Utility Specialist – Water Quality Division WQD - Burlingame, CA – SFPUC (5602) 163382

About the role

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is headquartered in San Francisco with 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 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.

This role offers a unique opportunity to help build and scale up critical water quality initiatives, combining technical analysis, project coordination, and field operations to protect public health across San Francisco and regional water systems.

Project: Hazard Assessment Program. Under the State of California’s new cross-connection control regulations, the SFPUC must review all service connections (~180,000+) to properties in San Francisco, as well as the eight other water systems under SFPUC’s control, to evaluate potential hazards to the public drinking water distribution system arising from activities on user premises. In addition, the new regulations require the installation of backflow prevention assemblies on about 4,200 fire service connections. SFPUC has submitted a plan to the State Water Resources Control Board with deadlines for completing hazard assessments by 2049, ensuring backflow prevention assemblies on all dedicated fire services by 2044.

Position Summary: We are seeking a dynamic Utility Specialist to serve as the Technical Program Coordinator for our Water Quality Cross Connection Control (CCC) Program under the direction of the Hazard Assessments Program Manager. You will contribute to the implementation of SFPUC Cross-Connection Control Program in line with new regulatory requirements established by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) through the Cross Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH). You will help shape a high-profile, multi-decade program by developing tracking systems, operational processes, coordinating complex field logistics, and partnering with internal teams, contractors, and external stakeholders across multiple program areas including Hazard Assessments, Fire services upgrades and Regional Compliance.

Appointment: Temporary Exempt — excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and serves at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. Duration shall not exceed 36 months. Recruitment ID: RTF0163381-01159102 (TEX-5602-163382).

Responsibilities

• Program Implementation & Compliance: Develop and implement coordination protocols, workflows, and documentation processes for the CCC Program in compliance with SWRCB CCCPH requirements.
• Systems & Data Management: Establish tracking systems, dashboards, and reporting templates to monitor inspections, costs, schedules, and compliance metrics.
• Research & Analysis: Conduct research using internal databases, GIS systems, spreadsheets, field reports, and photos to compile baseline data on service connection characteristics and assess cross-connection hazards.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Coordinate daily program activities with field staff, contractors, customers, and other City departments, serving as a liaison to ensure smooth communication, scheduling, and execution.
• Contractor & Consultant Oversight: Coordinate with contractors and consultants to ensure field activities align with approved scopes of work, schedules, and Cross Connection Control program requirements.
• Reporting & Continuous Improvement: Prepare program reports, dashboards, and documentation for Program Manager review, highlighting trends, risks, and lessons learned while developing procedures, reference materials, and recommendations to improve program effectiveness.
• Field Engagement: Conduct field coordination and site visits (as needed) to support hazard assessments, inspection activities, and validation of program data.
• Technical Support: Provide technical support for Hazard Assessment Program initiatives, including compliance studies, analytical tasks, and administrative support.
• Perform other project-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university preferably with major coursework in Law, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, Computer Science, Business Administration, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, or other field related to the utility business.
• Experience: Four years of verifiable journey-level work experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Planning, scheduling, cost estimating and resource projecting for mid to large scale projects
  • Water supply/infrastructure management and planning
  • Power operations planning and scheduling
  • Analysis, interpretation and application of utility contracts and regulations in either water, power (electric and/or natural gas), telecommunications, or a wastewater/clean water program
  • Utility market and environmental analysis and planning
  • Power supply and transmission rates and contracts
  • Generation, transmission or distribution planning and design
  • Long-term utility systems planning
• License and Certification: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license.
• Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. One-year full-time employment is equivalent to 2,000 hours (based on a 40-hour work week). Overtime hours above 40 hours per week are not included in the calculation.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date. 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. Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.

Desirable qualifications

• Technical or Scientific Degree: A baccalaureate degree in a technical or scientific field, such as Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Physical Science, or a closely related discipline.
• Compliance & Program Management Experience: Demonstrated experience coordinating or managing compliance, regulatory, technical, or project/program-related work within a water utility, similar utility environment, public agency, or closely related regulatory setting.
• Project Coordination Mastery: Strong organizational and project coordination skills, including managing multiple priorities, tracking activities, monitoring progress, and maintaining accurate records.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proven experience communicating and working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including field staff, contractors, regulators and customers.
• Technical & Analytical Acumen: Ability to conduct regulatory research, analyze technical and operational information, and support the development and implementation of policies, procedures and program improvements.
• Data Management: Proficiency using advanced Excel functions (e.g., formulas, pivot tables, data validation, lookups) to manage datasets, track program performance, and support regulatory reporting.
• Water Systems Knowledge: Basic knowledge of water service and distribution systems, cross-connections, backflow prevention principles (backpressure and backsiphonage) and applicable water quality requirements.
• Regulatory Familiarity: Familiarity with Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations applicable to drinking water,