Deputy Director of Community Benefits External Affairs (San Francisco)

Deputy Director of Community Benefits

External Affairs

Department : Public Utilities Commission

Job class: 0923-Manager II

Starting salary range: $141,700.00 - $180,856.00 (Range A)

Role type: Permanent Civil Service What does this mean?

Hours : Full-time

Exam type: Position Based Test

Rule: Rule of the List

List type: Combined Promotive and Entrance

About:

Application Opening: Friday, May 23, 2025

Application Deadline: Friday, June 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM, PST

Compensation Range: Annual $141,700 and $180,856

Recruitment ID: PBT-0923-155680 / RTF0155679-01118476

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 .

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

About the Community Benefits Division of the External Affairs Bureau

The External Affairs Bureau at the SFPUC oversees the Agency's local, state and federal legislative and policy activities, communications and community engagement community benefits and environmental justice programs. The Community Benefits Division develops the strategic frameworks for Agency-wide community benefits and environmental justice programs and activities, partners with community-based stakeholders and other City & County of San Francisco agencies, manages pilot programs, and evaluates community outcomes related to investments and partnerships.

In January 2011, the SFPUC adopted a Community Benefits Policy to advance the agency’s responsibility to be a good neighbor to all those impacted by its activities and promote sustainability by adoption of a triple bottom line, which balances the SFPUC’s economic, environmental and social equity goals.

Role description

Under the direction of the SFPUC Community Benefits (CB) Director, the Deputy Director will:

Perform a broad range of managerial, professional, and analytical work.

Provide overall support to the CB Director as needed, including in: (i) the management of program staff with varying roles across the CB Division; (ii) hands-on technical support for CB staff working to implement key programs and initiatives in service to local communities impacted by SFPUC projects and operations; (iii) ensuring the seamless execution of CB projects, contracts and events; (iv) building and maintaining collaborative relationships within and external to CB in service of project, contract and event execution; (v) overseeing the scoping and implementation of the community benefits components of all SFPUC capital projects; (vi) internal collaboration with executive members and managerial staff of SFPUC Water, Wastewater, and Power Enterprises; and (vii) advancing the SFPUC’s core objectives, goals, and plans to achieve positive community impacts as a result of the operation of SFPUC’s Enterprises.

Provide strategic support and direction to program staff on a variety of technical functions, including, but not limited to: developing and negotiating contract language, MOUs, and other documents navigating policies, directives, and processes that apply to CB’s work; mapping out project plans with key staff for seamless execution that include engagement of key stakeholders; building or improving programs to advance equitable outcomes for the communities served by the SFPUC; and evaluating the impact of CB’s work.

Mitigate challenges, propose solutions, and proactively and effectively escalate critical issues to CB and EA leadership to support timely and effective resolutions.

The Ideal Candidate

The Leadership Competency Model illustrates what it means to be successful for any leader at the SFPUC, supporting our commitment to organizational excellence. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record and ability to exercise the following competencies which are the most critical to the Deputy Director of CB role:

Accountability : Acts with integrity, honesty, and fairness; inspires trust. Clearly defines roles and responsibilities for self and others. Holds self and others to their roles and responsibilities. Complies with legal and ethical guidelines. Acts as a responsible steward of the resources entrusted to the SFPUC.

Decision Making and Problem Solving: Takes ownership of problems and makes timely, responsible, transparent, and clear decisions. Involves others in addressing problems and seeking solutions. Gathers relevant information and conducts appropriate analyses. Understands the impact of decisions.

Risk Management: Understands personal responsibility for managing risks and takes precaution in avoiding preventable risks. Identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks seen as impacting the organization's achievement of strategic goals and objectives. Ensures self and others are following procedures that prevent avoidable operational, financial, legal, or health and safety risks.

Adaptability: Adjusts, perseveres, and succeeds in meeting objectives despite rapidly shifting environment, demands, and resources. Reacts appropriately to changing conditions or priorities. Alters approaches to most effectively address different situations and people. Responds positively to tasks and situations outside of comfort zone.

Change Management: Ensures that planned changes are thoroughly, smoothly, and effectively communicated and implemented such that the lasting benefits of change are achieved. Leverages a structured approach and people-oriented strategies to drive the adoption and usage of new solutions to fully realize organizational benefits and project objectives.

Business Acumen: Understands and leverages business concepts, terms, and tools to achieve desired outcomes. Makes informed decisions and develops sound budgets and plans surrounding the financial and operational functions of the organization. Demonstrates expertise in the utility industry landscape. Develops compelling business cases to support organizational plans and objectives.

Strategic Planning: Formulates objectives and priorities, implements plans, and allocates resources to achieve the long-term goals of the organization.

Essential duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Provide hands-on support to key CB teams, which may include not only delegation and management but individual contribution to ensure success: Environmental Justice policy implementation; Kinder-to-Career strategies; the overseeing of public art enrichment funds; the development of educational programs to support eco-literacy and environmental stewardship specific to water, power and sewer; the Social Impact Partnership program and contracting strategies; the Southeast Community Center and all related programs; and the advancement and promotion of use of public land in a way that maximizes health and environmental sustainability and innovative ideas.

Manage up to four FTEs as direct reports, implementing criteria to measure success and accountability while providing growth opportunities.

Mitigate challenges, propose solutions, and proactively and effectively escalate critical issues to leadership to support timely and effective resolutions.

Build strong and collaborative working relationships both within and external to CB and External Affairs in service of advancing CB’s goals.

Develop and negotiate contract language, MOUs, and other documents related to the SFPUC’s community benefits policy in collaboration with internal stakeholders such as applicable program sta