Job Posting

Job Posting: Manager, Division of Planning

Department of Water Resources

JC-505792

Manager, Division of Planning
C. E. A.

$10,349.00 - $21,370.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 2/20/2026

Job Description and Duties

Under the direction of the Deputy Director, Statewide Water Resources Planning and Enterprise Project Management, the incumbent serves as the Manager of the Division of Planning and provides strategic and operational leadership for DWR’s Statewide Water Resources Planning Program. The Division Manager leads day-to-day division operations, drives high-quality work products and timely delivery of key initiatives, and ensures alignment with Department priorities for modern, actionable statewide water resources planning. The incumbent is responsible for policy development and implementation for long-term water supply, conservation, or storage targets and water supply innovation. The incumbent must be an exceptional communicator and trusted executive partner, able to translate complex technical analyses, policy concepts, and planning recommendations into clear, accessible messaging for executive audiences, public forums, and diverse partners. This position also serves as the Department’s primary liaison with the State Water Resources Control Board related to the San Joaquin Valley Watershed Studies and serves as the Division of Safety of Dams Neutral Party.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Minimum Requirements

This position does not have a Classification Specification. Requirements and qualifications for this position can be found in this announcement. For additional questions, please contact the hiring department listed below.

C. E. A.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-505792

Position #(s):

840-800-7500-69X

Working Title:

Manager, Division of Planning

Classification:

C. E. A.

$10,349.00 - $21,370.00 Incumbents shall typically receive a salary rate within the approved CEA level. The approved level for this position is B ($12,131 – $14,453).

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

Work Location:

Sacramento County

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Career Executive Assignment - Non Tenured, Full Time

Department Information

Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature. We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department. Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect. An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Department Website: https://water.ca.gov/

Special Requirements

Financial Disclosure: This position is covered in the Political Reform Act and requires financial disclosure within 30 days of the first and last day physically worked in a covered position and annually by April 1st.

Additional requirements may be found on the duty statement.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 2/20/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are eligible to be appointed to this Career Executive Assignment (CEA) by the State of California.

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Water Resources

N/A

Attn: Brittany Armstrong

P. O. Box 1079

Sacramento, CA 95812

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Water Resources

Submit in Person

Brittany Armstrong

715 P Street, 7th floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

08:00 AM - 04:30 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
Statement of Qualifications - The “Statement of Qualifications” (SOQ) should describe a candidate’s experience, knowledge, and abilities relative to the desirable qualifications listed within this announcement of the Manager, Division of Planning position. Specific examples must be provided. It shall be typed in 12-point font, with one-inch margins and shall not exceed two pages in length. Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application or SOQ. Applicants who fail to submit a State Application (STD. 678) and a SOQ will be eliminated from this examination process.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Examination Qualification Requirements

All applicants must possess the knowledge and abilities, and any other requirements, described in this announcement.

Note: Eligibility to take a CEA examination does not require current permanent status in the civil service.

General Qualifications

State civil service employees must possess essential general qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.

Knowledge and Abilities

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy – influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:

(1) Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices and the trends of public administration, organization and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; personnel management techniques; and the Department’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program and the processes available to meet program objectives.

(2) Ability to plan, organize and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organizational procedures and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public, and the Legislative and Executive Branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; prepare and review reports; and effectively contribute to the Department’s Equal Employment Opportunity Objectives.

These knowledge and abilities are expected to be obtained from the following kinds of experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation and/or evaluation of program policies (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization):

CEA Level A - Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Please submit a Statement of Qualifications that includes the following information:

Demonstrated leadership ability to plan, lead, organize, and direct the Department’s water resources planning and water management efforts.
Demonstrated technical knowledge of federal and State laws, regulations, directives, and policies related to water resources planning and water management.
Demonstrated experience to establish goals and objectives, drive execution through measurable outcomes, track progress using performance metrics, and ensure timely and effective reporting for executive leadership.
Demonstrated executive ability to confer with and gain the confidence of top-level officials including the Directorate and control agency representatives, build partnerships, and to represent the Department as a subject matter expert on water resources planning and water management.
Demonstrated analytical ability to critically evaluate problems, propose and evaluate alternatives, design and implement innovative solutions, and take effective action.
Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills, with proven ability to negotiate and communicate complex issues and policies, both verbally and in writing.

Examination Information

The examination process will consist of a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) evaluation conducted by a screening committee. The SOQ will be the only basis for your final score and rank on the eligible list.

The minimum and desirable qualifications listed within this announcement will be used as the standard to screen. The SOQ should describe a candidate’s experience, knowledge, and abilities relative to the desirable qualifications of the Manager, Division of Planning position. Specific examples must be provided. The SOQ will also serve as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing since this is a critical factor to successful job performance.

Applicants should take special care in accurately and completely filling out a State Application (STD. 678). The SOQ shall not exceed two pages in length. It shall be typed in 12-point font with standard 1-inch margins.

Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application or SOQ.

Applicants who fail to submit a State Application (STD. 678) and a SOQ will be eliminated from this examination process.

Please see CalHR'S video on how to write an SOQ: State Hiring Workshops, Part 2: Resumes & SOQs - YouTube

If you meet the requirements stated in this announcement, you may take this competitive examination. Possession of the Examination Qualifications requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination will be compared with the performance of others who take this examination, and all successful candidates will be ranked according to their scores.

A minimum rating of 70% must be attained in the Examination to obtain list eligibility for this position. All candidates will receive written notification of their examination results.

The results of this examination will only be used to fill this position. Applications will be retained for twelve months.

Hiring interviews for the Job may be conducted with the most qualified candidates.

The examining Department reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service law and rules and all competitors will be notified.

Special Testing Arrangements

If you have a disability and need special testing arrangements, answer the Reasonable Accommodations question appropriately on your Application (STD 678). You will be contacted to make specific arrangements. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this announcement.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.