City of Bakersfield is looking for a talented professional who can lead a department with acute knowledge of water operations and water rights in the southern San Joaquin and Kern County areas. This candidate will possess persistence in achieving the objectives of the City Council and City Manager and skills to unify competing water interests to arrive at solutions that will benefit the City and its use of water resources. This person will be a leader among their peers and will cultivate relationships within the City and with other agencies to further the City’s interests. Individuals with a background in both agriculture and domestic water systems in high-growth areas will be especially competitive. Strong candidates will possess a skillset that demonstrates creative solution-finding thinking. One of the most expected candidate skills is knowledge of water rights and water systems. Most importantly is for the candidate to be able to lead, motivate and empower the Water Resources department staff by; effectively implementing approved programs to assist the City and staff; selecting, developing, and evaluating staff and providing for their training and professional development; and delegate authority and responsibility to staff to empower them to lead other efforts in the Department and carry out the mission and vision of the City.