SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM, TEXAS
The San Antonio Water System Seeks an Experienced and Innovative Communications Executive to Provide Communications Leadership in a time of Change and Growth While Serving as the Next Vice President of Communications & Community Relations
The Community
San Antonio, which is the county seat of Bexar County, is now the nation's eighth largest. The 2000 U.S. Census found that San Antonio had a population of 1,114,646, which represented a growth of 14.8% over the 1990s.The City covers 435 square miles. San Antonio has maintained its multi-ethnic social diversity resulting in a dynamic growth of tourism that serves twelve million visitors a year. The economy is diverse, including a rapidly growing medical and health care sector, a diversified manufacturing sector that produces aircraft, semiconductors, aluminum, a wide variety of business services, and a large military establishment. At 150 miles from the US border with Mexico, the City is strategically located within the geographic area covered by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Principal medical facilities located in the South Texas Medical Center area include the University of Texas Health Science center, as well as nine major hospitals. Medical facilities attract patients from all over South Texas and Mexico. Home to 16 colleges and universities, the community is rich with art and cultural institutions. There are several community theaters, the Symphony Society of San Antonio, a number of museums and dance companies.
The City administers 125 parks and 22 swimming pools. Fiesta!, a ten day festival, occurs every April. Visitors to the City enjoy the Alamo and four other Spanish Missions, as well as other popular attractions to include the famed River Walk, HemisFair Park, the San Antonio Zoo, the McNay Art Museum, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Sea World San Antonio, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. San Antonio sports teams include the 2005 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs, the San Antonio Rampage of the International Hockey League and the San Antonio Missions minor league baseball team.
The San Antonio Water System
The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) is a municipally owned utility providing water, wastewater, and reuse service to a customer base of approximately 1.2 million people. The System provides both retail and wholesale water and wastewater service. In addition, the System provides chilled water and/or service to various customers in the downtown area.
SAWS is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, responsible for overall policy and management of the System.
The mission of SAWS is: "To provide quality and reliable water, wastewater, reuse water, and other related services to our customers. SAWS also provides leadership in managing and developing water resources in the San Antonio region."
The System has 620 square miles of service area and is responsible for 4,300miles of water mains, -22,700 fire hydrants, 5,100 miles of sewer mains, 75 miles of recycle water mains, 100 well pumps, 154 high service pumps, 981 MGD pumping capacity, 47 ground storage tanks, 16 elevated storage tanks, 23 hydro-pneumatic tanks, and 149 MG storage capacity.
The City currently obtains most of its water supply through wells drilled into a geologic formation known as the Edwards Limestone Formation. The portion of the formation supplying water in the San Antonio area has been designated since 1978 as a sole-source aquifer under the Safe Drinking Water Act by the EPA and had historically been the System's sole source of water supply. The System began obtaining non-Edwards groundwater from the Trinity Group Aquifer during February 2002.
In April 2005, the System underwent a major reorganization. As a result, the corporate structure is split into eleven groups: Administrative Services, Communications & Community Relations, Corporate Initiatives, Customer Service, Distribution & Collection Operations, Facilities Engineering & Construction, Financial Services, Human Resources, Legal, Production & Treatment Operations, and Strategic Resources & Business Planning.
The Position
The Vice President of Communications & Community Relations is appointed by and reports to the Chief Executive Officer and serves as a member of the Strategic Leadership Team. The Vice President of Communications & Community Relations is responsible for the Communications Department with twenty employees and an annual operating budget of $1.5 million. The position will oversee the development of a strategic communications plan, the local government affairs and community relations. The position is a strategic partner and decision-maker and will provide creativity, problem solving, organizational management and crisis management to internal and external customers.
The Ideal Candidate
Education and Experience
Candidates for the position will have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Business Administration or related -field and ten to fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in a comparably sized and complex organization. A Master’s degree in Business Administration, Communications or Public Relations is desirable, as is, a proven track record in developing and implementing a strategic communications plan. Bi-lingual in Spanish is also desirable.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Ø Demonstrated success in the development and implementation of a communication strategy
Ø Highly creative
Ø Excellent oral and written skills
Ø Ability to translate complex information into understandable message
Ø Balance between book smart and street smart
Ø Ability to understand the people, politics and community of San Antonio
Ø Quick study/hit the ground running
Ø Actively involved with community
Ø Knowledge of how to push a campaign forward
Ø Financial management and budgeting skills
Ø Crisis communications skills
Ø Ability to communicate with all levels of the organization
Ø Knowledge of how to structure a department between PR side and creative side
Ø Knowledge of wire services, journals, etc.
Ø Know how to manage public relations and advertising
Ø Understanding how the message fits in with the organization as a whole
Ø Excellent listening skills
Ø Understanding of business process, value chain analysis and other business management practices
Ø Ability to challenge the “old way of doing business”
Ø Consensus builder
Ø Organizational/management skills
Ø Contract management skills
Management Style and Personal Traits
Ø Confident presence
Ø Good work ethic
Ø Unquestionable ethics, high moral character and sense of public service
Ø High energy level
Ø Ability to set clear objectives/deliverables, allowing staff to perform while holding them accountable for results
Ø A progressive leader with a strategic orientation and the ability to anticipate rather than react to organizational/community issues, concerns and opportunities
Ø Recognizes talent and how to get the best work out of that talent
Ø Ability to manage creative staff
Ø Supportive of excellent staff
Ø Involved in community
Ø Politically savvy but not political
Ø Excellent interpersonal skills
Ø Confident in his/her leadership skills
Ø Strategic thinker who can communicate a shared vision to the organization and community
Ø Entrepreneurial approach
Ø Strong personality that doesn’t get in the way of doing their job
Ø Sense of urgency
Ø Be decision maker - crisp
Ø Collaborative
Ø Ensure completed staff work
Ø Owns their job and responsibility
Ø Honest and forthright/not a spin doctor
Ø Takes ownership of decisions/project
Ø Good work ethic
Ø Good sense of humor
Compensation
The San Antonio Water System has established a competitive compensation package with a starting salary negotiable depending on experience and qualifications. The San Antonio Water System participates in the Texas Municipal Retirement System and the International City/County Managers 457 deferred compensation plan. The System offers a benefit package comparable to other entities its size.
How to Apply
Qualified individuals should send resumes (email preferred), current salary information and five business related references no later than close of business August 31, 2005.
Jim C. Blagg, Sr. VP
The Mercer Group, Inc.
405 Sommerville Court
Arlington, TX 76013
VOICE: 972.740.3519 / FAX: 817.275.0897
EMAIL: mercertx@sbcglobal.net
Resumes will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates with relevant qualifications will be given preliminary interviews by consultants. Candidates deemed qualified will be reported to SAWS. A final interview process will be scheduled for selected candidates.
THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND VALUES DIVERSITY AT ALL LEVELS OF ITS WORKPLACE. FEMALE, MINORITY AND DISABLED CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT MAY REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF APPLICANT INFORMATION AT ANY STAGE OF THE PROCESS.