Who: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
What: This position is responsible for researching, planning, organizing and interpreting data and information on a range of development policies and programs related to state and local policy and budget priorities that govern daily operations of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). The Position prioritizes the office’s four “Es:” economic health, environmental health, equity, and education when reviewing policies and programs that impact MWRD and the population it serves.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
The following responsibilities are specific to this position.
- Prepare annotated board meeting agendas and submit questions including researching the history of specific agenda items and suggesting alternative legal, environmental or engineering approaches as needed. Request answers from MWRD staff that highlight the office’s priorities.
- Serve as the Commissioner’s point person on budget, finance, policy, and legal issues, including:
- Best practices and recommending deficit reductions.
- Reviewing, analyzing and recommending short and long term budget plans for overall objectives of MWRD and consistent with office priorities.
- Prepare, analyze and interpret budget reports and recommend alternatives to financial policies and plans.
- Oversee legal and policy research to advance office priorities.
- In coordination with chief of staff, maintain relationships with constituents that overlap or are tangential to MWRD mission and purpose.
- This position reports to the chief of staff and commissioner.
- Prepare briefing papers (using standard format) based on issues and initiatives of interest by the office.
- Serve as intake lead and provide research as an underpinning for important advocacy as requested by chief of staff or commissioner.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The following responsibilities are intended to ensure an effective team. They reflect all full-time jobs within the office of the commissioner. In coordination with other full-time position in office:
- Prepare memos & internal communication.
- Participating in MWRD Strategic Planning efforts.
- Ensure effective communications with all staff and the commissioner regarding:
- Changes that need to take place to ensure a safe, cooperative and productive work environment.
- Current status of projects and communications, particularly those that require input from other team members.
- The commissioner’s availability generally, and his availability to review and discuss work products.
- Communicate with the commissioner when you believe something is misguided or lacks proper vetting.
- Ensure the office is covered during regular business hours.
- Ensure the commissioner is staffed at all critical activities (board meetings, conversations with officials, etc.
- Help the commissioner build and maintain relationships within and outside MWRD.
- Full-time positions should share specific responsibilities over time to ensure redundancy. That way, with staff departures, skills critical to the office are not lost.
- Constituent responses are required within 24 hours (note, this means an acknowledgement of receipt of constituent communications; substantive responses should be within two weeks).
- Three months’ notice is requested if staff intend to depart.
- Full-time staff should make sure commissioner is prepared for board meetings, including:
- Identifying questions and talking points ahead of time (some to ask staff in advance, some possibly holding until a board meeting).
- Advising commissioner on votes based on policy and constituency outreach.
- Identifying issues for study session and long-term advocacy.
- Performance based on being proactive, responsive, follow-through, taking constructive feedback, & teamwork.
REQUIREMENTS
Relevant educational background and experience, such as master’s degree in public administration, Juris Doctor, or a related field, and minimum two years of related experience.
ABOUT MWRD
All positions subject to MWRD personnel laws and policies. MWRD requires that titles for
commissioners’ staff conform to MWRD policies.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should apply by sending their resume and cover letter to the attention of Dawn Walker,
walkerd@mwrd.org. The position shall remain vacant until filled.