Job Description

About the Natural Resources and Lands Management Division: The Natural Resources and Lands Management (NRLM) Division within the Water Enterprise of the SFPUC is responsible for the management of approximately 61,000 acres of Bay Area watershed lands under SFPUC ownership as well as 150 miles of utility right-of-way. The NRLM Division is responsible for managing, protecting, restoring, and monitoring the ecological resources on these lands and environmental compliance for the operations and maintenance of the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System which serves 2.7 million customers. We are committed to responsible natural resources management that protects and restores viable populations of native species and maintains the integrity of the ecosystems that support them for current and future generations. We strive to become a leader in science-based and collaborative environmental stewardship in order to continue providing high-quality and reliable drinking water to our customers.

About the Position
The Programs and Operations Manager provides daily oversight, leadership and strategic direction for the Alameda Creek Watershed Center (ACWC), advancing its mission as a hub for public education, community engagement, and watershed stewardship. This position oversees daily operations, including the establishment of clear policies and procedures that support safe, consistent, and high quality operations. The Manager supervises staff and volunteers, fostering a high performing and inclusive team environment. The Manager will be a visible, approachable, and supportive leader who builds trust, develops staff, encourages collaboration, and fosters a positive workplace culture where employees and volunteers can thrive. This position is responsible for overseeing the development of high quality educational and interpretive programs, and ensuring a welcoming and meaningful experience for all visitors. The Manager plays a leadership role in shaping the Center’s public identity, developing partnerships, and leading community engagement efforts that support SFPUC’s mission of service, stewardship, and equity. This position works collaboratively across the Division and the SFPUC on planning and programming efforts that strengthen public understanding of the Alameda Creek Watershed, local ecology, cultural history, and the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. The role requires initiative, sound judgment, and a commitment to equity, public service, and environmental stewardship.

Work Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday with occasional work on evenings and Sundays for special events, subject to change if necessary.

Working Relationship: This position will report to the Alameda Watershed Resources Manager and will supervise a team of staff and volunteers. Initially this position will supervise the ACWC Facility Coordinator and the Education and Volunteers Coordinator, along with 6 part-time staff and several volunteers. This position will require professional, welcoming and friendly interactions with the public and community/agency partners. This position will require collaboration with the facilities team, communications, staff and managers throughout the division, key staff in PUC, including the Assistant General Manager for the Water Enterprise.

Nature of Work: Portion of the work duties will be outdoors, exposing the incumbent to inclement weather, potential hazards, and animals common in a natural landscape. The position may stand and/or walk for extended periods of time. Ability to work in a busy, noisy environment. Occasionally may lift and/or push 30 pounds of equipment.

Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Strategic Operations and Facility Management

Provide daily oversight of facility operations to ensure a safe, welcoming, and mission aligned visitor experience.
Lead the development and implementation of operational policies and procedures that guide facility use, visitor services, safety practices, and daily operations.
Oversee the aquarium, exhibits, grounds, and community spaces to ensure safe, high quality and consistent standards.
Direct the care, protection, and organization of collections and interpretive materials.
Oversee safety, security, and emergency preparedness efforts in alignment with SFPUC policies and regulatory requirements.
Coordinate maintenance and repairs with the facilities team and contractors, proactively identifying operational needs and improvements.

Interpretation, Education, and Program Leadership

Provide leadership for the development and delivery of interpretive, educational, and public programs that support SFPUC goals and community needs.
Establish interpretive themes related to watershed ecology, cultural and tribal history, and the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System.
Develop program guidelines, procedures, and quality standards to ensure consistency and excellence across offerings.
Evaluate program effectiveness and develop summary reports using data and community feedback, supporting continuous improvement.
Maintain subject matter expertise in regional natural and cultural history and SFPUC systems.

Community Engagement and Partnership Development

Lead outreach, community engagement, and communications strategies that increase visibility and participation in ACWC programs.
Build and sustain partnerships with public agencies, schools, community based organizations, tribal representatives and local governments.
Represent the ACWC, the Division, and the SFPUC at public meetings, professional conferences, and community events.
Support initiatives that strengthen community relationships, advance equity, and expand access to programs and services.

Staff and Volunteer Leadership

Build and maintain staff capacity to ensure the ACWC is fully and reliably staffed for public operating hours, programs, and special events
Develop staff guidelines, volunteer protocols, and workflow procedures to support consistent operations.
Lead staff development, performance management, scheduling, and training.
Oversee volunteer recruitment, onboarding, training, and engagement programs.
Provide coaching, and support to staff and volunteers, promoting a collaborative, inclusive, and service oriented culture.

Administration and Strategic Planning

Manage budgets, contracts, procurement, and HR related processes in alignment with SFPUC policies.
Develop and maintain administrative policies and procedures that support efficient, compliant, and transparent operations.
Contribute to strategic planning and the development of long term goals, policies, and operational plans for the Division and SFPUC.
Prepare reports and performance metrics that support accountability and continuous improvement.

Ideal Candidate and Competencies:

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record and ability to exercise the following leadership competencies which are critical for success in the role of Alameda Creek Watershed Center Programs and Operations Manager at SFPUC's Natural Resources & Lands Management Division.

Relationship Management: Builds open, honest, and respectful relationships through effective communication and collaboration techniques. Develops networks and lasting partnerships across boundaries to maintain strategic relationships and achieve common goals. Utilizes a variety of communication approaches to successfully gain support, influence others, and strengthen relationship.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Minimum qualifications reflect the lowest level of acceptable education and/or experience required of an individual such that the individual reasonably could be expected to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. Candidates must meet all the requirements established by the MQs to be considered for the position.

Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
Experience: Five (5) years of professional work experience coordinating or directing environmental stewardship, education or related community programs in visitor services, educational programming, interpretive center operations, or community engagement; Experience managing budgets, contracts, or administrative processes and collaborating with community partners, public agencies, educators, or local governments.
License: Possession of a valid and current California driver’s license.

Substitution: Additional qualifying professional experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year for year basis for up to 2 years. One (1) year is equivalent to thirty (30) semester units/forty-five (45) quarter units.

Note: One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.)

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.

Desirable Qualifications:
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

Supervisory experience with staff and volunteers interacting with the public.
Experience developing or implementing policies, procedures, or standard operating guidelines for community, non-profit or public facilities, such as visitor centers or education centers.
Experience supporting operations for a community facility (opening/closing, safety procedures, coordinating maintenance and repairs).
Experience representing and working within a public agency or large governmental or nonprofit organization, such as a park agency, public utility or municipal government.
Leadership experience in supporting interpretive centers or environmental education programs.
Experience developing interpretive exhibits, educational materials, or public programs.
Knowledge of California natural and cultural history, ideally focused on the Diablo Range and Bay Area, including the regional geography, plants and animals.
Experience in community engagement and outreach.
Knowledge of and experience working with local tribes.
Experience collaborating with regional Bay Area community and environmental organizations.
Experience managing contracts.
Experience building partnerships with diverse communities and supporting equitable access to public services.

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.

Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at How to Verify Education Requirements

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.

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.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits: The normal annual salary range is listed above. Appointment above the maximum of the normal range may be considered based on documented and substantiated recruitment and retention issues or exceptional skills. A special approval process is necessary for appointment above the normal salary range.

In addition, the City and County of San Francisco (City) offers comprehensive benefit programs which include:

Medical, Vision, Dental, and Life insurance
Long-term disability plan; Flexible Spending Accounts
Pension Plan; Retiree Healthcare; Deferred Compensation Program
Paid Management Training Program; Wellness Program
Paid Vacation, Holidays, Sick Leave; Management Leave
Learn more about the City’s Management Benefits.

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 (MQSQ): (Weight: Qualifying) Candidates will be required to complete a 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.

Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire (BCQ) Evaluation (Weight:100%): Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be sent a Behavioral Consistency Questionnaire (BCQ) Examination via electronic mail after the closing of this filing period. The BCQ Exam is designed to measure the knowledge, skills and/or abilities in job-related areas required for the position. Applicants will be given a deadline to return the BCQ Exam. Those who do not respond by the established deadline will not be eligible to continue in the examination process and will not be added to eligibility list resulting from this process. All applicants’ responses to the BCQ Exam are subject to verification. The BCQ Exam component may include but not be limited to:

Knowledge of environmental education and program development
Demonstrated abilities in community engagement and partnership development
Skills in daily operations and oversight of nature center or visitor center or similar public education facility
Abilities in managing budgets, contracts, and program reports
Skills and ability to lead staff and volunteers in a collaborative team culture

A passing score must be achieved on the BCQ Exam in order to continue in the selection process and be placed on the eligible list. 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.

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 of six (6) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Certification: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. The hiring department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures prior to making final hiring decisions.

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 here.

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.

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

How to Apply: All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110.

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues.

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 from [email protected] 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.

Recruitment Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst, Laurie Gee via email 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.