Water and Energy Conservation Coordinator

Job Description

Water and Energy Conservation Coordinator (913)

Education and Experience

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree and major course work in engineering, environmental studies, business administration, public administration, communications, or a closely related field and a minimum of two years of experience involving water, energy or other resource conservation and customer service program management. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for a maximum of sixty (60) semester units of the required education on the basis of one (1) year experience for thirty (30 semester units. A working knowledge of DOS or Windows based word processing and spreadsheet programs is desirable and will be required prior to permanent appointment.

Licenses and Certification

Possession of a valid, appropriate California driver's license is required. A certificate of completion of water auditing, landscape water auditing, industrial water auditing courses, energy auditing, energy management, resource conservation or communications courses is highly desirable.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a position in the classified service assigned to work in the Water and Sewer Utilities Department or the Electric Utility Department. The incumbent is responsible for the planning development, modification, implementation, coordination and management of water conservation programs and waste minimization programs for the City of Santa Clara Water and Sewer Utilities, including existing programs such as the City's Drought Plan, Urban Water Management Plan and Landscape Irrigation Ordinance or for the planning development, modification, implementation, coordination and management of energy conservation and customer service programs for the City of Santa Clara Electric Utility, including existing programs such as the City’s Energy Audit Service and Energy Conservation Hotline. The incumbent will be expected to exercise independent judgement and be able to communicate effectively, orally or in writing.

Typical Duties

When assigned to the Water and Sewer Utilities:

Develops and promotes effective water conservation programs; develops and manages water conserving device retrofit and incentive programs; develops and manages waste minimization programs as might apply to wastewater discharge; performs domestic, landscape and industrial water audits; coordinates leak detection programs; gathers, analyzes, interprets data related to water supply and use and prepares reports on findings; determines the cost-effectiveness of various water conservation programs and techniques; investigates water and wastewater rate incentive programs; identifies high-volume water users and assists them in establishing water audit programs internally and monitors and evaluates results; uses water supply/use forecasting models and computer programs; represents the City regarding water conservation issues before the City Council, other governmental agencies, water districts and other water suppliers, chambers of commerce, apartment and home owners associations and community groups; develops and implements public information programs concerning water conservation, including press releases, newsletters, flyers, bill stuffers and other forms of information; prepares technical reports and drafts regulations concerning the use of water; prepares resolutions and develops programs for annual Water Awareness Month; coordinates water conservation and waste minimization efforts of other City departments and agencies of the City; coordinates water conservation enforcement activities and may represent the City before local courts in the prosecution of water waste citations; may direct and supervise support staff, part-time, as-needed or contract employees and volunteers in the implementation of water conservation programs; may install or provide advice in the installation of water-saving devices; may assist Water Pollution Control Plant staff in the implementation and enforcement of waste minimization regulations; and, performs related work as required.

When assigned to the Electric Utility:

Develops and promotes effective energy conservation programs; develops and manages energy conserving device retrofit and incentive programs; develops and disseminates conservation and services information suitable for distribution to the public; coordinates support services to produce conservation and services materials; sets up displays or workshops, classes and conservation presentations; performs domestic, commercial and industrial energy audits; gathers, analyzes, interprets data related to customer energy use and prepares reports on findings; fields customer comments and questions regarding energy use and bill calculations; determines the cost-effectiveness of various energy conservation programs and techniques for the customer and the utility; investigates electric rate incentive programs; identifies high-volume energy users and assists them in establishing energy audit programs internally, and monitors and evaluates results; uses energy forecasting models and computer programs; represents the City regarding energy conservation issues before the City Council, other governmental agencies, other energy suppliers, chambers of commerce, apartment and home owners associations and community groups; develops and implements public information programs concerning energy conservation, including press releases, newsletters, flyers, bill stuffers and other forms of information; prepares technical reports and drafts regulations concerning the use of energy; prepares resolutions and develops programs for annual Public Power Week; coordinates energy conservation efforts of other City departments and agencies of the City; participates in Electric Department Regulation enforcement activities and may represent the City before local courts in the prosecution of energy theft citations; may direct and supervise support staff, part-time, as-needed or contract employees and volunteers in the implementation of energy conservation programs; may install or provide advice in the installation of energy-saving devices; and, performs related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of water conservation, water supply planning and management; water supply and water use forecasting; elements of water distribution and landscape irrigation systems; technology of water-saving devices, e.g., ultra low-flush toilets; periscope and water-conserving landscape design and drought tolerant planting; laws and regulatory codes applicable to water supply and use, including the State Water Code; waste minimization practices; energy conservation and Demand-side management, including the use of common utility benefit/cost ration tests; electric generation technologies and terminology; electric load trending and forecasting; electric rates and bill calculations, including energy, demand and power factor; elements of electric generation and distribution systems; electric safety; common electrical terms and formulas; the technologies, economizers and occupancy sensors; principals and practices of lighting, weatherization, waste heat recovery and indoor climate control; general building construction and components; laws and regulatory codes applicable to energy use and energy efficiency, including the State Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (Title 24) and State Appliance Efficiency Standards (Title 20); and, principles of public administration and management.

Supervision Received

Works under the general supervision of the Director of Water & Sewer Utilities or Director of Electric Utility, Assistant Director(s), Senior Water Engineer or Senior Electric Utility Engineer, or other supervisor as assigned.

Supervision Exercised

May supervise support staff, part-time, as-needed labor, contract employees, or volunteers.

Special Conditions

May be called upon to work nights, weekends or unusual hours.

Approved, April 1995