Senior Management Analyst

San Diego County Water Authority; Escondido (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The San Diego County Water Authority, headquartered in Escondido, CA, seeks a Senior Management Analyst to support the Operations & Maintenance Administration Division. You will lead budget development, monitor expenditures, and support contract administration while guiding staff.

The role offers a hybrid schedule with some on-site work at the Escondido office and collaboration across departments. Ideal candidates will bring strong analytical abilities, public-sector budgeting experience, and an

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration or a closely related field with four years of professional experience in administration and management analysis.
• Experience designing and implementing budgets, forecasting expenditures, and providing strategic guidance to leadership.
• Knowledge of public contracting, procurement processes and formal bidding procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, review, and administration of the annual department budget.
• Forecast operating budget, analyze variances, and prepare board presentations.
• Design and modify reporting formats and data systems to meet management needs.
• Supervise professional staff and coordinate cross-functional projects.

Skills

Analytical skills

Budgeting & forecasting

Public contracting

Leadership & supervision

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration or a closely related field

Job description

JOIN THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY!

The San Diego County Water Authority is an independent public agency that serves as San Diego County's regional water wholesaler. The mission of the Water Authority is to provide a safe and reliable water supply to its 22 member agencies serving the region's $267 billion economy and 3.3 million residents.

The Water Authority is executing a long-term strategy to diversify the region's supplies, make major investments in the region's water delivery and storage system, and improve water use efficiency. Through dynamic leadership, thoughtful planning, and prudent fiscal policies, the Water Authority is cost effectively managing the region's water portfolio, while continuing to diversify supplies to enhance current and future reliability.

We welcome veteran or transitioning military to apply. Are you a transitioning or former member of the military with experience as an an Intelligence Analyst, Logistics Specialist, Operations Manager or in a similar military role? Your leadership, operations planning, personnel management, logistics coordination, and data analysis experience may translate directly into success in this position. Applicants may also explore how their military experience aligns with civilian roles by using the Military Skills Translator at https://www.military.com/mst/military-iframe/mos-translator.

Operations & Maintenance

The Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Department is responsible for operating the Water Authority's aqueduct delivery system; ensuring facility security and emergency preparedness; and maintaining and managing the fleet and various other assets. Specifically, the department controls water deliveries to meet member agency demands; manages dam and reservoir operations; ensures water quality; oversees water treatment plant and power generation operations; maintains all vehicles and heavy equipment; provides electro-mechanical support; implements the Asset Management Program (AMP); complies with all applicable environmental regulations; and develops and manages computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and system maintenance programs.

Operations & Maintenance: Administration Division

The Operations & Maintenance Administration Division provides administrative support to the 91 personnel located at the Water Authority's Escondido office, and includes the Director of Operations & Maintenance. The division is responsible for all administrative functions including leadership support, department budget management, procurement and invoice processing, contract administration, office management, records management, Board of Directors support, departmental personnel coordination and other related functions.

The Ideal Candidate

The Senior Management Analyst will be an essential member of the Operations & Maintenance team, supporting core business functions and providing direct supervision, work oversight, and guidance to support staff.

The ideal candidate is flexible, innovative, and comfortable adapting to change. They excel in a dynamic, fast-paced, and deadline-driven environment, approaching challenges with confidence, professionalism, and a willingness to embrace new ideas and processes.

The ideal candidate thrives in an environment where they interact with a diverse mix of personalities and team members whose strengths may lean toward technical skills or vary in their administrative experience. This individual is an effective communicator who can translate complex concepts in a clear, respectful manner and is adept at fostering collaboration and positive outcomes with colleagues from all backgrounds, whether in straightforward or more challenging situations.

In addition, the ideal candidate will bring:

• Advanced analytical capabilities, including the ability to perform increasingly complex business or management studies and develop detailed spreadsheets.
• Experience with public-sector budgeting and forecasting, including monitoring expenditures, preparing projections, and supporting long-term planning efforts.
• Practical knowledge of public contracting and procurement, such as developing and administering formal and informal bids, managing public works contracts, issuing notices inviting bids, and preparing requests for proposals.
• Experience working in a maintenance or operations environment within water utilities or similar sectors is highly valued for this role, with an understanding of how administrative and analytical functions support field operations and asset intensive programs. Applicants from other industries with strong backgrounds are equally encouraged to apply.
• Adaptability and comfort leading and managing change, with the ability to remain steady, flexible, and effective in a fast-paced workplace undergoing continual operational and organizational evolution.

This role is ideal for a candidate who is motivated by challenge and innovation, eager to learn, and skilled at creating and refining systems and processes. If you thrive in an environment where you must navigate complex, evolving, or unfamiliar parameters—and your work directly supports essential regional infrastructure and service delivery—this opportunity will allow you to make a meaningful impact while growing your expertise and driving continuous improvement.

The Senior Management Analyst serves as a key analytical and administrative resource supporting the Operations & Maintenance Department. This role performs a wide range of professional, administrative, financial, statistical, and management analyses that directly contribute to the effective operation of the Water Authority’s aqueduct system, maintenance programs, and departmental business functions.

As a strategic partner to Operations & Maintenance leadership, the Senior Management Analyst helps shape department programs and policies and procedures through thoughtful research, evaluation, and recommendations.

This role administers essential department programs including budget development and monitoring, procurement and contracting processes, and records management. The Senior Management Analyst also supports cross-functional initiatives, improves business processes, enhances data systems, and contributes to operational planning that keeps critical water delivery infrastructure running safely and reliably.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the advanced, journey-level class in the Management Analyst series. Incumbents are fully competent to independently perform responsible and complex analytical work in support of a department or Water Authority-wide program. Assignments are typically received in broad outline form, and incumbents are expected to act independently in developing applicable resources and information. Projects may include statistical analysis, policy, procedures, budget development, regulatory analysis or other areas specific to the assignment. Incumbents are expected to exercise independent judgment in selecting study approach and analytical techniques and in making sound recommendations based on study results.

Representative Duties

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the class.

• Assists in and/or leads the development, review, analysis and administration of the annual department budget, analyzing current and historical trends, evaluating variances and improving cost effectiveness; investigates and evaluates the need for changes in budgetary allocations during the fiscal year; reviews and evaluates purchase requests and justifications.
• Forecasts operating budget, analyzes budget variances, and prepares quarterly and mid-cycle budget presentation for the General Manager and Board of Directors to provide status of past and future expenditures; assists in the development of the Water Authority's budget document.
• Designs and develops report formats to meet management information needs; works with Information Systems to develop or modify systems to provide required data; tracks and reports on department purchase orders.
• Reviews solicitations, contracts and proposed activities to recommend appropriate requirements.
• Serves as liaison between vendors, outside agencies, and other Water Authority departments.
• Plans, organizes, coordinates, directs or conducts detailed administrative or management studies relating to the activities or operation of the Water Authority or Operations & Maintenance Department; determines analytical techniques and statistical and information-gathering processes and obtains required information and data for analysis; analyzes alternatives and makes recommendations regarding such areas as budgeting, cost analysis, cash flow estimates, productivity, work flow and design, contracting, records retention, and policy or procedure development or modification; discusses findings with management and prepares reports of study conclusions; makes presentations of study results and recommendations; assists in developing and implementing program or functional goals and objectives; conducts a variety of special projects and programs related to the functions of the department or specific projects.
• Attends meetings with officials of other governmental agencies, business and community groups and the public regarding assigned projects; responds to requests for information from the public on Water Authority or department programs or projects; attends professional organization trainings.
• Compiles, analyzes and prepares data and develops training materials in support of policies and procedures as well as presentations of findings and recommendations.
• Performs program administrative functions in a specified area; prepares technical reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Provides technical assistance to others on administrative and analytical matters.
• Provides work supervision, direction, training and work assessment of professional support staff.

For further details regarding the duties and responsibilities, and qualification guidelines for this class specification, please click on the following link: Senior Management Analyst

Work Schedule:

Most employees assigned to work at the Escondido office work a 4/10 schedule, 10 hour days from Monday through Thursday. While a majority of the department works a 4/10 schedule, an optional 9/80 schedule is available for this position. The Water Authority offers an optional hybrid work schedule to employees. At this time, this position has the option to telework up to one day per week. Employees authorized to telework must be able to report to Water Authority facilities as needed, depending on the operational needs of the department and/or area of assignment. While onboarding and training, the successful candidate will be required to work primarily onsite during the probationary period. The availability of telework days may change depending on business needs.

The qualification guidelines generally describe the knowledge and ability required to enter the job in order to successfully perform the assigned duties. Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.

A Bachelor's degree from and accredited college or university with major course work in business administration, public administration or a closely related field supplemented by four years of professional experience in administration and management analysis.

All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be evaluated in relation to the criteria outlined in this job announcement. The selection process may consist of an appraisal interview, writing exercise, and/or other appropriate screening devices.

Tentative Exam Schedule

Application Deadline: 09/23/2026
Written Exam: 09/30/2026
Tentative Interview Date: 10/08/2026

To ensure timely and successful navigation, please consider applying early if you are new to the governmentjobs.com application system. For technical assistance with the online application system, please review the Government Jobs online application guide, or contact their toll-free applicant support line at [phone]. If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Patricia Duran, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at [phone].

The San Diego County Water Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy status), gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, genetic information, mental or physical disability (whether perceived or actual), ancestry, military or veteran status, citizenship status, medical condition, and/or national origin.

The San Diego County Water Authority welcomes veterans or transitioning military. If you have questions whether your Military Occupational Specialties or rating qualifies you for a job opening, please visit TIPS & RESOURCES FOR VETERANS APPLYING FOR JOBS IN WATER, on the Water Authority’s regional workforce development website, SanDiegoWaterWorks.org. Applicants may also explore how their military experience aligns with civilian roles by using the Military Skills Translator at https://www.military.com/mst/military-iframe/mos-translator.

Should you have any questions regarding the recruitment process or require accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Patricia Duran, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at [phone].