Executive Director (Part time, Independent Contractor)
Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority, San Diego, CA, United States
FOR THE METRO WASTEWATER JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY
INTRODUCTION - SEE FULL SOLICITATION WITH ATTACHMENTS AT WWW.METROJPA.ORG
The Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority (Metro) is soliciting proposals from qualified individuals to fill its Executive Director position. The selected individual shall perform the tasks specified in the 'Job Description' section of the Solicitation for Proposals (SFP).
You are hereby invited to submit a proposal based upon the requirements and conditions set forth in this SFP.
BACKGROUND OF METRO
Metro is a forward-looking coalition of municipalities and special districts that share in the use of the City of San Diego's regional wastewater facilities.
Metro grew out of the Metro Commission, which is a commission of the City of San Diego formed in a 1998 Regional Wastewater Disposal Agreement by and between the City of San Diego and the Metro “Participating Agencies” (or their predecessors in interest): the cities of the Lemon Grove Sanitation District; the Padre Dam Municipal and Otay Water Districts; and the County of San Diego (on behalf of the Winter Gardens Sewer Maintenance District, and the Alpine, Lakeside and Spring Valley Sanitation Districts).
On October 25, 2000, the Participating Agencies entered into a Joint Exercise of Power Agreement which created a separate public entity, the Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Authority, for the purpose, among others, of taking responsibility, actions, and making decisions pertaining to the 1998 Agreement on behalf of the Participating Agencies. The Metro Commission and the Metro Joint Powers Authority are treated as one and the same entity for all intents and purposes, including for the purpose of accepting and executing the responsibilities delegated to Metro.
Each Participating Agency has the right to appoint a representative of its choice to the Metro Commission/Metro JPA, and the Participating Agency’s appointee to the Metro Commission also serves as that Participating Agency’s representative on the Metro JPA Board of Directors. Each representative has one vote in any matter considered by the Metro Commission/Metro JPA.
While wastewater remains a key focus, Metro now addresses many important water-related issues, including the need for conservation, water recycling, and protecting the ocean environment. Metro also continues to oversee the City of San Diego’s Water Reuse Planning (Pure Water San Diego) and as the City of San Diego expands the scope of its wastewater operations to include the Pure Water San Diego program, the scope of oversight provided by The Metro Participating Agencies collectively pay for approximately 35 percent of the system's upkeep and capital costs. Usage rates are based on the percentage of wastewater flow they generate.
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INQUIRIES
Questions pertaining to the SFP and the selection process should be directed to Adriana Ochoa, at her email address, which is
SUBMITTAL DATE
Proposals are due via email no later than 4:00 PM PST on March 13, 2026 and must be received by that time and date. Proposers must send a bookmarked pdf of their proposal to the email addresses shown under “Mailing Contacts” below.
Metro is not responsible for proposals that are delinquent, mismarked, sent to an email address other than that given earlier in this SFP, or emails that do not arrive on time. Metro reserves the right, after opening the proposals, to reject any or all proposals, or to accept the proposal(s) that in its sole judgment as (are) in the best interest of Metro.
Legal Counsel Jerry Jones
PROPOSAL EVALUATION
Proposals should provide a straightforward and concise presentation adequate to satisfy the requirements of this SFP and should be no more than 10 pages including resumes. The font size used on the proposal shall be no smaller than 12. Emphasis should be on completeness and clarity of contents. Responsiveness to the SFP will be a principal basis for evaluation.
PROPOSAL SELECTION
- Select any proposal as a basis for written or oral communication with any or all of the companies or individuals when such action as considered to be in the best interest of the JPA.
- Reject all proposals.
- And to exercise discretion and apply its judgment with respect to any proposals Metro may select pursue interviews, based on initial proposals received, without discussion or after detailed discussions or contract negotiations with any or all proposers.
SELECTION PROCESS
- Organize the Ad Hoc Committee for Executive Director.
- Ad Hoc Committee for Executive Director sends out request for proposals to interested parties after consultation with the Board.
- Ad Hoc Committee for Executive Director reviews the proposals submitted by the prospective individuals. It is anticipated that this will take up to three weeks from the date of submittal.
- Ad Hoc Committee for Executive Director selects proposal(s) which qualify based on the following factors:
- Experience of the individual in similar roles.
- Quality of work previously performed by the individual.
- Ability to communicate effectively with elected and/ or appointed officials and staff professionals.
- Geographic location of the individual.
- The ability of the individual to perform the services required as stated in the Job Description.
- Lack of actual and/or potential conflicts that would compromise the individuals ability to perform the as required under the Job Description.
PROPOSAL CONTENT
- A letter describing interest and qualifications.
- A copy of their resume or CV.
- A minimum of one letter of recommendation.
- A proposed rate sheet for hourly compensation, or a proposed alternative if candidate wants to propose an alternative compensation arrangement (i.e., flat fee per month).
EVALUATION CRITERIA
- Individual experience in providing similar services.
- Schedule compatibility with Metro’s needs.
- Availability and ability to lead Metro’s Executive Team and supervise all consultants.
- Experience managing and maintaining budgets.
- Current and/or past experience with other public agencies.
- Ability to directly communicate with the Metro Board.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Executive Director is responsible for the oversight, management and monitoring of Metro’s strategic goals, policies and budgets. The Executive Director leads the Executive Team and supervises all consultants to ensure contractual obligations, including those under the Metro Agreement, are diligently met and on budget. The Executive Director is responsible for shaping the work environment, setting strategy, allocating resources, developing and building the organization, overseeing City of San Diego operations of the Metro system, and direct communications with the Board of Directors of the Metro JPA. Additional responsibilities include planning events, handling expenses, overseeing the Metro JPA’s budget process, and providing strategic direction of the organization. The Executive Director coordinates Metro JPA, TAC, and Ad Hoc meetings, in conjunction with the Board Secretary, s/he prepares agendas for meetings, updates the Metro JPA website as needed, and attends meetings as required. The Executive Director is authorized to exercise his or her discretion prudently in making management and contractual decisions on behalf of the Metro JPA in amounts that impact Metro JPA’s budget by ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or less, subject to consultation with the JPA Board Chair. The Executive Director position is contemplated to be a part-time position with an estimated obligation of 30 hours per month dedicated to Metro JPA Executive Director responsibilities and is paid pursuant to written agreement, and currently paid on an hourly basis.