General Manager

Delta Diablo has launched a nationwide recruitment for its next General Manager, with Bob Murray & Associates leading the executive search.

The General Manager reports directly to the Board of Directors and serves as the District’s chief executive officer, providing strategic leadership and oversight of the organization’s operations, workforce, finances, capital program, regulatory responsibilities, and organizational performance.

The District is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking leader with strong judgment, strategic leadership skills, and a commitment to collaboration, organizational excellence, and public service.

The filing deadline is November 8, 2026 .

DEFINITION

Under broad policy direction of the Board of Directors, plans, administers, implements, and manages all organizational functions and activities to achieve sustained organizational excellence and fulfill the District’s Mission, Vision, and strategic planning goals, strategies, objectives, and initiatives; and leads the Executive Team in addressing significant policy, strategic, financial, technical, legal, regulatory, legislative, operational, administrative, human resources, and public affairs issues.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a single position, executive management classification distinguished by its high level of responsibility in effectively managing District operations across a broad range of organizational functions, meeting regulatory compliance, legal, and code requirements at the federal, state, and local level, and ensuring responsible management and oversight of the District’s capital program and operating budget.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

This position receives general policy direction from the Board of Directors and provides direct supervision to Executive Team members, which include the Deputy General Manager, Business Services Director, Resource Recovery Services Director, Engineering Services Director, and Office Manager/Secretary to the Board. May provide general supervision and direction to the Human Resources and Risk Manager on specific work activities.

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Actively leads, directs, and engages with Executive Team members regarding significant policy, strategic, financial, technical, legal, regulatory, legislative, operational, human resources, and public affairs issues.
• Ensures strategic, cost-effective, proactive, and timely implementation of prioritized, complex capital improvement projects to address aging infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and capacity needs in the District’s wastewater and recycled water systems.
• Manages development, implementation, and administration of the District’s operating budget with a focus on aligning internal and external resources to meet organizational needs, and ensuring financial sustainability and responsible stewardship of limited customer resources.
• Leads identification, prioritization, and completion of annual Strategic Initiatives to support implementation of the District’s Strategic Plan; and leads development of periodic updates to the District’s Strategic Plan, including coordinating internal review and identification of potential changes to the District’s Mission, Vision, and Behavioral Value Statements, and strategic goals, strategies, and objectives through engagement with the Board and staff.
• Ensures a strategic, prioritized, and cost-effective approach to development and implementation of information technology, process automation, and innovative business processes to drive organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ensures preparation of high-quality, accurate, transparent, and timely Board communications, including written communications, presentations, and closed session materials.
• Develops labor contract negotiation strategies and manages negotiation of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with three collective bargaining units.
• Effectively addresses and resolves labor relations and personnel matters in coordination with the Executive Team and Human Resources and Risk Manager.
• Supports enhancements to positive organizational culture attributes, employee engagement and communications, workforce development, performance measurement, and succession planning.
• Prioritizes development of new and revised Board and District policies and procedures, while ensuring compliance with current legal, regulatory, and code requirements; and ensures development of associated standard operating procedures for consistency with District policies and procedures.
• Represents the District in various industry association and regional collaboration capacities, including regulatory and legislative groups; and develops associated position papers, comment letters, and public comments, as needed.
• Identifies and secures external funding sources (e.g., grants, low-interest loans) to support the District’s long-term financial sustainability goals.
• Leads the District’s public outreach and communications efforts to support specific District initiatives, response actions, and issue resolution; and responds to public and/or media inquiries, customers, local officials, outside agencies, community organizations, and industry peer agencies.
• Performs related duties, as assigned by the Board of Directors.

QUALIFYING TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

A combination of training and experience that demonstrates an individual has obtained the required knowledge and is able to perform the required work (with reasonable accommodation if needed). A person with the following combined training and experience would most likely qualify to compete in a selection process:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering (or closely related field), business administration, public administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university. A master’s degree in these areas and/or a Professional Engineering license from the State of California is highly desirable.

Experience: Ten years of progressively more responsible technical, managerial, and administrative experience in the wastewater or water sector, including seven years of supervisory experience that includes at least five years at the senior management level.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and techniques of public administration, organizational design and management, strategic planning, and policy and procedure development as they apply to wastewater conveyance and treatment, recycled water, and related systems.
• Fundamental wastewater treatment principles, processes, and technologies, including resource recovery practices and opportunities.
• Federal, state, and local legal, regulatory, and code compliance requirements as they relate to operation, administration, and management of a special district public utility.
• Effective organizational leadership, teambuilding, and motivation practices.
• Principles, practices, and methods of workforce development, including staff engagement, professional development, training, and performance management.
• Principles, practices, and methods of capital project delivery, including program management; project planning, design, and construction; and facility operation and maintenance.
• Principles, practices, and techniques to support effective labor relations, conflict resolution, and labor collective bargaining negotiations.
• Research, assimilation, organization, and reporting methods and techniques to support management review of alternatives analyses and associated recommendations.
• Technical writing, presentation preparation and delivery, verbal and interpersonal communication techniques, and proper use of English, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Modern office practices and methods, and computer equipment and applications related to performing the work.
• General District and Cal/OSHA safety requirements and associated workforce training requirements.

Ability to:

• Apply strong critical-thinking and decision-making skills to effectively identify, evaluate, and manage a broad range of policy, financial, technical, legal, regulatory, legislative, operational, administrative, human resources, and public affairs issues; and make sound, associated recommendations for management actions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, and code requirements as they apply to a special district public utility.
• Effectively manage programs, projects, and tasks in collaborative manner involving multiple internal and/or external stakeholders to achieve positive outcome that support sustained organizational excellence and improvement over time.
• Manage development and implementation of Strategic Plan goals and associated strategies, objectives, and initiatives.
• Negotiate complex labor contracts with the District’s three collective bargaining units, and agreements with external parties, as needed, to support key District focus areas.
• Exercise influence, apply persuasive communication skills, and function effectively in internal and external stakeholder environments.
• Develop, update, interpret, and communicate District policies and procedures that comply with legal, regulatory, code, and other requirements.
• Effectively represent the District in industry associations, and meetings with governmental and regulatory agencies, community groups, media representatives, and elected officials.
• Develop, manage, and administer contracts for general and professional services.

Licenses and Certifications: A valid California Class C driver’s license and insurability under the District’s driving program must be maintained at all times.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work in a normal office environment with controlled lighting, ventilation, and moderate noise levels.
• May be required to work outside of normal business hours to respond to emergency situations or as training or operational needs require.
• Periodic travel may be required for training, meetings, and other business purposes.
• Frequent sitting at a desk for prolonged periods while using a computer or in meetings.
• Regularly uses standard office equipment (keyboard, scanner, copier, telephone); intermittently twisting and reaching to operate other equipment without incapacitating adverse effects.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

• Fair Labor Standards Act Classification: Exempt
• Collective Bargaining Representation Unit: Excluded
• Pay Level: GM
• Job Specifications Approved by: Board of Directors
• Approval Date: 3/22/06
• Appointment and Removal Authority: Board of Directors
• Revision Approval Authority: General Manager
• Revision Date: 9/4/26