Project Manager

Willdan Group, Inc.; Temecula (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Willdan Financial Services (WFS) is seeking a Project Manager to lead multiple consulting engagements for local government clients. The role focuses on updating cost allocation plans, building financial models for water, sewer, and energy utilities, and delivering analyses that support rate making, budgeting, and strategic decisions.

You will engage with clients, coordinate project teams, and communicate findings to policymakers and stakeholders, ensuring quality and timely delivery in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Urban Planning, or Public Administration.
• 4+ years of relevant experience (government sector preferred).
• Experience with utility or local government clients.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and budgets.
• Experience presenting findings to elected bodies and the public.

Responsibilities

• Update and review user fee programs and cost allocation plans.
• Create and analyze financial models for utility clients.
• Perform fiscal and economic impact analyses.
• Identify revenue enhancement strategies.
• Manage client engagement and project coordination.
• Prepare reports and present findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Client engagement

Financial modeling

MS Office

Communication

Time management

Staff development

Stakeholder management

Education

B.A./B.S. in Finance

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Outlook

Job description

Willdan Financial Services (WFS) is a growing consulting firm that provides financial and economic consulting services primarily to cities, counties and other local government jurisdictions including public sewer, water, natural gas, and electric utilities. Typical services provided by WFS include, but are not limited to, retail and wholesale utility rate and financial studies, other fee and rate studies for local public agencies, cost-of-service studies, financial modeling and accounting studies, economic and fiscal impact/feasibility studies, economic and strategic planning, sales tax analysis, special district administration, and utility regulatory and litigation support.

The Project Manager will primarily work independently and report to a Principal Consultant or Group Manager/Director.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• User Fee and Cost Allocation Plan Updates: Conduct updates and reviews of user fee programs and structures to ensure fees recover the costs of providing public agency services. Develop and review cost allocation methodologies that appropriately assign indirect overhead costs to an agency's direct operating activities or functions while ensuring alignment with operations and applicable regulations.
• Financial Modeling for Utility Clients: Create and analyze financial models for water, wastewater, natural gas, electric, solid waste, and stormwater utility clients. Use financial projections, alternative scenarios, and sensitivity analyses to support ratemaking, utility operations, budgeting, forecasting, and informed decision-making.
• Fiscal and Economic Impact Analysis: Perform detailed analyses to assess the fiscal and economic impacts of new development, redevelopment, or reuse projects on communities and local governments.
• Revenue Enhancement Studies: Analyze existing and potential revenue-generation strategies and recommend enhancements or new revenue sources.
• Client Engagement and Relationship Management: Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, maintaining clear and consistent communication to understand their needs, objectives, and challenges. Build positive client relationships and support client satisfaction throughout each project.
• Project Coordination and Management: Manage multiple projects simultaneously and oversee the full project lifecycle, from proposals and contract negotiations through final delivery. Coordinate day-to-day project activities and internal resources to ensure milestones are completed within scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.
• Research and Analysis: Conduct in-depth research and analysis to understand client issues, challenges, and operating environments. Use this information to guide project strategy and develop tailored solutions.
• Quality Assurance: Monitor project progress; review financial models, analyses, and deliverables; identify potential risks; and address issues that could affect project quality or outcomes.
• Presentations, Reporting, and Communication: Prepare reports, presentations, and project updates for clients and internal stakeholders. Clearly communicate findings, recommendations, and project progress, including presenting at public meetings and advising elected and appointed policymakers.
• Budget and Financial Management: Monitor project budgets and follow applicable revenue acceptance processes to maintain financial accountability.
• Time Management: Effectively manage personal and team priorities to ensure tasks and deliverables are completed within established timelines and budgets.
• Staff Development: As assigned, mentor, train, and support the professional development of analysts and other staff members.
• Business Relationship Management: Develop and maintain long-term relationships with clients, stakeholders, and business partners through consistent communication and the delivery of high-quality services. Regularly engage clients to understand their needs, gather feedback, and support customer satisfaction.

Job Requirements / Qualifications

• B.A. or B.S. in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Urban Planning, or Public Administration.
• 4 or more years of relevant experience (preferably in a government agency or government consulting firm).
• Prior knowledge and experience with utility or local public government industry clients.
• Ability to prioritize multiple simultaneous projects and tasks to ensure timely execution of high-quality services and deliverables.
• Experience presenting findings to stakeholders including elected governing bodies, local government staff, and the general public.
• Experience collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders while delivering excellent customer service in a highly dynamic growth environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast paced, evolving, entrepreneurial work environment.
• Advanced expertise with Microsoft Office Products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and web-based information sources. In particular, developing and understanding financial and economic models and complex spreadsheets in Excel.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret government regulations, professional journals, industry technical publications and technical manuals or instructions.
• Ability to consistently and accurately calculate figures and mathematical relationships such as discounts, interest, rates of return, proportions and percentages.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract or concrete variables.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Superior information management, time management, and communication skills.

EEO Non-Discrimination and ADA Reasonable Accommodation Statement
Willdan is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, religion, military service or veteran status, disability, medical condition, childbirth and related medical conditions, genetic testing, reproductive status or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws and ordinances. Willdan does not discriminate on the basis of physical or mental disability where the essential functions of the job can be reasonably accommodated. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us.

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