Assistant Water Resources Planner, Zone 7

Job Description:

Assistant Water Resources Planner, Zone 7

Description

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and supplemental questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.

APPLICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THIS RECRUITMENT WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ONLINE.

Click for more detailed information about this exciting opportunity.

DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY
Zone 7 Water Agency is located in the Tri-Valley region of the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. It provides water on a wholesale basis to the cities of Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and the Dougherty Valley area of San Ramon, and flood-protection services to all of eastern Alameda County. Zone 7 employs approximately 116 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of $80.3 million dollars. The Agency’s administrative offices are located in Livermore, CA, the easternmost city of Alameda County, which is bordered by Contra Costa County to the north and San Joaquin County to the east. Livermore, California’s oldest wine region, is known for the science and technology of its national laboratories, a historic downtown area, and the surrounding farmlands and ranches that mirror the Valley’s western heritage.

Zone 7 employees are committed to providing a reliable supply of high-quality water and an effective flood control system to the Livermore-Amador Valley in a fiscally responsible, innovative, proactive and environmentally sensitive way. We invite you to acquaint yourself with our dynamic Agency and its exciting employment opportunities.

For more information regarding the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7 please visit their website at www.zone7water.com.

THE POSITION

Under supervision, performs routine to difficult planning studies and projects, and monitors planning efforts and policy issues by other agencies; performs other related duties as required.

Assistant Water Resources Planner, Zone 7, is the journey level class in the professional planning classification series. Incumbents perform routine to difficult planning work and are expected to exercise professional judgment within established parameters. Incumbents may be assigned to work with a small group of planners and technicians engaged in planning work, or in a specialized function. While some of the duties of this class may overlap with some of the tasks performed by civil engineers engaged in Zone 7's planning effort, engineers are typically more involved in the technical details of project and alternative development, impact assessment, and comparison of alternatives, such as hydraulic network analysis, determination of system capacity, sizing and citing of facilities, and feasibility studies. This class is distinguished from the next higher one of Associate Water Resources Planner, Zone 7, in that the latter is the advanced-journey level of the classification series and will be assigned lead responsibilities.

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit : Assistant Water Resources Planner, Zone 7 (#4946)

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate has experience with a proven track record of success in the following areas:

• Water resource and environmental management issues, such as one or more of the following: water supply planning, water conservation, environmental planning and compliance (e.g., permitting, ecological studies, grants), and/or flood protection and stewardship (e.g., watershed management, channel restoration, geomorphic analysis).
• Managing programs and projects, including reporting, budgeting, evaluation, and/or outreach, to effectively support agency goals.
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills, with experience using one or more tools such as spreadsheets, databases, modeling, Power BI, GIS, VBA, statistical software (e.g., R), and/or graphics software to support analytical work.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills, with experience using one or more tools such as databases, spreadsheets, Power BI, GIS, VBA, statistical software (e.g., R), or graphics software to support analytical work.
• Environmental planning and stewardship, such as impact assessments, ecological studies, watershed protection, environmental review and compliance, permitting (1600/401/404), and/or an understanding of ecological principles and environmental policies.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear, concise reports and deliver effective presentations.
• Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships and working effectively in cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams to support various agency goals and water resource management decisions.
• Engaging professionally with diverse stakeholders, including public agencies, regulators, special interest groups, and the public.
• Effectively identifying problems and using logic, judgment, and data to evaluate alternatives and recommending solutions that achieve desired agency goals or outcomes.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT PROCESS, YOU MUST MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS BY SATISFYING ONE OF THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN THE PATTERNS BELOW (I-II).

EITHER I
Experience: The equivalent of one-year full-time experience as a Junior Water Resources Planner, Zone 7 in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney's Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

OR II
Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in urban or regional planning, economics, environmental studies, or a closely related field.

AND
Experience: The equivalent of two years full-time professional planning experience. License: All levels in the class series must possess a valid State of California Motor Vehicle Operator's license and have a satisfactory driving record.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:
• Principles, practices and trends in urban and regional planning including research and statistical methods and techniques; codes, ordinance and laws related to planning, watershed management and protection, zoning, environmental protection and subdivisions.
• Organization of local governments including special districts.
• Language and techniques used in planning and mapping.
• Principles of growth management.
• Use of personal computer including data base spreadsheet programs.
• Water resources planning; water systems planning and economics.

Ability to:
• Compile, analyze and evaluate statistical and technical data.
• Draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Prepare and write comprehensive, concise and clear reports, including computations, text, charts, sketches, and preparing graphic illustrations.
• Understand and explain technical reports.
• Interact courteously and effectively, and maintain effective working relationships with Agency personnel, the public, other agencies, consultants, contractors and others.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative intra- and interagency relationships.
• Reach collaborative solutions, using problem-solving skills.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

A review of applicants' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified that will be weighted as qualifying only (pass/fail). Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the final step in the examination process. An oral examination which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral examination may be administered virtually and contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

For more information on the Civil Service Selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.

The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN Deadline for Filing: 5:00:00 p.m., Friday, August 1, 2025 Review of Minimum Qualifications: August 4, 2025 Notification to non-qualified applicants ONLY: August 8, 2025 Review of Questionnaire for Best Qualified: August 22, 2025 Civil Service Oral Examination: * Week of September 8, 2025 Notification of Exam Results: Week of September 22, 2025 TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN Department Selection Process: Late September 2025

*The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification. Candidates selected to participate in the oral exam will receive an email notification at least 10 business days in advance of the exam date.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

BENEFITS

The County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical - HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental - HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1 st United Services Credit Union

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three (3) days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to eight (8) days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @jobaps.com, acgov.org, Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org, and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org and Noreply@jobaps.com are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions, please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs . You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Erika Beams, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
Analyst Email Address Link: Erika.Beams@acgov.org | Phone: 510-272-6393
www.acgov.org/hrs

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.

Closing Date/Time: 8/1/2025 5:00:00 PM

Salary:

$59.86 - $72.77/hour; $124,508.80 - $151,361.60/year