Deputy Chief of Watershed Planning (20636268)

The Deputy Chief of Watershed Planning (Class: 470) helps oversee the MRCA’s long range planning efforts to ensure that new projects and regulations in the Los Angeles area reflect the agency’s mission to protect open space, wildlife habitat, and parkland that is easily accessible to the public. In particular, the Deputy Chief is responsible for keeping the natural resources of the Los Angeles River and its tributaries, and other urban waterways, as an important criterion to consider at all stages of regional planning processes. All development and planning framework that affects these areas should also increase the region’s resiliency to the impacts of climate change, benefit all communities, and contribute toward equity. Planning for the region’s waterway corridors should also aim to connect with the wildlife and trail corridors that exist in the surrounding mountains.

The Deputy Chief of Watershed Planning coordinates with other MRCA employees and project partners, providing guidance to ensure that park development projects are implemented in ways that reflect these values. Projects may include acquisition of land, conversion of brownfields to parkland, ecological habitat restoration, creation of parkland in urban neighborhoods, and planning in a watershed context. The Deputy Chief must also build community and political support, seek funding opportunities, and actively cooperate with other government agencies and community-based non-profit organizations. 

This is highly technical and professional work for a person at a senior staff/management level. The work performed will support MRCA’s land acquisition and capital improvement Workprograms and other efforts related to public access, open space conservation, habitat restoration, and urban park development.

Ability to speak Spanish is required.

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This is a full-time, exempt, at-will position.

Supervision

This position reports to the Watershed Planning Division Chief, or the Deputy Executive Officer if the Division Chief position is vacant. Assorted tasks may be supervised by Executive Staff and may include participation in multi-division teams. The position may supervise other staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Implement Watershed Planning Workprograms, including lead project management for multiple projects at once.
• Supervise the development and implementation of projects benefiting disadvantaged communities and along the Los Angeles River and tributaries, ensuring that projects meet legislative mandates, and work to secure future additional funding and political support for ongoing implementation.
• Work with organizations and consultants to build capacity to carry out existing Workprograms, develop community and engagement plans for projects from existing Plans, and promote new project development to be carried out by partner entities.
• Prepare and give public presentations on a variety of topics related to the Watershed Planning Workprograms and projects benefitting disadvantaged communities and along the Los Angeles River and tributaries.
• Make reports to Executive Staff, Governing Board, funders, and the general public. Keep Deputy Executive Officer apprised of progress regularly. Liaison between project managers and executive staff.
• Analyze various planning documents and processes for consistency and impacts on MRCA's watershed planning priorities. Write formal comment letters and informal memoranda.
• Participate in planning processes related to the Los Angeles River and other local watersheds, at both regional and individual project scales.
• Maintain ongoing relationships with representatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations, homeowner’s associations, and the public at large as related to urban land use, the Los Angeles River, water politics, park development projects, and park operations.
• Liaison with elected officials, and public agencies related to the Watershed Planning Workprograms to expand access to the region’s natural resources, while ensuring that the MRCA’s programs and services promote and achieve equitable outcomes.
• Cultivate working relationships with allies and potential allies for acquisition, development and funding support of the Workprogram; Support the MRCA effort to build a network of community-based supporters to help further MRCA’s mission.
• Develop cohesive working relationships with community leaders and build alliances with individuals and constituencies to broaden the base of general support for park issues.
• Write and coordinate grant proposals and research new funding opportunities for land acquisition, park development, and related planning efforts.
• Oversee consultants and contractors, manage contracts, coordinate project team and collaborate with coworkers to ensure that the project scope is completed according to grant agreements, schedules, and cost limits. Assist in selection of consultants/contractors.
• Determine project scope, options, and alternatives to overcome constraints. Revise as often as needed to address unexpected conditions.
• Cooperate with other team members to accomplish project goals.
• Produce written materials including staff reports, text for publication, proposals, progress reports, and a variety of other documents.
• Maintain files, including documentation and authorization for expenses, project progress, contracts and grant agreements, project budgets, contacts, board actions and all other items related to a project’s development.
• Provide support to coworkers on other projects.
• Maintain good habits of answering and responding to incoming telephone calls, correspondence, and when communicating and providing customer service to citizens who seek assistance.
• Maintain positive relationships with coworkers, representatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations, homeowner’s associations, and the public at large.
• Perform related duties as required.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead and participate in group hikes, project site tours, and kayak trips with project stakeholders.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position, occasionally move about inside the office to access supplies and office machinery, frequently communicate and exchange information, review handwritten, electronic and facsimile documents, observe site conditions, and operate a computer and other office productivity machinery. The employee must occasionally move items weighing up to 20 pounds inside the office.

Required Hours and Location

Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week with some scheduling flexibility. Occasional overtime work in evenings or weekends upon prior approval by supervisor. The position will work out of the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens but may be required to travel to various other locations. Offices at the River Center are spread among multiple buildings and floors. Remote working or a hybrid schedule may be allowed, subject to supervisor approval.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Education and Experience

• B.A. or B.S. degree or higher. Relevant course studies include political science, natural resources, engineering, planning, environmental science, geography, biology, hydrology, landscape architecture, environmental design, or related fields.
• Three (3) years of highly relevant experience that include: park planning, community outreach and engagement, legislative and policy analysis, working with interdisciplinary teams, coordinating consultants, public speaking, technical writing, scheduling, and budgeting.
• Experience in state or local government or community organizing.
• Working knowledge of state and local budgets, policy and the legislative process.
• Ability to speak Spanish is required.

Training and Certification

• Must have a valid California driver’s license in good standing with a satisfactory driving record at the time of hire.

Knowledge of: 

• Developed understanding the watershed planning context, including in and around the Los Angeles River watershed.
• Intermediate proficiency with Office 365 and email, with particular emphasis on word-processing and spreadsheet programs.
• Office practices and procedures.

Ability to:

• Prioritize varying tasks and projects, manage time, and make regular, consistent progress on multiple projects at once.
• Cooperate with coworkers and revise project approach as needed to accommodate concerns.
• Work independently, or as part of a team.

• Must be organized with meticulous attention to detail.

• Revise work approach to address changed conditions.
• Complete projects and follow oral and written directions.
• Quickly change tasks and focus.
• Consistently follow agency procedures.
• Exercise discretion and sensitivity to confidential information.
• Read maps and navigate through greater Los Angeles, in both urban developed and undeveloped open space areas.
• Prepare written and graphic materials for a variety of audiences.
• Communicate to a variety of audiences about Agency projects and objectives.
• Learn technical material and advanced technical writing proficiency.

Competencies:

• Excellent oral and written English language skills. Not required to be a native English speaker, but fluency in English will be required.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work including the general public.

Other Requirements:

Candidates must have a valid California driver’s license in good standing with a satisfactory driving record. Employees must be willing to participate in agency emergency response. Bilingual skills in English and another locally common language, such as Spanish, Korean, Farsi, Chinese, Armenian, Yiddish, or Tagalog is highly desired.

All appointment offers are contingent upon the following:

• Background check including submission of fingerprints to the Department of Justice and a record clean of violent crimes or felonies.
• Successful completion of a physical examination including a drug test and TB test.
• Verification of the right to work in the United States.

COMPENSATION

Wages

The range of hourly rates for this position are $37.93 to $46.10.

This job announcement is not intended to, and does not, create an employment contract of any kind and does not create any express or implied contractual obligations. Employment at MRCA is at-will without exception. The employee and MRCA may terminate employment at any time with or without advance notice and with or without cause.

Any provision contained in this job announcement may be modified or revoked at any time without notice.