Location
Description
A 2.5% supervisory differential will apply.
Overview:
Valley Water is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as the Real Estate Asset Administrator (Supervising Program Administrator), responsible for overseeing the stewardship, compliance, and operational integration of the district’s extensive land portfolio, including fee-owned lands, conservation properties, and easement interests. This role will guide policy implementation, interagency coordination, and programmatic improvements to ensure that Valley Water’s lands are managed to support flood protection, water supply reliability, environmental stewardship, and public access objectives consistent with District policies and regulatory requirements. This position plays a key leadership role within the Real Estate Services function and works closely with Operations & Maintenance, Watersheds, Environmental Planning, Legal, and external partners such as cities, counties, and open space agencies.
Our Commitment:
We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.
About Valley Water:
Valley Water is a public agency with an operating and capital budget of $964 million, and over 900 employees. With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.Key responsibilities include:
- Serve as the primary program liaison with cities, Santa Clara County, and partner organizations regarding joint use of Valley Water lands for recreation.
- Lead negotiations and implementation of land management–related agreements, including joint use agreements, master license, and master partnership agreements, with partner agencies.
- Identify and address land stewardship opportunities such as encroachment remediation, site stabilization, access improvements, fencing, signage, restoration, and compatibility upgrades to support flood protection and watershed management objectives.
- Lead and manage the evaluation and disposition of surplus or underutilized District lands, consistent with Valley Water policies, statutory requirements, and long-term operational and environmental needs.
- Prepare Board memoranda, resolutions, and supporting documentation to facilitate approval of surplus land declarations and subsequent disposition transactions.
- Support the development and ongoing enhancement of a comprehensive database to track and manage maintenance of flood protection and other watershed assets.
Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:
Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.
Ideal Experience:
Six (6) or more years of progressively responsible experience in public agency land management, real estate services, right-of-way, natural resources stewardship, or a related program.
Experience working with multiple stakeholders including local and state public agencies, private parties, and other stakeholders.
Ideal Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to independently manage and administer a complex, districtwide land stewardship, and property rights program, including policy development and strategic planning.
- Demonstrated ability to negotiate and administer complex interagency, joint-use, and public-private partnership agreements involving public property.
- In-depth knowledge of land rights (fee, easements, licenses) and public agency land stewardship responsibilities.
- Ability to balance operational needs, environmental commitments, and third-party requests on District lands.
- Strong negotiation, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of Board-level materials.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and provide sound, defensible recommendations on complex land use issues.
- Experience integrating land records and real estate data with GIS-based asset management systems and web mapping tools.
Ideal Knowledge:
- In-depth knowledge of land rights (fee, easements, licenses) and public agency land stewardship responsibilities.
- Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulatory requirements governing public land management and surplus property processes (e.g., Surplus Lands Act).
Ideal Training and Education:
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business administration or a related field.
Substitution:
Directly related experience may be substituted for the college requirement on the basis of one and one-half years of experience for one year of education to a maximum of four years.
To review the Classification Specification, please click here
Real Estate Services Unit (Position Code 947)
Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.
This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite.