DESCRIPTION

THE POSITION

Under general direction, plans, administers, manages, reviews, and evaluates the work of an engineering section with major program responsibilities related to water resources, flood control, water supply and/or water treatment and distribution engineering in Zone 7 Water Agency; supervises professional engineers/geologists and support staff; and performs other related work as required.

The class of Principal Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7, is distinguished from the Senior Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7, in that the latter class is a first-line supervisory class having responsibility for project(s) or program(s), while the former class has responsibility for a major engineering section involving several programs. This class is further distinguished from the next higher class of Manager of Engineering, Zone 7, in that the latter class has responsibility for several engineering sections.

For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Principal Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7 (#4970)

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:

• Possesses a broad-based knowledge of engineering, water resources and flood control combined with strong technical skills and outstanding supervisory skills.
• Provides proactive leadership, integrity, and creative solutions skills to lead the staff to become a high-performance, team-based organization.
• Identifies current and future resource needs based on organizational goals, priorities, competing resource needs across initiatives, and budget realities.
• Acts decisively by gathering, integrating, and analyzing sufficient, relevant information from various sources, to make effective, timely and transparent decisions, both in routine and crisis situations.
• Develops strong and collaborative partnerships to achieve goals.
• Manages, directs, and guides Agency professional and technical staff, providing leadership and decision-making abilities when difficulties or challenges arise.
• Provides the necessary tools and knowledge to encourage and foster initiative, independent problem solving, and innovative goal setting among staff.
• Maintains constructive relationships with public, other agencies, developers, engineering firms, employees, and staff to ensure efficient completion of projects and goals.
• Utilizes and manages people, technology, and other resources to achieve Agency objectives.
• Sets performance measures and provides regular feedback to develop Agency staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

TO QUALIFY FOR THE COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT PROCESS, YOU MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS BY FULFILLING ONE OF THE PATTERNS LISTED BELOW (I-III).

EITHER I

Experience: The equivalent of two (2) years' full-time experience in the class of Senior Engineer/Geologist, Zone 7.

OR II

Experience: The equivalent of four (4) years' full-time experience in the class of Associate Civil Engineer/Professional Geologist, Zone 7 or an equivalent or higher classification in Zone 7 Water Agency.

OR III

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Civil Engineering, Geology, or a closely related field.

AND

Experience: The equivalent of five (5) years' full-time, progressively responsible professional engineering/geologist experience subsequent to becoming a Registered Professional Engineer or Professional Geologist that included two (2) years of supervisory or administrative experience.

License: Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer OR a Professional Geologist issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors; Possession of a valid California State Motor Vehicle Operator's license may be required.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Advanced engineering and/or water resources principles, practices and methods related to the area of assignment.
• Engineering mathematics, economics, and statistical analysis.
• Principles and techniques of supervision and personnel management.
• Principles and methods of program management, including planning and resource allocation, administration and budgeting, and program development and evaluation.
• Principles and practices of contract negotiation and administration in a public agency.
• Computer software applications related to the areas of assignment.
• Laws, codes, and regulations applicable to the areas of assignment.

Ability to:

• Plan, assign, supervise, and evaluate the work of others.
• Plan, organize, develop, and manage engineering/geological programs.
• Select, train, supervise and appraise the performance of subordinate professional and support staff.
• Direct the preparation of complex engineering/geological plans, specifications, and studies.
• Analyze complex data and information and reach sound solutions and conclusions.
• Prepare or direct the preparation of comprehensive reports, budgets, contracts, and specialized documents.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; and make effective presentations to a variety of audiences.
• Coordinate section activities with others within and outside the agency.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals, groups, organizations, and agencies contacted in the course of the work.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1. A review of applicants' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Applications will be evaluated for relevant education, experience, and training. The application must be detailed and complete in order to be evaluated properly. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified that will be weighted as qualifying only (pass/fail). Supplemental screening is an internal departmental process and does not require or involve candidate participation. Candidates who pass the best qualified exam component will move on to the final step in the examination process.
3. An oral examination which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral examination may be administered virtually and may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

For more information on the Civil Service Selection process, please visit the "What You Need to Know" section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.

The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency: TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN Deadline for Filing: 5:00:00 p.m., Monday, October 19, 2026 Review of Applications for Minimum Qualifications: October 20, 2026 Notification to applicants: October 23, 2026 Review of Questionnaire for Best Qualified: Week November 6, 2026 Civil Service Oral Examination: * Week November 16, 2026 Notification of Exam Results: 1-2 week after oral exam TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN Department Selection Process: TBD

*The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification. Candidates selected to participate in the oral exam will receive an email notification at least 10 business days in advance of the exam date.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN.

BENEFITS

The County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical - HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental - HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Dis