Utility and Efficiency Analyst

~ Cupertino is a city in Santa Clara County, California in the United States, directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. ~

Position Overview

The City of Cupertino is currently recruiting for a Limited Term Utility and Efficiency Analyst (Management Analyst). Under general direction of the Sustainability Manager and the Assistant Director of Public Works and Director of Administrative Services, this position:

• Prepares and presents complex technical, administrative, and financial analytical and statistical reports that interpret utility and environmental data, identifies conservation alternatives, and presents and justifies conclusions, forecasts, and climate action plan-related implementation recommendations based upon data summaries and other field-based findings;
• Prepares monthly city¬wide utilities reports and maintains connected utility software applications and dashboards to enable employee engagement and data access;
• Prepares various reports to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, and reduce consumption and associated costs;
• Coordinates assigned activities with other departments, divisions, outside agencies, and the general public; and provides information and assistance to departmental staff, the public and outside agencies regarding assigned programs and services via requests, enterprise accounting tools and the City's Open Data Portal.

This position performs a wide variety of complex, difficult, and specialized advanced financial, accounting, research, administrative, and analytical duties in support of three unique Division's (Public Works, Administrative Services and Sustainability) functions, operations, and program areas; provides support of various administrative and environmentally-oriented operations and activities within, including financial analysis, analysis of utility billing and municipal conservation activities, special projects, research studies and facility assessments, budget analysis, and other specialized functions. 

Appointment to this position is limited and will end no later than two years from the date of appointment. 

Responsibilities  

Duties may include, but are not limited to: 

Utility Accounting: 

• Tracks monthly utility expenditures and usage for energy, natural gas, water, fuel, waste/materials, and associated greenhouse gas emissions (as needed).
• Researches and recommends software applications/dashboards to support utility accounting efforts and staff engagement on consumption.
• Develops utility accounting software tool/dashboard for ongoing use.
• Drafts and circulates quarterly utility reports to document historical performance and market trends shared with relevant departments. 

Utility Budgeting: 

• Tracks CPUC rate filings to determine potential fiscal and capital impacts to the City and provides forecasts based upon CPUC approvals.
• Develops annual utility budgets based upon CPUC rate cases and projected rate increases to inform Public Works budgeting and fund impacts.
• Proposes alternatives to current PW-centric utilities budgeting to grow alternate department accountability and conservation priorities.
• Participates in the budget development and administration for assigned area of responsibility; analyzes proposed capital, operating, and maintenance expenditures; prepares reports and analyses related to impact of budgetary decisions; prepares financial forecasts.
• Develops financial models for operating the various utilities; monitors financial operations for various utilities including the City's waste management contract. 

Utility Analysis: 

• Requests and formats relevant utility data (energy, water, waste/materials) on a (minimum) monthly basis and develops a system to automate this process where feasible.
• Develops utility dataset that merges utility account data with internal data (finance, GIS) and enterprise accounting tools.
• Assesses utility dataset for anomalies and pursues outcomes to address these anomalies that lead to utility/cost savings.
• Reviews related utility agreements (water, User Utility Tax) to source opportunities to expand and benefit the City.
• Coordinates on-the-ground utility audits and supports Public Works with infrastructure upgrades by accessing free services and rebates available.
• Develops relevant utility conservation plans to implement these upgrades and achieve measures/goals established in the City's Climate Action Plan. 

General Assignments: 

• Assists Director of Administrative Services, Assistant Director of Public Works and/or the Sustainability Manager as directed.
• Collects, analyzes and reports a broad range of utility (energy, water), environmental (waste, materials) and / or sustainability (Climate Action Plan-related) data, maintains records, provides public information upon request and data to other agencies as appropriate.
• Responds to a wide variety of internal/staff informational requests.
• Schedules training meetings, prepares presentations and creates educational materials to raise City staff awareness, clarify regulatory requirements and advance behavior change opportunities.
• Ensures data accuracy and updates spreadsheets and databases weekly or monthly to comply with mandatory record keeping and annual reporting of utility expenses, environmental plans (i.e. Climate Action Plan), programs (i.e. GreenBiz, Growing Greener Blocks) and policies (i.e. Single Use Bag, Organics and Polystyrene Ordinance).  

Qualifications 

Knowledge of: 

• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of assigned programs;
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations and agreements;
• Inspection, investigation and compliance principles and practices;
• Principles and practices of record keeping and data management and familiarity with current database software;
• Methods and techniques of data collection, research, and report preparation;
• Greenhouse gas emissions inventories, climate change science and associated mitigation and adaptation strategies;
• Energy and water conservation techniques;
• Commute alternatives;
• Progressive materials management methods;
• Behavioral change, community-based social marketing and emerging approaches to foster participation and generate outcomes across environmental initiatives;
• Advanced principles and practices of accounting;
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration;
• Advanced principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting including public sector budget and accounting processes;
• Advanced methods and techniques of statistical and financial analysis;
• Advanced methods and techniques of data collection, research, and report preparation;
• Principles and practice of program development;
• Organization and operation of municipal government; Operational characteristics, services and activities of a utilities program; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications; Applicable civil, government and administrative codes; Principles and practices of public sector contract administration;
• City contracting process and procurement language;
• Principles and practices used in grant development and administration; principles and practices of customer service; Principles of business letter writing;
• Basic principles of supervision and training;
• Policies and procedures of the assigned department;
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; and
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations. 

Ability to: 

• Plan, organize, coordinate, administer, and evaluate assigned projects;
• Review documents and reports for completeness and accuracy;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing and in both a conversational and technical voice;
• Suggest procedures to improve assigned program services and activities;
• Conduct accurate and thorough research and prepare clear, complete, concise elements for annual reports;
• Understand and apply administrative and departmental policies, procedures and agreements as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations and initiatives;
• Input, manage, analyze and evaluate applicable programs' data to identify trends and / or inconsistencies;
• Work both independently and autonomously on projects as assigned and with internal and external teams and groups on various programs;
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility;
• Represent the City in a professional manner when working with other agencies, community groups, and the general public;
• Develop greenhouse gas emissions inventories and financial models for operating various utilities;
• Monitor financial operations; coordinate utility bonding information;
• Research and analyze complex problems and prepare recommendations on a variety of issues;
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities;
• Read, interpret, and correct financial statements; understand the City's budget and accounting processes;
• Interpret and apply pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations as well as City policies and procedures; Research, analyze and evaluate programs, policies and procedures;
• Collect, evaluate and interpret complex information and data; Conduct various organizational studies and analyses;
• Prepare, research, negotiate, and monitor contracts and agreements;
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports for varying audiences;
• Maintain accurate and complete records on programs and operations;
• Prepare and administer assigned budgets;
• Interpret financial and technical information for a variety of audiences;
• Independently prepare correspondence and memoranda; Operate office equipment including computers and supporting applications;
• Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems;
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community; and
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.  

Experience and Education:  

• Any combination equivalent to A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in finance, accounting, engineering, public administration, business administration, economics, environmental science, or a related field.
• Master's Degree preferred.
• Two years of experience of increasingly responsible administrative, analytical and/or accounting experience at a level comparable to a Management Analyst with the City.
• Financial accounting, data collection and public utility analysis, experience conducting municipal water or energy efficiency assessments are highly desirable.
• Public sector utility or greenhouse gas emissions accounting experience a plus. 

Compensation: Salary Effective 7/1/15: $ 84,443.20 - $ 102,641.37 annually + CalPERS Retirement. 

To Apply 

• Please click below: "Apply Here!" then click on "Jobs" to complete an official City of Cupertino application and supplemental application and return it to Human Resources.
• Final Filing Date: Monday, June 29, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.
• Failure to complete the supplemental application will disqualify the applicant from the recruitment process.
• For more information, please visit our website.