Job description
Position: Executive Legislative Representative
COMPANY BACKGROUND/CULTURE
Safeguarding public health is paramount to Metropolitan's mission of providing adequate and reliable supplies of high-quality water in an environmentally and economically responsible way. Metropolitan operates five water treatment plants, among the largest in the world as well as one of the most advanced water quality laboratories. Metropolitan has a $1.9 billion biennial budget that includes spending for nearly 450 capital projects, mostly earmarked to rehabilitate existing facilities to ensure future reliability, and to support planning activities for Metropolitan’s full-scale Pure Water Southern California recycled water program. Because of its fiscal integrity and sound business practices, Metropolitan maintains some of the nation's highest credit ratings among government operations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
Korn Ferry Contacts:
Company: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Location: Sacramento, CA
Reporting Relationship: Position reports to the Assistant General Manager of External Affairs, Dee Zinke
Website: www.mwdh2o.com
COMPANY BACKGROUND/CULTURE
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California was established in 1928 out of the need to provide a reliable water supply to a growing Southern California. Over the years, Metropolitan has met that challenge, becoming the nation's largest wholesale supplier of treated water and a global leader in water resource management, investment, planning, and climate change strategies that will ensure the continued delivery of safe, reliable, and affordable water supplies.
Today, Metropolitan delivers water to 26 member agencies that serve nearly 19 million people in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties. The 5,200 square-mile service area is home to 1 out of 2 Californians and 1 out of 17 Americans.
Metropolitan has built and maintains an extensive and integrated water supply system that is the cornerstone of the region's $1.6 trillion economy. That system includes the 444-mile Colorado River Aqueduct as well as reservoirs, pumping plants, water treatment plants, hydroelectric power plants and 830 miles of pipelines and tunnels. About half of Southern California’s water is imported by Metropolitan from the Colorado River and the State Water Project, which brings water from Northern California through the California Aqueduct. The balance comes from investments in local projects such as groundwater recharge and cleanup, stormwater capture, transfer programs and recycling. Conservation programs help reduce local water demands and have earned national recognition for their success in promoting water use efficiency.
Safeguarding public health is paramount to Metropolitan's mission of providing adequate and reliable supplies of high-quality water in an environmentally and economically responsible way. Metropolitan operates five water treatment plants, among the largest in the world as well as one of the most advanced water quality laboratories. Metropolitan has a $1.9 billion biennial budget that includes spending for nearly 450 capital projects, mostly earmarked to rehabilitate existing facilities to ensure future reliability, and to support planning activities for Metropolitan’s full-scale Pure Water Southern California recycled water program. Because of its fiscal integrity and sound business practices, Metropolitan maintains some of the nation's highest credit ratings among government operations.
The day-to-day operations of the organization are guided by solid, strategic leadership and a business philosophy that encourages a supportive work environment. Building on its legacy of leadership and innovation, Metropolitan has implemented an aggressive agenda to reduce its carbon footprint and strengthen its resiliency to a changing climate, and advance initiatives that build and reaffirm a workplace culture of inclusion, respect, equity, safety and accountability.
Metropolitan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
As the chief lobbyist for Metropolitan, this person will direct and participate in all legislative activities related to the implementation of Metropolitan's state advocacy program, with responsibility for representing Metropolitan's interest before the State Legislature and Executive Branch. As the primary liaison with elected representatives and high-level administration officials, this person plays a critical role in promoting and protecting Metropolitan's near- and long-term legislative, regulatory and policy objectives.
The successful candidate must possess a strong political acumen with a demonstrated ability to achieve desired results. This individual must have excellent analytical and communication skills and be effective in building strategic coalitions and publicly advocating through written and oral testimony.
Specific responsibilities include:
- Advocate Metropolitan's interest before the executive, legislative and regulatory branches of state government to promote and protect Metropolitan's near- and long-term legislative and policy objectives.
- Direct legislative activities in the Sacramento office, including engagement on the state budget, to ensure that Metropolitan's strategic goals and objectives are met.
- Direct professional and support staff and contract consultants in support of Metropolitan's legislative strategy. Foster the professional development of and lead a motivated, effective team to ensure that organizational goals for diversity, career development, productivity, performance management and employee development or contractor effectiveness are met.
- Negotiate legislative solutions that promote a reliable water supply for Southern California, protect the financial integrity of the organization and protect Metropolitan's water supply infrastructure.
- Develop and deliver testimony for state legislative hearings. Represent Metropolitan at official meetings to enhance the standing and acceptance of Metropolitan's positions on legislative and regulatory issues.
- Supervise professional and support staff, including assigning work and deliverables, providing training and development, and evaluating employee performance. Assist the General Manager and the Assistant General Manager/External Affairs Officer in the development and implementation of legislative strategies and communication plans to ensure that a consistent and coordinated message is presented to state officials, other public agencies, various interest groups, and the public.
- Direct and manage activities involving the dissemination of information and materials to state elected officials in Sacramento to ensure that officials and key staff members are well-informed about Metropolitan's policy positions in an effective and timely manner. Develop an effective legislative outreach program in Sacramento and help communicate those priorities to other legislative staff and policy and fiscal consultants to ensure that Metropolitan's positions are communicated in a consistent, timely and effective manner.
- In coordination with Metropolitan management and program staff, develop and advance a state legislative agenda and state policy priorities. Advise the Board of Directors, member agencies and staff on the political, policy and program ramifications of Metropolitan's actions to ensure that consistent and deliberative decision-making takes place.
- Attend monthly meetings of Metropolitan Board Committee on Communications and Legislation and provide legislative updates; prepare written updates on Metropolitan's state legislative portfolio.
- Provide legislative updates to the Metropolitan Member Agency Legislative Coordinators and Managers and respond to inquiries for information from member agencies, Metropolitan board members and retailers.
- Supervise the analysis of state legislative and regulatory actions that affect water management, supply reliability, water quality, hydroelectric power/electricity transmission. project funding, governance. climate change adaptation and other key issues to ensure that Metropolitan's strategic goals and objectives are met.
- Coordinate legislative strategies with Metropolitan member agencies and the State Water Contractors, the association of water agencies that oversee and support the operations and maintenance of the State Water Project.
- Maximize the value of active involvement with trade associations, coalitions, other public agencies, business, labor, and environmental non-profits by representing Metropolitan at meetings to promote and protect Metropolitan's goals and objectives through coalition efforts.
- Attend and actively participate as Metropolitan's representative during statewide association meetings/events and working groups.
- Deliver presentations on highly complex legislative issues and state water policy and programs to ensure that interested parties, including management, the Board of Directors. member agency managers and staff and constituency groups are well-informed on state legislative and regulatory issues impacting Metropolitan.
- Coordinate with local and federal legislative team members on activities as needed.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
The Executive Legislative Representative will have a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible, directly related experience in government relations and legislative advocacy at the local or state level; a combination of education and directly related experience totaling fourteen years is also appropriate. This person must have thorough knowledge of the California state legislative and executive branches and management/supervisory concepts and techniques. A solid understanding of current urban, agricultural, or environmental water policy issues is preferred but not required.
The Executive Legislative Representative should also have the following qualifications:
- Previous state experience in government relations and legislative advocacy, and experience developing and implementing legislative strategies, including short- and longterm goals, and establishing methods for measuring success in achieving specific advocacy objectives.
- Strong analytical skills and political acumen with a demonstrated ability to achieve desired results.
- Experience developing strong partnerships and managing high-level professional relationships in fast-paced and transformative environment.
- Lead advocacy experience before government officials, business leaders and a broad range of stakeholders.
- Strong written and oral communication skills to prepare and present written reports and/or oral presentations to management, the Board of Directors, member agencies, elected officials, civic and business leaders, and other stakeholders.
- Knowledge about state policymaking and state and local politics, with an understanding of how these activities impact the development and execution of an integrated advocacy and stakeholder outreach program.
- Experience as a coalition and consensus builder who can effectively work with related organizations with mutual interests.
- Ability to manage, monitor and understand a portfolio of highly complex legislative policy and regulatory issues.
- Outstanding communications and interpersonal skills, including the ability to relate well to a wide range of constituencies and the ability to clearly articulate messages and command the respect of an audience.
- A progressive and innovative leader who inspires high standards of staff performance and accountability.
- An individual of the highest personal integrity who will support and promote a professional work environment built on respect, civility, and excellence.
- Valid driver's license from state of residency equivalent to California Class C that allows you to drive in the course of your employment.
EDUCATION
A bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field is required.
COMPENSATION
A competitive compensation package will be provided to attract outstanding candidates.
Korn Ferry Contacts:
Trenholm Boggs
Principal, Global Government Affairs
E: mwdh2o@KornFerry.com
Shelly Fust
Senior Client Partner, Sustainability and ESG COE
E: mwdh2o@KornFerry.com
Kyle Simpson
Senior Associate, Global Government Affairs
E: mwdh2o@KornFerry.com
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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.
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