7,600 residents and business utilizing a total budget of five million dollars to provide for the following services:

• Water: OCSD provides potable water service for approximately 2,200 connections. Water supplies include ground and surface sources, some of these in partnership with other governmental agencies. The District's water supply reliability is relatively high, and water quality is ensured through regular testing.
• Wastewater: OCSD provides wastewater collection services through its network of neighborhood pipelines that ultimately flow to another governmental agency for safe treatment (South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District).
• Other: OCSD provides garbage and recycling services through a franchise agreement, street lighting to certain areas of the community, and limited recreational services.

The Oceano community offers potential candidates a high quality of life, blending desirable aspects of both Southern and Northern California on the Central Coast. The greater San Luis Obispo County area offers engaging cultural events, outstanding recreation, farm fresh cuisine, and exceptional weather. The area is distinctly unique with a traditional rural character and yet benefits from the comforts and conveniences usually found in larger metropolitan areas.

The General Manager (GM) works under the direction of the Board of Directors to plan and supervise all functions of the District. The GM is responsible for the following core areas:

• Leadership: The GM implements policy direction to advance organizational goals. S/he represents OCSD in contacts with other governmental agencies and the public. The GM recruits and retains professional staff and as needed, contractors for specialized tasks. S/he assists the staff in achieving operational excellence and avoiding unnecessary conflict that may give way to disciplinary issues.
• Financial Management: The GM prepares and administers the annual budget and regularly monitors fiscal performance throughout the year. S/he also looks to long-term fiscal health and sustainability by staying abreast of external social and economic issues affecting OCSD.
• Capital Projects Management: The GM prepares and administers the capital improvement projects. The water master plan identifies system infrastructure to improve and strengthen the distribution system. The Board adopted the Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Plan in 2025.
• Legal Affairs & Risk Management: The GM ensures that operations are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. In conjunction with District Counsel s/he advises the Board as to potential pitfalls and maintains compliance with public noticing, testing, and reporting requirements.

OCSD's capital improvement plan has received significant grant funds for preliminary engineering, design, and construction. Overall, the District's focus has been on replacing aged and non-standard waterlines. These projects and other tasks include repairs and upgrades to water yard facilities, technology implementation and utilization, and replacement of trash receptacles throughout the community.

OCSD is seeking a leader with a steady hand to join their dedicated staff in navigating and balancing the diverse needs of the community's residents. The Board of Directors has identified capital project management and intergovernmental relations as key skills since the successful candidate will be expected to immediately jump into important project work and time-sensitive regional issues.

Desirable traits include someone with grant writing skills, procurement expertise, and general project management knowledge. A Professional engineer's license is not required nor expected. General management experience, especially within the public sector, will be key. The community is generally relaxed and informal, so the GM should fit in with this culture. A congenial personality, visible and honest communication, and a hardworking nature will go a long way towards achieving success in being a supportive and capable leader. Candidates should be patient, even tempered, and open to questions in support of working out problems. The nature of the job will require a professional whom others might describe as a doer and finisher. Lastly, the Board of Directors would look favorably on someone seeking to make a longer-term commitment to the community.

The successful candidate will enjoy a well-positioned organization. The stable staff is also becoming increasingly adept and skilled at completing projects in-house, saving OCSD funds.

Competitive compensation and benefits are available, including coverage for professional development, cellular phone use, vehicle mileage, retirement, health insurance, and time-off.