See How This Plant Solved Its Short-Term Staffing Problem
A waterTALENT supervisor helps a California water district through a staffing transition and in the bargain adds valuable insights on system operations and future planning.
Everything was running smoothly at the Menlo Park (California) Municipal Water District. Then, the chief operator and water system supervisor left for a new job.
Unfortunately the three weeks’ notice he gave wasn’t enough for the district to go through its normal hiring process and bring someone new on board; the leadership faced the prospect of a staffing shortage lasting several months.
To solve the problem, the district in September 2016 issued a request for proposals for a temporary water system supervisor. In the end, the district contracted with WaterTalent for the temporary assistance it needed. Jeff Ballou, a retired water operator from a nearby city, led the Menlo Park team for 3 1/2 months, keeping the operation on track while contributing to the district master plan, mentoring staff members, and adding insights to the capital improvement project plan.
Meanwhile, the district had time to conduct a thorough recruiting, screening and hiring process, ultimately selecting Luis Olivera Jr. as water system supervisor. He came with an extensive industry background, most recently working nine years for the city of Modesto Water Services Division.
“Jeff was great to work with,” observes Brian Henry, superintendent of Public Works. “His vast knowledge, his commitment to the field and his passion for the industry were contagious among our other operators. Working with Jeff was definitely a positive experience.”
Recruiting Challenge
The Menlo Park district provides water to about 16,000 customers through 4,300 service connections throughout Silicon Valley, including Facebook’s ever-expanding campus. The district purchases its water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The distribution system has three pressure zones, one with a pump station and two storage tanks totaling 5 million gallons and two operating on demand, relying on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission storage and system pressure.
Furthermore, in hiring a replacement for its water system supervisor, the district faced a scarcity of qualified candidates in its vicinity. Henry notes, “We’re in a unique situation where the price to buy or rent a home is pretty high, and there aren’t a lot of people in the area with the certifications we need who are looking for a job.”