Manager of State Operations - New Mexico

California Water Service Group; Belen (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

California Water Service Group invites you to lead New Mexico operations as Manager of State Operations, based in Rio Communities. You will oversee water and wastewater system operations, manage operating and capital budgets, and ensure regulatory compliance with state and federal requirements.

You will report to the Director, Subsidiary Operations. This role requires public leadership, cross-department coordination, and hands-on supervision of on-site field activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree highly desired and/or equivalent relevant water industry or field operations experience.
• Five years of increasingly responsible experience in management or supervisory role.
• Five years of experience working in a water and/or wastewater utility in field operations, customer service, or related department.
• New Mexico Environment Department-Water Supply Level 2 certification required and must obtain a level 3 within 18 months; Level 4 highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Manages staff, including prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, overseeing training and development, and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations
• Oversees operations related to distribution, quantity and quality including maintenance and construction activities, all capital construction and activities, and resolving complex customer service issues
• Manages and oversees the States Operating Budget; prepares the Annual Operating Budget for all field activities
• Collaborate with Director, Subsidiary Operations and Engineering Capital Management to develop capital plan and ensure on-budget completion
• Performs duty of Chief Operator on a daily basis and performs shift operator duties as needed
• Ensures certified distribution operators, water treatment plant operators and wastewater treatment plant operators are trained to make decisions that affect water quality and quantity
• Develops, implements, interprets, and ensures compliance with complex rules and regulations via interaction with government agencies and regulators
• Establishes and maintains relationships with local government officials; acts as the Company representative in public forums or before the media
• Prepares written and oral reports for management, boards, agencies, civic organizations, councils and commissions
• Responds to water quality and environmental inquiries and participates in inspections with applicable agencies
• Participates in the GRC process and responds to information requests from PUC, departments, and interveners
• Ensures safety training compliance for employees
• Partner with Customer Service leadership to ensure customers receive high level of service
• Collaborates with Engineering, Water Quality, Environmental and Safety, Rates, and other departments
• Participates in community service organizations aligned with state-wide outreach plan
• Available for on-call duty as required
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Performs work on-site in the assigned office location
• Attends meetings and training directed by Senior Vice President of Operations, Director of Operations

Skills

Public speaking

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

New Mexico Water Service Job Description

California Water Service Group (Cal Water) invites you to build a meaningful career with the third largest publicly traded water utility in the United States. Guided by our mission to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services, we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the customers, communities, and employees we serve. Our culture is grounded in core values-integration, quality, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship and is reflected in our recognition as a Top Workplace®, a Great Place to Work®, and a J.D. Power leader in customer satisfaction for multiple years. Join Cal Water and be part of a purpose driven organization where your work makes a lasting impact.

The Manager of State Operations is responsible for managing the operation and maintenance of all New Mexico water and wastewater systems, including managing and monitoring operating expense budgets and supporting the execution of the capital budget; establishes oneself as a community leader; complies with local, state and federal regulatory requirements for drinking and wastewater; acts as the designated Company official for public meetings or forums; participates in the General Rate Case (GRC) process. This position will report to the Director, Subsidiary Operations. This position will be located in Rio Communities, NM.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Manages staff, including prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, overseeing training and development, and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations
• Oversees operations related to distribution, quantity and quality including maintenance and construction activities, all capital construction and activities, and resolving complex customer service issues
• Manages and oversees the States Operating Budget; prepares the Annual Operating Budget for all field activities
• Collaborate with Director, Subsidiary Operations and Engineering Capital Management to develop capital plan and that it is completed as scheduled and on budget
• Performs duty of Chief Operator on a daily basis and performs shift operator duties as needed
• Ensures certified distribution operators, water treatment plant operators and wastewater treatment plant operators are properly trained to make decisions that affect water quality and quantity using manual or supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
• Provides oversight to system main repairs, service repairs, meter repairs and replacement program, flushing program, valve operation program, fire hydrant maintenance program and fire flow availability tests
• Develops, implements, interprets, and ensures compliance with complex rules and regulations, laws, codes, policies and procedures via interaction with government agencies and regulators
• Establishes and maintains relationships with local government officials; acts as the Company representative in a public forum or before the media
• Exercises technical expertise in preparing written and oral reports for management, boards, agencies, civic organizations, councils and commissions
• Responds to all water quality and environmental inquiries and issues; participates in inspections, adheres to New Mexico Water Statewide NPDES Permit and interacts with applicable local, state, federal agencies
• Participates in the GRC process, including responding to requests for additional information from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), departments, and interveners
• Ensures that employees comply with all safety guidelines by providing required safety training in accordance with Company policy
• Partner with Customer Service leadership to ensure customers are provided highest level of service possible
• Collaborates with Company’s Engineering, Water Quality, Environmental and Safety, Rates, and other internal departments
• Participates in community service organizations consistent with state wide public outreach plan
• Available for on call duty as required
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Performs work on-site in the assigned office location
• Attends meetings and training as directed by Senior Vice president of Operations, Director of Operations

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree is highly desired and/or equivalent relevant water industry or field operations experience
• Five years of increasingly responsible experience in management or supervisory role
• Five years of experience working in a water and/or wastewater utility in field operations, customer service, or related department
• New Mexico Environment Department-Public Wastewater Facility -Level 3 certification required, level 4 highly desired
• New Mexico Environment Department-Water Supply -Level 2 certification required and must obtain a level 3 certification within 18 months from date of hire, a level 4 is highly desired
• New Mexico Environment Department-Water Distribution-Level 2 or 3 certification is highly desired
• Excellent written, verbal, and public speaking skills
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications
• Valid New Mexico Driver License

Salary Range: $89,900 - $163,500 (DOE) Deadline to submit resume is Friday, September 25th, 2026.

The Equal Opportunity Policy of the Company is based upon the philosophy that all people should be treated fairly and with dignity.

California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service and Washington Water Service do not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected class.

The Company makes all employment decisions in a non-discriminatory manner.

EOE, VET, DISABILITIES.

California Water Service Group invites you to pursue a career in the water industry with the third largest publicly traded water utility in the United States. Our mission is to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services. We’re committed to improving the quality of life for our customers, communities, stockholders, and employees. To achieve that, we align our hiring strategies with the company’s core values of integrity, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship so that we can provide quality, service, and value to all of these groups.

Our commitment to our employees is evident, as we have been named a Top Workplace in the Bay Area and designated as a Great Place to Work®, and Cal Water was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Water Utilities in the West” by J.D. Power in its inaugural water utility satisfaction study.