Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 02028-U
Division: Chief Operating Officer - Water Utility
Unit: Office of the Chief Operating Officer - Water Utility
Opening Date: 10/20/2026
Closing Date: 11/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DescriptionChief Operating OfficerWater Utility EnterpriseAnnual Salary: $339,019.20 - $430,456.00 DOE/DOQPLUS an Excellent Benefits Package!
Valley Water, one of the largest water districts in the State of California, is looking for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Water Utility Enterprise (WUE). Reporting directly to the Assistant Chief Executive Officer (ACEO), the COO WUE has oversight of the Valley Water's largest department, which includes the divisions of: Water Utility Capital, Raw Water, Water Supply, and Treated Water and encompasses the entirety of the water utility infrastructure for the organization from surface water reservoirs to pipeline delivery systems. The successful candidate will bring extensive experience in large-scale water utility operations, water supply and imported water challenges, statewide water policy, and collaboration with state and federal agencies, water wholesalers, water retailers, and customers. This leader will be a strategic thinker, an effective communicator with elected officials and stakeholders, and a visible, steady executive who builds relationships, facilitates consensus, and moves complex initiatives forward.
View the full recruitment brochure here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/8fda376b-032a-4644-bc02-8efaa2fa136aSalary and Benefits: Annual Salary $339,019.20 - $430,456.00 DOE/DOQ, and an attractive benefits package.
HOW TO APPLY: for first consideration APPLY by November 19th, 2026 at: https://wbcp.applicantpool.com/jobs/1336844-300215.htmlView the WBCP Job Board: https://wbcpinc.com/job-boardSECURE THE DATES:- Interviews will be held virtually on December 16th, 2026 and in-person on January 8th, 2027. Selected candidates must be available for both interview dates.
Please contact your recruiter, Wendi Brown, with any questions:
- 866-929-WBCP (9227) toll free
- 541-664-0376 (direct)
Salary information is open within the range indicated on the posting and will be competitive and commensurate with experience. We also offer an excellent benefits package including paid vacation, holidays, sick, personal and executive leave, medical, dental, disability and life insurance, a deferred compensation plan and a CalPERS retirement plan.
Defined Benefit Retirement Plan California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) 2.5% at 55(Tier 1), 2% at 60 (Tier 2_or 2% @ 62 (Tier 3) depending on CalPERS membership status at the time of hire.
- Tier I Hired prior to 3/19/2012- 2.5% at 55 retirement plan with final compensation of highest 12 consecutive months. The current required employee contribution is 8%.
- Tier 2 Hired on or after 3/19/2012- 2.0% at 60 retirement plan with final compensation of highest 36 consecutive months. The current required employee contribution is 0%. Valley Water pays the employee contribution (Employer Paid Member Contributions - EPMC) of 7%.
- Tier 3 Hired on or after 1/1/2013- 2.0% at 62 retirement plan with final compensation of highest 36 consecutive months. Employees are required to pay 50% of the total normal cost as determined by the annual CalPERS valuation which is subject to change each fiscal year. The current required employee contribution is 7.25%.
Retirement Health Benefits- Medical coverage is provided for retired employees with 15 years of continuous service with Valley Water or a combination of prior public agency service (meaning the State of California or any political subdivision thereof, including any city, county, or special district) with a minimum of 5 consecutive years of Valley Water Service.
- Medical, Dental and Vision coverage is provided for retired employees and one eligible dependent with 20 or more years of continuous service with Valley Water or a combination of prior public agency service with a minimum of 5 consecutive years of Valley Water Service.
- Medical premium cost sharing is required with the same contribution percentage as active employees and based on the medical premium amount applicable to active employees or retirees, whichever is less. Effective April 1, 2024, retirees will pay 0% of the cost of the premium. Valley Water will pay 100% of the cost of the premium.
Insurance - Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits are provided by Valley Water with no monthly premium cost to the employee! Medical, Dental, Vision Care, and EAP benefits are provided to all regular employees and their eligible dependents including domestic partners.
Holiday Pay - Valley Water provides 14 designated paid holidays per calendar year.
Paid Time Off - Vacation - newly hired employees receive 224 hours (28 days per year) of prorated vacation based on the date of hire. The prorated amount is vested immediately for the remainder of the fiscal year. Beginning each fiscal year, Unclassified employees receive 224 hours (28 days per year) of vacation which is vested immediately for the entire fiscal year and may be accumulated up to 4 times entitlement.
- Sick Leave - accrued at the rate of 1 day per month (96 hours per year) with unlimited accumulation.
- Executive Leave - 24 hours executive leave provided upon hire.
- Personal Leave - 32 hours of prorated personal leave provided upon hire.
- Bereavement Leave - 3 days of bereavement leave. Additional time may be charged to sick leave and limited to a total of 10 consecutive calendar days.
- Parental Leave- Employees may use sick leave (in addition to current vacation, comp time, and/or personal leave) for all qualifying parental leave. Employees can use this sick leave for bonding (or for the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care).
Disability Insurance- Valley Water provides Short-Term Disability (STD) equal to 66 2/3% of salary to a maximum weekly benefit of $3,462 with a 14-day waiting period. STD may transition into Long Term Disability (LTD) after 180 days of disability and then provide 66 2/3% of salary to a maximum monthly benefit of $15,000.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Valley Water provides an EAP to employees and their eligible dependents that is staffed by licensed credentialed counselors and provides information, referral and short-term counseling for personal issues affecting work or personal life.
Flexible Spending Account Plans - Valley Water provides employees the option to participate in a Health Care Spending Account with a maximum contribution up to $3,200 for eligible medical, dental, vision and prescription expenses.
- Valley Water provides employees the option to participate in a Dependent Adult or Child Daycare Account with a maximum contribution up to $5,000 per family or $2,500 if married and filing separately.
Telework- This position is based in Valley Water's San Jose office. Telework employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date. Valley Water employees may be allowed to telework (work from home) up to 40 percent of the time in a two-week pay period, subject to manager approval.
Life Insurance- Valley Water provides life insurance benefits equal to employee's annual salary up to a maximum benefit of $100,000 with a five-year phase out in declining increments of $10,000 per year starting with $50,000 coverage upon retirement.
Deferred Compensation- Deferred compensation plans are available at the employee's option, with up to $8,000 in annual matching contributions each calendar year from Valley Water. The match will be deposited into the 401(a) plan.
Wellness- ValleyWaterWell - Valley Water Wellness program. We offer company-wide challenges, lunchtime seminars, health cooking demos, health stations, and more!
- Origin Financial Wellness - Valley Water provided financial Wellness tool. Free 1:1 meetings with certified financial planners, free app access with visibility to financial transactions, free basic will preparation and more!
- ClassPass - Fitness & wellness at your fingertips. 11 Valley Water provided credits per month.
- Virgin Pulse - Valley Water Wellness Platform. Participate in wellness challenges, competitions, and more. Earn up to $220/annually!
- LifeBalance - Discounts at thousands of businesses nationwide, including health clubs, fitness studios, online retailers, movie theaters, hotels, and more!
Tuition Assistance Program- Unclassified employees with six (6) or more months of continuous service, up to 100% reimbursement of tuition costs upon satisfactory completion of an approved course to a maximum of $3,500 per fiscal year.
At Will- It is the policy of Valley Water that unclassified employees are employed at the will of the CEO/Appointing Authority.
