General Manager

THE COMMUNITY:  The Santa Ynez Community Services District Board of Directors offers a career opportunity for a General Manager in beautiful northern Santa Barbara County.  This is an excellent professional opportunity to manage the community’s wastewater collection services and contract operations of a 0.2 MGD wastewater treatment plant.  The General Manager will supervise a five-member team providing community wastewater services with a 2025/26 operating budget of $2 million and a capital improvement budget of $300K.  Santa Ynez is in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley in northern Santa Barbara County, California.

THE POSITION: The General Manager is the chief executive officer of the District under the direction of the five-member Board of Directors.  The General Manager is responsible for the overall management and administration of the District services and personnel.  Major functions include assisting and advising the Board of Directors, supervision of District staff, managing District budgets, contracts and programs, and representing the District at local and regional meetings. 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: Will have experience as a manager at a local government agency directly serving an elected Board of Directors.  The candidate will have excellent project management, communication and interpersonal skills.  The candidate will have the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with the Board of Directors, staff, partnering agencies, the public, and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.  Knowledge of wastewater and/or water issues, regulatory compliance, business practices and principles, and government agency’s budgeting and accounting practices is highly desirable.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, public policy, finance, accounting, engineering, or a related field and five (5) years of management or administrative experience, preferably in a public agency reporting to an elected Board or Council.  Work experience in the wastewater and/or water industry is desirable.