Chief, Engineering
Salary
$200,494.66 - $250,691.82 Annually
Location
Spring Valley, CA
Job Type
Full-Time Regular
Job Number
00327
Department
Engineering
Section
Engineering Chief
Opening Date
07/08/2026
General Duties
About Otay Water District
The Otay Water District, established in 1956, is a public agency providing water, recycled water, and sewer services to approximately 242,000 customers within roughly 125 square miles of southeastern San Diego County, including the communities of eastern Chula Vista, Bonita, Jamul, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, unincorporated areas of El Cajon and La Mesa, and eastern Otay Mesa along with the international border with Mexico.
For more information about Otay Water District, go to www.otaywater.gov.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills; ability to recommend improvements and innovations (both with and without the utilization of technology); experience with Asset Management; outstanding organizational skills to manage the activities of the Engineering Department, as well as the ability to provide complex administrative support to the General Manager and Board of Directors, and the ability to work as a member of the Districts Senior Management Team.
The ideal candidate should also possess the following Personal Characteristics, Skills, and Experience:
A Visionary and Leader - Experienced Manager, Strategic Thinker - Innovative, Forward Thinking - Collaborative - Professional and Highly Competent - Business, Customer and Results Oriented - Open Communicator - Committed to Employees.
We welcome veterans and transitioning military. Are you a former member of the military with related experience? If so, we encourage you to apply. Consider joining a team of dedicated professionals who work to protect and preserve water, one of our most valuable resources. The experience youve gained during your service can continue to impact the world with a career at Otay.
The Otay Water District offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, a balanced work/life environment, and is a leader in the industry.
5% Cost-of-Living Adjustment is scheduled for July 13, 2026.
About the Position and Department
Under general direction of the General Manager, the Chief of Engineering plans, directs, manages and oversees the activities and operations of the Engineering Department including: Engineering Design and Planning Services, Development Services, Project and Construction Management, Survey, Recycled Water and Environmental Services. Serves as the Chief District Engineer.
The Engineering Department is responsible for the Planning, Budgeting, Design, Construction, and Inspection of all Otay Water District facilities as well as the administration of all developer and new customer construction and service applications. Projects include facilities for water, recycled water, sewer and support facilities, such as pipelines, reservoirs, pump stations, wells, ponds, and a treatment plant. The Engineering Department also manages an annual Capital Improvement Program (CIP) of approximately $18.9 million per year. The Department has a staff of approximately 30 employees supplemented by the services of consultants.
Applications will be accepted until there are a sufficient number of highly qualified applicants from which to make a selection. However, for the earliest consideration, please submit your application materials by July 26, 2026. For information on the recruitment process, please go to the Employment section of our website www.otaywater.gov or click here to view our Recruitment Process Frequently Asked Questions.
Examples of Duties
Essential Functions:
For the complete job description, go to the Employment section of our website www.otaywater.gov or click here.
Required Licenses and/or Certifications
Minimum Experience, Education, and Training Requirements
Experience:
Seven (7) years of management, program and/or project-level experience in the design, engineering, and construction management of capital water, and wastewater facilities, including experience with development services projects, and environmental science. Experience with design, engineering, and construction management of recycled water facilities is desirable.
Education:
Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering or closely related field; Masters degree desirable.
This position is exempt from overtime.
Otay Water District is a Smoking, Tobacco and Nicotine Free Campus.
All Otay Water District employees are at-will pursuant to California Water Code, Section 71362.
Notice: Benefits listed below assume full-time regular status. These benefits do not apply to temporary appointments.
Scheduled salary increases include the following:
Vacation: 12 days/year, increasing to a max of 23 days/year.
Sick Leave: 8 days/year, increasing to max of 15 days/year.
Management Leave: 12 days/year.
Paid Holidays: 14 days/year, including employees birthday and two floating holidays.
Auto Allowance: $400 per month.
Alternative Work Schedule: A 9/80 work schedule may be available based on the needs of the department. Upon approval, employees would work 80 hours over 9 days and enjoy one day off every two weeks.
PERS Retirement: The District contracts with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). CalPERS is a defined benefit retirement plan that includes a lifetime benefit determined by a set formula (years of service, age at retirement, and final compensation). Employees hired after January 1, 2013 are subject to the Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA).
Employee Contributions:
New Member (hired on or after 1/1/13 who are new CalPERS members or do not have reciprocity with CalPERS):
Classic Member (hired before January 1, 2013 or who have reciprocity with CalPERS):
The District is also a Social Security participant and the District and employee make contributions.
Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan (457 Plan): Optional plan designed to provide employees with additional retirement income. Employees may elect to contribute a portion of their income on a pre-tax or post-tax basis through payroll deductions. Employee contributions for the Deferred Compensation Plan will be matched dollar per dollar up to the maximum amount of $5,000 per calendar year.
Medical/Rx Insurance: Choice of Blue Shield PPO, EPO, HMO or Kaiser HMO plans, 100% premium paid by District for employee and 88% for dependent(s).
Dental Insurance: 100% premium paid by District for employee and 88% paid for dependent(s).
Vision: 100% premium paid by District for employee and 0% for dependent(s).
Flexible Benefits Plan: The District offers a healthcare and dependent care flexible benefits plan. The healthcare account reimburses the employee on a pre-tax basis for medical, pharmacy, dental and other related expenses not covered by the insurance plans. The dependent care account allows employees to pay for employment-related dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
Group Term Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance: 100% premium paid by the District for employee and eligible dependent(s). The Life and AD&D insurance coverage for the employee is two times their annual salary and eligible dependents have Life insurance coverage of $1,000. In addition, executives are also eligible to apply for another portable life insurance program with premiums paid by the District while employed. This portable life insurance program is subject to medical evaluation and rates may change based on the outcome of the medical review.
Executive Physicals: The District will provide reimbursement for Executive Physicals, including some optional procedures if it is determined by the doctor to be medically necessary.
Voluntary Life Insurance: Employees may elect to cover themselves and eligible dependents for voluntary life insurance. The full cost of this insurance is paid by the employee via payroll deductions.
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance: The District provides short-term and long-term disability insurance equal to 66 2/3% of your income after a 30-day elimination period (90-day elimination period for long term disability) if totally disabled due to illness or injury.
Education Reimbursement Program: Employees are eligible to receive reimbursement for District approved courses not to exceed $3,000 per fiscal year.
Professional development, seminars, and conferences: The District offers these opportunities to help facilitate an employees professional growth.
Employee Assistance Program: Provides confidential referrals and counseling concerning personal, family, or work-related issues for employees and their dependents.
Free Onsite Workout Facility: The District has a fully equipped exercise room for employees to use before work, after work or during lunchtime.
Yoga Classes: On-site Yoga classes are offered during the lunch hour at the employees expense.
Retirement Benefits:
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) effective September 1, 2024: A Health Reimbursement Arrangement is an interest-bearing, employer-funded account created in your name to reimburse you tax-free in retirement for eligible medical expenses and premiums. Otay Water District makes deposits of employer contributions and mandatory employee contributions while you are employed, but you will not be able to access funds until retirement or separation of service, having met Otay Water District's vesting requirements.
Tier II Eligibility for All Full-time Regular Employees Hired On or After September 1, 2024:
All full-time, regular employees hired on or after September 1, 2024, will participate in a mandatory HRA Plan. The District and the employee will make contributions to the HRA Plan.
The District will contribute $4,000 annually to the employee's HRA from their latest date of hire until they retire or terminate from the District for a maximum period of twenty (20) years. The employee will contribute $1,000.00 annually (or $40 per pay period for the first twenty-five [25] pay periods of the calendar year) to their HRA from their latest date of hire until they retire or terminate from the District. There is a vesting schedule for this Plan as set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Otay Water District Employees Association, effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
01
Please identify your highest level of college education COMPLETED. If you do not have a Bachelors Degree or higher, please do not apply for the position as you do not qualify.
02
If your Degree(s) are in a related field, please identify the degree and how it relates. If not applicable, indicate N/A.
03
Do you have a valid/unexpired State of California Civil Engineering registration? Please attach a copy of your Professional Civil Engineering Registration to this application, or you can send a copy of hr@otaywater.gov.
04
Do you have a valid/unexpired State of California Land Surveyor registration?
05
Do you have a valid/unexpired Certified Construction Manager (CCM) certification issued by the Construction Management Institute (CMI)?
06
Which best describes your years of management, program and/or project-level experience in the design, engineering, and construction management of capital water, wastewater facilities, including experience with development services projects, and environmental science.
07
Briefly describe your design and/or construction experience with water, wastewater, and reclaimed water facilities projects and operations. If you do not have any of this experience, please indicate N/A. Please do not indicate "See Application/Resume" or your application will be considered incomplete.
08
Which best describes your years of experience directly leading and managing professional and technical staff in an engineering or related environment?
09
Please describe your experience leading and managing professional and technical engineering staff including number and types of employees managed. If you do not have this experience, please indicate N/A. Please do not indicate "See Application/Resume".
10
Please describe your experience with design, engineering, and construction of recycled water facilities. If you do not have this experience, please indicate N/A. Please do not indicate "See Application/Resume".
11
Please describe your experience with Asset Management Programs. Please indicate N/A if you do not have experience in this area. Please do not indicate "See Application/Resume".
12
Please share a recent example of how you have used technology to innovate an area you were responsible for and explain your role.
13
Please describe your experience in developing and managing complex budgets.
Required Question
Employer Otay Water District
Address 2554 Sweetwater Springs Boulevard
Spring Valley, California, 91978
Phone 619-670-2222
Website https://www.otaywater.gov