Program Specialist; Engineering Administration

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

The Department of Utilities' Engineering & Water Resources Division is seeking a Program Specialist to lead and coordinate administrative and business operations that support the delivery of the City's water, wastewater, storm drainage, and capital improvement programs. This position oversees a team of three administrative professionals responsible for contracts, procurement coordination, invoicing, budget tracking, records management, Council reports, and other operational support functions for the Division.

The Program Specialist works closely with engineering managers, project managers, consultants, contractors, and City departments to ensure administrative processes are efficient, compliant, and responsive to business needs. In addition, the position leads complex non-engineering initiatives and special projects. For example, the Program Specialist will manage updates to development impact fees, including coordinating nexus report updates, preparing materials for City Council consideration, presenting recommendations, and responding to stakeholder and Council questions.

• Highly organized, detail oriented, and able to pivot effectively in a dynamic work environment.
• Strong communicator with solid leadership and team support skills.
• Skilled in fostering collaborative relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Able to serve as a non-technical lead on projects by collaborating with technical subject matter experts, understanding project goals, and helping guide efforts to achieve successful outcomes.

Under general direction the Program Specialist plans, directs, and supervises all of the activities of a major department or Citywide program or project with moderate visibility and impact; conducts studies and makes recommendations; monitors program compliance; represents the department in contacts with media, internal and external agencies, and organizations.

This advanced journey level class in the professional series is populated with multiple incumbents. The Program Specialist is distinguished from the next lower class of Program Analyst in that the Program Specialist manages multiple programs or moderately visible programs with greater department or Citywide impact. This class is distinguished from the next higher classification of Program Manager in that the Manager is responsible for administration and management of programs and projects with high visibility and substantial Citywide impact.

This class is distinguished from the class of Administrative Officer in that the latter is responsible for all internal administrative functions for a department.

General direction is provided by a department or division head. Some assignments require responsibility for direct or indirect supervision of lower level professional, technical, and clerical personnel. Some positions function as internal consultants and require coordination among multiple divisions in a department.

• Plans, coordinates, and administers, a project or program with department or Citywide impact; supervises, trains and evaluates the work of professional, technical and clerical staff.
• Confers with department heads, division managers, members of professional staff, and other officials concerning the administrative needs and requirements related to the program or project; represents the program in contacts with news media, business and civic organizations, other City departments, and various outside public and private agencies.
• Interprets new policies, procedures, and regulations, and develops new or amended programs or projects as need dictates, monitors program objectives to assure compliance with State and administrative regulations and program guidelines.
• Conducts studies and surveys, performs research and analysis and prepares recommendations for department management; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness and outcomes; creates and implements program policies and procedures; develops guidelines, forms and related documents.
• Reviews grant opportunities; compiles and analyzes information for preparation of grants, contracts and agreements; negotiates terms; implements, monitors and prepares reports on…