Are you a highly organized and reliable professional with a passion for process automation and industrial control? Are you a collaborative and approachable mentor with a commitment to team success? The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) has an exciting opportunity for you as a Principal Control Systems Administrator. This position will provide day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high-performance, customer service-oriented work environment that supports achieving the Department’s and Agency’s mission, while participating in all aspects of the Agency's automated systems. 

This position is perfect for you if:

Here at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, we are a leader in water management and environmental stewardship. We strive to produce high-quality renewable products such as recycled water and top-quality compost to enhance and preserve the quality of life throughout our region. Our values go beyond just protecting the resources and the communities we serve. We are committed to applying ethical, transparent, and environmentally sustainable principles to all aspects of business and organizational conduct. We recognize that our commitment to the community starts with our employees. In order to ensure that our staff are able to continue to perform at a high level and provide unparalleled services throughout our service area, we strive to provide a healthy work-life balance.

Here are a few ways the Inland Empire Utilities Agency is committed to helping you feel your best, work your best, and live your best while working with us:

Under direction, plans, organizes, manages, and participates in the development, implementation, and monitoring the programs and activities of the Agency's Operational Technology programs; supervises and reviews the work of professional and support staff, and serves as a subject matter expert in process automation and control systems; oversees administration of the Agency's Distributed Control Systems and process automation computer platforms and networks; coordinates the integration of multiple networks, platforms, applications and users; functions as project manager, overseeing new automation and control projects and enhancements to existing systems; and performs related duties as assigned.

The Principal Control Systems Administrator is responsible for a team of professionals responsible for the administration of process automation and control systems and related technology programs.  The incumbent is responsible for developing, governing, and overseeing execution of process automation and managing and supervising staff who perform specialized functions for operations, maintenance, and integration of process automation platforms, related computer systems and networks in support of the Agency’s mission and goals. Work is broad in scope and requires a significant degree of independence and application of professional experience and judgment on issues which are complex, interpretive, and can have Agency wide impact.

 

Employees in this class report typically report to the Manager of Information Technology, in the Operation Technology Unit, and manage the work of profes­sional and technical staff in the department.

 

A Principal Control Systems Administrator is distinguished from the Manager of Information Technology in that an incumbent in the latter class has management responsibilities for the full Operation Technology Unit and has broader financial planning, recordkeeping, and administration duties in the Information Technology Department.

Plans, organizes, controls, integrates, and evaluates the work of the assigned programs and staff; with staff, develops, implements, and monitors work plans to achieve goals and objectives; contributes to the development of and monitors performance against the annual department budget; supervises and participates in developing, implementing, and evaluating plans, work processes, systems, and procedures to achieve annual goals, objectives, and work standards; ensures the preparation and maintenance of a variety of records and reports. 

Manages the performance of assigned staff; interviews and selects new staff; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development; recommends compensation and provides other rewards to recognize performance; hears and makes recommendations on grievances; subject to management concurrence, approves or takes disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies, in accordance with Agency policies and labor agreements.

Participates in the formulation and implementation of departmental policy, planning, and strategy development; leads and directs staff and outside consulting resources in the development and application of new methods and processes to achieve higher efficiency, quality, and innovation in departmental work processes.

Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high-performance, customer service-oriented work environment that supports achieving the Department’s and Agency’s mission, objectives, and values regarding teamwork, mutual trust, and respect; applies best practices and quality assurance processes to assigned areas of responsibility; enforces the maintenance of safe working conditions and ensures safe work practices are followed by assigned staff. 

Plans, organizes, and participates in developing, implementing, and monitoring the Agency's Distributed Control Systems and process automation computer platforms and networks. Oversees ongoing application of process automation and control systems.

Manages the budget for assigned functional area including assisting in the development and monitoring of budget documents, performing or reviewing research, complex analyses and projections and analyzing trends and expenditures; tracks expenditures against the budget and compiles and analyzes budget variance reports; oversees the processing of purchase requisitions, check requests and the preparation of invoices and billing; manages and maintains inventory.

Provides input into department key performance indicators (KPIs); oversees or develops programs and systems to track and report KPIs; tracks and reports changes, variances and projections versus actuals; reviews and analyzes maintenance data and performance reports to ensure department goals, objectives and standards are being met.

Confers with Agency staff regarding current and anticipated process information, automation and control requirements and the feasibility of alternative conceptual approaches to meeting requirements; plans, develops and recommends short- and long-term plans for hardware and software upgrades. 

Interviews, analyzes and documents end user work process and systems requirements; develops or refines hardware, software and network specifications and drafts requests for proposal; evaluates and tests vendor products for conformance with Agency requirements and standards; recommends the selection and purchase of hardware and software; installs and evaluates new operating systems and upgrades.

Evaluates, researches, diagnoses, and resolves problems to minimize system downtime; documents system and network configuration and standards; establishes, monitors and adjusts system backup and recovery procedures and schedules; monitors SCADA and control systems for unauthorized access from both internal and external sources. Coordinates, supervises, and participates with other project team members in system analysis, design and development of applications or enhancements; develops, supervises and participates in executing data conversion and system test plans.

Prepares and coordinates a variety of work reports and records; attends meetings; schedules and maintains mandatory training records for section staff; represents the section/department with other divisions, departments, utilities and agencies; responds to inquiries and complaints from members of the public. 

Conducts or assigns operational analyses relating to process automation and control systems; identifies problems, determines analytical techniques and statistical and information-gathering processes, and obtains necessary information and data for analysis; analyzes or reviews staff analysis and makes recommendations; identifies areas to improve efficiency and effectiveness including changes in equipment, materials, work flow, training, staffing and support; discusses findings with management; prepares reports; develops implementation plans and assists in implementing policies and procedures.

Participates in systems enhancements and upgrades; analyzes process requirements and end-user needs; identifies and analyzes complex systems development, modification and enhancement issues; develops and refines system specifications; evaluates and tests vendor-provided software, hardware and configurations for conformity with requirements, specifications, standards for compatibility and integration, maintainability, documentation and other criteria; makes recommendations for the resolution of problems identified.

Provides technical guidance on process automation and control systems related tasks for Operational Technology staff and ensures that sufficient training is delivered. 

Prepares and delivers ongoing training to staff Agency-wide.  

Plans and lays out jobs from drawings, sketches or verbal instructions; maintains records in the form of plans and specifications for computers and electronic communications and instrumentation equipment and devices; develops and maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation, monitoring reports, logs and files.

Maintains up-to-date technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks and participating in professional associations.

Serves as a department or Agency representative to the Agency Board, Agency departments, member agencies, business and community organizations, and federal, state and local governmental bodies; communicates policies or procedures and resolves issues involving process automation and control systems deployment and ensuring deployments remain compliant with Agency policy; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the process automation and control system communities and in the wastewater, water and recycled water industry that impact the Agency’s process automation computer platforms and networks.

May act as the Manager of Information Technology in the Manager’s absence.

A typical way of obtaining the knowledges, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a college or university with a major in computer science, information technology, mathematics, engineering or a closely related field; and  seven years of progressively responsible experience in the design, implementation and administration of process automation and control systems, and related information and communications technologies, including two years of supervisory responsibilities; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

LICENSES; CERTIFICATES; SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 

A valid California Class C driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the Agency's vehicle insurance program.  

 

Certification from the International Society of Automation (ISA) as a Certified Control Systems Professional is desired. 

 

Certification from the International Society of Automation (ISA) as a  Certified Control Systems Technician is desired. 

 

Certification from the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) as an Electrical and Instrumentation Technologist Grade 3 Certification is desired.

All employment applications will be reviewed for accuracy, completion, relevant experience, education, training and other job-related qualifications. Applicants with the strongest background relating to the responsibilities of this position will be invited to participate in the testing process which may include one or more of the following: written test, oral interview, performance/practical examination. The successful candidate will be required to pass a background/reference check and pre-employment physical examination including a drug screen (for safety sensitive position) at no cost to the candidate. Please visit our website at www.ieua.org and select the Human Resources Department for additional information regarding the Agency, the hiring process and benefit information.
 

Any applicant requiring reasonable accommodation during the selection process due to a qualified disability must inform the Human Resources Office at (909) 993-1640 or hrdept@ieua.org at least 72 hours in advance of the need for accommodation.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DO NOT CONSTITUTE A CONTRACT, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AND ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE.

"The Agency's success is obtained by creating a positive and diverse work environment which recognizes individual differences and experiences".