• Application Opening: May 17, 2024
• Application Filing Deadline: June 21, 2024 (deadline extended on 6/6/24 to allow more candidate to apply)
• Annual Salary: $118,719 - $175,526
• Recruitment ID:  PBT-5602-142398; RTF0142397-01112431

APPOINTMENT TYPE: This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

WHO ARE WE?
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Headquartered in San Francisco, we have 2,300 employees operating across eight counties serving more than 2.7 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area – 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Our Mission: To provide our customers with high quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.

Our Vision: We are an innovative utility leader, recognized for excellent results in service, safety, stewardship, and inclusiveness.

We are an award-winning and industry-leading utilities organization committed to our customers, community interests, and the environment. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at https://www.sfpuc.org/.

We are proud of our infrastructure and programs, but most importantly, we value our highly qualified and dedicated workforce which ensures that this vision becomes a reality.

To learn more about working at the SFPUC, visit our career site at https://www.sfpuc.org/about-us/careers-sfpuc

This recruitment is for multiple positions within the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission across multiple divisions and bureaus.

The SFPUC is currently hiring for the permanent civil service (PCS) positions below:

Redevelopment Utility Specialist (Wastewater)

Under the direction of the Wastewater Redevelopment Manager, the Redevelopment Utility Specialist is responsible for reviewing planning, design, and construction submittals for new sewer systems in redevelopment areas in San Francisco. This position ensures that developer-designed and constructed sewer system infrastructure conforms with requirements of the San Francisco Subdivision Regulations, SFPUC Wastewater design and construction specifications, as well as industry standards. This is done through reviewing and commenting on infrastructure plans; civil design and other technical drawings; project specifications; hydraulic and hydrology reports; contractor submittals; change orders; RFIs; and testing and inspection data. The Specialist also coordinates review inspections by other technical specialists throughout SFPUC Wastewater.

Floodwater Grant Program Lead (Wastewater)

With supervision from the Urban Watershed Planning Division Manager, this Utility Specialist will serve as Program Manager for the Floodwater Grant Program, administering a budget of up to $1.5M annually. The position will lead the Floodwater Grant Program team, which consists of two engineers and one administrative analyst, while closely collaborating with colleagues across various SFPUC divisions, bureaus, the City Attorney’s Office, and other city agencies. This coordination aims to ensure successful grant administration and clear communication with both the general public and specific Floodwater Grant Program grantees. Regular program updates and improvements will fall under this position, as well as coordination and alignment with process improvements and innovations taking place in other grant programs across the division.

Capital Planning and Partnership Lead (Wastewater)

With supervision from the Green Infrastructure Capital Planning & Grants Manager, this Utility Specialist will be responsible for watershed planning, green infrastructure (GI) opportunity assessments, and partnership development focused on San Francisco’s Bayside Watersheds. The position will conduct agency-specific outreach presentations and workshops with partners at SFUSD, MTA, and RecPark; find alignment on project goals with multiple partners; complete regular assessments to identify spatial and funding alignment of SFPUC project opportunities with project opportunities being pursued by others; identify maintenance roles and responsibilities among partners; and develop and execute MOUs and other required contracts in partnership with SFPUC Infrastructure division and city agency partners. 
 
Flood Resilience Planning Lead (Wastewater)

Reporting to the Urban Watershed Planning Division Manager, this 5602 Flood Resilience Planner will research, develop, and implement policies, plans, programs, and projects to make San Francisco more flood resilient. With supervision and support, this position will convene and lead city-wide flood resilience planning efforts; participate in and represent SFPUC in multi-agency flood resilience efforts led by other city agencies, such as the Waterfront Resilience Program and ClimateSF; work in multi-disciplinary, multi-agency teams on envisioning a flood resilient public realm; and coordinate with teammates from across the SFPUC to align strategy and messaging across SFPUC’s flood resilience efforts, including StormWatch, RainReadySF, capital projects, watershed planning and green infrastructure, and regulatory compliance.

CleanPowerSF (Power)

Under direction of the CleanPowerSF Customer Solutions Supervisor, this Utility Specialist will be responsible for managing CleanPowerSF's third party meter data management, billing, and customer care management services, as well as the CCA Service Agreement with PG&E. Principal tasks include closely coordinating with PG&E and the third-party billing services contractor to resolve customer issues; managing various monthly, bimonthly and annual reports reliant on customer data; working with the Customer Service Bureau, Power Customer Engagement and other internal teams to coordinate customer enrollments and other projects; and other projects related to customer data, billing and customer care management as needed.

Energy Scheduling and Settlements (Power)

Under the direction of the Energy Scheduling & Settlements Manager, the 5602 Utility Specialist will perform a wide variety of duties related to energy trading, energy scheduling, and complex procurement planning analysis. This position will utilize scheduling software tools to submit day-ahead and real-time schedules, execute energy trades to maximize revenue and minimize costs, as well as perform complex modeling and analysis to develop short and long-term procurement plans.

Risk Management and Business Analysis (Power)

Under direction of the Risk Management and Business Analysis Manager, the 5602 Rate and Business Analyst performs complex quantitative and qualitative analyses and studies; prepares and presents findings; develops, implements, and documents analytical and predictive models; supports cost of service analysis, rate policy development, customer interconnection and programs analysis; coordinates with Power Enterprise subject matter experts and SFPUC Finance on rates and Power rates studies; works with Regulatory and Legislation team on rate tracking and projections.

Federal Agreements and Public Power Expansion (Power)

This Utility Specialist provides analytical and policy support for issues pertaining to the City’s Federally regulated agreements for electric distribution and transmission services, and provides analytical support for litigation, negotiations and administration of these agreements and tariffs. This includes evaluating the risks and impacts of filings, proposals and disputes, as well as, providing support for the City’s on-going efforts to build out electric distribution and transmission assets, provide service to new customers and acquire the electric distribution grid in San Francisco.

Origination and Power Supply (Power)

Under general administrative direction of the Origination and Power Supply Manager, this position will develop and negotiate long-term Power Purchase Agreements with energy suppliers. The utility specialist will work collaboratively with Hetch Hetchy Power and CleanPowerSF program staff to analyze supply needs and strategies, assist with Integrated Resource Planning, executing short-term energy contracts and assist with professional service and other contracting needs. 

Program Control (Infrastructure)

Under direction, this 5602 Utility Specialist will perform a number of duties in support of the Infrastructure Program Controls Group, including but not limited to independently conducting complex studies and analyses, and developing analytical models and systems. This position will work with other program controls staff in developing cost, schedule, and technical tracking systems for new projects, collecting data on project/program's risks and their impacts to overall project budget and schedule, and developing and implementing seasonal and long-term operating, financial and capital plans. This position will manage and administer wholesale and retail contracts, projects, and programs, analyze project performance and prepare monthly and quarterly reports, as well as work closely with project managers to develop and update budgets and schedules. This position will also serve as a technical expert providing training to analysts and technical personnel. 

Water Resources Planning Division (Multiple Positions)

Under the Water Resources Division of the SFPUC, the 5602 Utility Specialist will lead efforts to implement various Local and Regional Projects. The Utility Specialist will act as a project manager and lead efforts to plan, design and support the implementation of water supply capital projects that may include recycled water, potable reuse (purified water), non-potable reuse, groundwater, and/or desalination, stormwater diversion, local surface water recharge and related resource management. Essential duties include scope, schedule and budget management, project planning and analysis, contract management, report writing, regulatory negotiating and developing various inter-agency agreements. The Utility Specialist also performs or oversees complex studies and analyses and develops analytical models to support specific projects or program objectives.

Asset Management Services (City Distribution Division)

Under the direction of the Asset Management Services Manager of the SFPUC's City Distribution Division (CDD), the 5602 Utility Specialist will work directly with Asset Management Services, the Construction and Operations Support Team (COST), Facilities Operations, Construction and Maintenance, Engineering, and associated groups to support planning and scheduling operations and maintenance of facilities, buildings and grounds, water distribution systems, and associated systems to create vertical asset management best practices and procedures to meet division goals of strategic vertical asset management efforts.

Construction Operations Support Team (COST) (CDD)

Under the direction of the Construction and Operations Support Team (COST) Manager, the 5602 Utility Specialist will directly work with the Construction and Operations Support Team (COST), Construction and Maintenance sections, and associated groups to support planning and scheduling operations, technical tracking systems for new projects, collecting data on the cost, schedule, and technical progress of those projects; develops and implements seasonal and long-term operating, financial and capital plans; develops and implements operational goals and procedures, ensuring regulatory compliance and provide timely analytical and policy support and strategic planning matters. water distribution systems, and associated systems to create linear asset management best practices and procedures to meet division goals of strategic asset management efforts.

Essential Duties for all Listed Positions (will include some or all):

• Monitor Compliance: Ensures operations align with policy directives, laws, regulations, and contractual constraints.
• Analytical Models Development: Creates predictive models, performs technical and economic feasibility studies for capital projects, and integrates findings into cost/benefit assessments. Conducts advanced studies on operational effectiveness, financial and market risks, price sensitivity, and other related topics.
• Planning and Scheduling: Develops seasonal, monthly, and multi-year financial and operational plans. Manages and optimizes Critical Path Method (CPM) and Precedence Diagram Method (PDM) schedules. Enhances cost control systems for budget and schedule adherence and maintains a cost estimate database.
• Contract Negotiation: Manages negotiations for large seasonal and annual contracts, supports division-wide multi-year contract negotiations, and sets rate policies for transactions.
• Operational Improvement: Identifies operational bottlenecks and recommends policies to enhance efficiency, mitigate risks, boost revenues, and cut costs.
• Training Development: Designs and delivers training on new policies and compliance procedures to analysts, technicians, and other personnel.
• Documentation and Reporting: Writes various documents including reports, work plans, marketing plans, program descriptions, and operational procedures. Documents forecasting methodologies, legal interpretations, and provides analyses of schedule and cost variances to support contract negotiations.
• Database Management: Implements and manages databases for hydrology, water supply, power operations, energy consumption, and other related areas.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: Oversees Utility Analysts and technical staff, manages section budgets, forecasts revenues and expenses, and reports variances.
• Miscellaneous Duties: Performs additional tasks as needed.

Additionally, the candidate pool resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill non-permanent, Temporary Exempt (TEX) and Permanent Exempt (PEX) positions. These positions are excluded from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointment Officer. The duration of the appointment shall not exceed 36 months or 24 months depending on the type of appointment/category.

Education:

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university preferably with major coursework in Law, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, Computer Science, Business Administration, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics or other field related to the utility business; AND

Experience:

2. Four years of verifiable journey-level work experience in one or more of the following areas: planning, scheduling, cost estimating and resource projecting for mid to large scale projects; water supply/infrastructure management and planning; power operations planning and scheduling; analysis, interpretation and application of utility contracts and regulations in either water, power (electric and/or natural gas), telecommunications, or a wastewater/clean water program; utility market and environmental analysis and planning; power supply and transmission rates and contracts; generation, transmission or distribution planning and design; or long-term utility systems planning.

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Desirable Qualifications:

The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

All Positions

• Experience working with a large diverse workforce of people with different cultures, backgrounds, and opinions.
• Experience conducting complex data analyses.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.                           

Special Conditions

Some positions may require additional qualifications such as special conditions that may differ from the standard minimum qualifications associated with this classification.

License and Certification:

Specified positions may require possession of a valid California Class C driver's license.

Notes: 

One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2,000 hours (2,000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.

Verification:

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications. 

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.

NOTE: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456.

Verification of required work experience typically must be on the employer’s letterhead, and must include the applicant’s name, job title, description of job duties, dates of employment, hours per week, and signature of the employer, supervisor, or appropriate representative. 

Employees of the City and County of San Francisco may submit performance evaluations showing duties performed to verify qualifying City experience. City employees will receive credit for the duties of the class to which appointed. Credit for experience obtained outside of the employee's class will be allowed only if recorded in accordance with the provisions of Civil Service Commission Rules. CCSF employees will not receive credit for experience obtained outside of their classification unless recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Rule 110.9.1/111A.11.2.

Experience claimed in self-employment will only be accepted if supported by documents verifying income, earnings, business license and experience comparable to minimum qualifications above. Copies of income tax papers or other documents listing occupation and total earnings must be submitted.

Verification of required valid licensure/certification typically must be a photocopy of the license/certificate including the name of the issuing agency as well as the name of the license/certificate holder, license/certificate number, and expiration date.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (Weight: Qualifying):

Candidates will be required to complete a Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ) as part of the employment application at a later time. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Applicants must also complete the official application. It is essential that applicants provide complete information in identifying their education, experience and training. 

Supplemental Questionnaire (100%):

Qualified candidates will be required to complete a Supplemental Questionnaire Examination as part of the selection procedures. The Supplemental Questionnaire Examination is designed to measure the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the Utility Specialist position and include, but not limited to:

• Ability to conduct statistical analysis concepts and techniques and develop and employ complex analytical models
• Knowledge of basic concepts and terminology related to utility operations and analyses
• Knowledge of laws and regulatory rules pertaining to utility operations. 
• Skills in using independent judgment within established policies
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work

All relevant experience, education and/or training must be on the supplemental questionnaire in order to be reviewed in the rating process. The information provided on the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination must be consistent with the information on the application and is subject to verification. Once submitted, applicant responses on the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination cannot be changed.  Only those applicants who qualify will receive a score on the Supplemental Questionnaire Evaluation.   

Candidates will be placed on the eligible list in rank order according to their final score. Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director.

NOTE: A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Questionnaire Exam in order to continue in the selection process and be placed on the Eligible List Score Report. The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

Certification Rule:

The certification rule for the ranked eligible lists resulting from this examination will be Rule of 10 Scores. The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

Eligible List/Score Report:

A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission. 

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 12 months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director. 

Upon approval of the Human Resource Director (see Civil Service Rule 111A.26.5), the eligible list/score report resulting from this announcement may be used by other departments that also use this classification or a similar classification. To find other Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2022-23.pdf.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director.  Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the Senior Human Resources Analyst, Monica Guzman at [email protected].

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.