GENERAL MANAGER by EAST TURLOCK SUBBASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY Aug 18, 2026 Job Location Merced, CA Application Deadline 08/31/2026 How to Apply Interested respondents shall notify ETSGSA of their interest by 5:00 p.m. on August 25, 2026, by emailing ETSGSA’s current General Manager, Mike Tietze, at mtietze@formationenv.com and the Board of Directors Chairperson, Sarah Woolf, at sarahwoolf@me.com. Any questions regarding this RFQ shall be submitted in writing via email by 5:00 p.m. on August 25, 2026. RFQ responses shall be submitted via email by 5:00 p.m. on August 31, 2026. The RFQ responses shall include the following: A statement whether the respondent is an individual or firm and, if a firm, the name of the primary respondent that would act as the General Manager. A current resume of the primary respondent, including the following (four pages maximum): Qualifications Summary; Employment History; Education; Representative Project Work; and Additional Information (Such as publications, presentations or awards). A summary of the primary respondent’s experience with the following (four pages maximum): Development, updating and implementation of GSPs; Management and development of water supply, recharge and other water management projects and programs; Leadership and management experience, especially related to GSAs, other water agencies, and water management initiatives or projects; Operational management experience for agencies, water management entities and related programs or grants; Experience working with the agricultural community and related stakeholders in the implementation of water management programs in an agricultural setting; and Experience working with contentious water issues and conflicts. Description of the primary respondent’s local and San Joaquin Valley experience, and plan to support local meetings and site visits (one page) For respondents responding as firms (two pages maximum): Background information regarding the firm and its relevant experience; and A brief description of other supporting employees and capabilities. Three professional references for the primary respondent. A Schedule of Charges for the proposed work, identifying the billing rate(s) for the primary respondent and any supporting staff (hourly, monthly retainer, or other structure) and any additional estimated expenses. Background: ETSGSA is a Joint Powers Authority (“JPA”) formed in 2017 in response to the requirements of SGMA. ETSGSA’s member agencies include Ballico-Cortez Water District (“BCWD”), Eastside Water District (“EWD”), Merced County, Merced Irrigation District (“MID”), and Stanislaus County. ETSGSA developed and is implementing a GSP in cooperation with the West Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“WTSGSA”). ETSGSA serves approximately 140,000 acres, of which approximately 100,000 acres are currently managed as irrigated parcels, and approximately 90,000 acres of fields are irrigated, primarily by groundwater. There is a population of less than 5,000 people within ETSGSA’s boundaries. ETSGSA and WTSGSA jointly prepared a draft GSP for the Turlock Subbasin and submitted it to the California Department of Water Resources (“DWR”) for review in January 2022. The DWR determined the initial draft of the GSP to be incomplete, and a revised version was submitted in July 2024, which was approved by DWR on February 27, 2025. Based on a modeling analysis completed for the GSP, it is estimated that pre-GSP groundwater demand in ETSGSA exceeds sustainable yield by approximately 95,000 acre-feet/year, resulting in chronic groundwater level decline and the formation of a large cone of depression. The revised GSP includes the “East Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Demand Reduction Plan,” which provides a framework of programs, management actions, and projects that ensure net pumping reductions within ETSGSA will achieve the sustainability goal and Sustainable Management Criteria contained in the GSP. The specific goals of the Plan are to arrest chronic groundwater level decline in ETSGSA by 2027, raise groundwater levels to Minimum Thresholds by 2032, and achieve the long-term sustainable yield by 2042. Although direct and in-lieu recharge programs are an important part of ETSGSA’s approach to decreasing net groundwater demand, it has limited access to surface water. Therefore, the primary focus of the Groundwater Demand Reduction Plan is on management actions that result in groundwater demand reduction. These are underpinned by groundwater use allocations measured using evapotranspiration data (“ET”) and tracked using an internet-based Groundwater Accounting Platform. Groundwater accounting is managed in accordance with adopted Rules and Regulations and supports a Groundwater Use Fee program to fund the implementation of the projects and management actions identified in the GSP to achieve sustainability. These include a multi-benefit land repurposing program (“MLRP”) that is being developed and implemented under a block grant from the California Department of Conservation (“DOC”), an Incentivized Fallowing Program (“IFP”), and implementation of various GSP projects to expand the delivery of surface water for direct and in-lieu recharge. Although some large conveyance and recharge projects are planned, ETSGSA’s overall focus is on projects that can be implemented by landowners within active farming operations to decrease groundwater demand and promote recharge. Scope of Services: As an outcome of succession-planning activities, ETSGSA requests qualifications from qualified firms or professionals to provide General Manager and coordination services for implementation of the Turlock Subbasin GSP within its jurisdiction, and related supporting activities. Responsibilities: Commensurate with experience, the candidate will work with East Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“ETSGSA”) management and staff to support the implementation of the Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (“GSP”), including, but not limited to, the following activities: Manage and oversee implementation of ETSGSA Projects and Management Actions, including but not limited to Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (“MLRP”), Incentivized Fallowing Program (“IFP”), and other GSP Projects and Management Actions. Manage and oversee implementation of ETSGSA’s Groundwater Demand Reduction Program, Priority Action Areas, Groundwater Accounting Program, and Groundwater Use Fee Program. Develop scopes for contracted work, oversee procurement of services in accordance with ETSGSA’s procurement policy, and oversee implementation of contracted services in accordance with approved scopes, schedules, and budgets. Prepare meeting agendas, make presentations, review meeting minutes, and facilitate (or co-facilitate) the following meetings: Monthly Board of Directors Meetings; Monthly Technical Advisory Committee Meetings; Monthly senior staff and legal counsel agenda planning and review meetings; Quarterly coordination meetings with Turlock Irrigation District (“TID”) and Eastside Water District; Regular coordination meetings with West Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“WTSGSA”) and Department of Water Resources (“DWR”) staff; Special meetings with grower groups, stakeholders, and regional planning meetings; and Other meetings as may be needed. Work with legal counsel to develop or oversee development of contracts. Develop, review, and/or oversee development or review of ETSGSA policy documents, rule and regulations updates, implementation plans, and project design documents. Review permitting and CEQA documents prepared for projects under ETSGSA’s jurisdiction. Direct or review technical analyses related to groundwater use analysis, recharge, aquifer response, groundwater budget analysis, and other needed data analyses. Oversee and coordinate basin-wide monitoring and compliance activities in collaboration with WTSGSA and the joint technical consultant for GSP implementation, including: Review and/or oversee review of DWR or GSP-mandated reports and submittals; Provide ETSGSA monitoring and groundwater accounting data for the joint consultant to use in support of annual reporting and GSP reviews/updates; and Review and/or oversee review of joint consultant technical work products, including, but not necessarily limited to, models, calculations, data evaluations, and presentations. In collaboration with the Board Secretary and consultants, develop, present, and facilitate adoption of annual SGMA Compliance Budgets and Project and Management Action Budgets. Track implementation and prepare semi-annual (or as required) expenditure reviews and forecasts. Prepare budget amendment proposals for Board approval as needed. Oversee tracking of grant opportunities, prepare and review grant applications, and oversee management of grant program implementation, documentation, and invoicing. Lead and/or oversee grower engagement and assistance programs, including the following: Development of outreach materials, fact sheets, mailers, and website update materials; Development and implementation of workshops, presentations, as needed; Participation in educational opportunities with potential implementation partners such as UC Merced, UC Davis, East Stanislaus and East Merced Resource Conservation District, Environmental Defense Fund, Department of Conservation, and other groups with a nexus to water management in ETSGSA; and Oversee implementation of ETSGSA’s grower assistance program, including meetings, video conferences, phone calls, help line/email/ticket responses. Mentoring of GSA staff to enable career growth and increase the capacity of the GSA to implement work locally, using an efficient mix of staff with appropriate levels of ability and training. Qualifications: The successful candidate will have the following qualifications: Valid California Driver’s License and acceptable driving record. Bachelor’s or higher degree in water resources, hydrogeology, environmental science, agricultural or civil engineering, or other applicable field, and at least 10 years of experience. Knowledge of agricultural operations and water use. Ability to work well in a leadership capacity in a dynamic team environment with GSA staff, managers, consultants, legal counsel, financial staff, and stakeholders. Ability and willingness to mentor other staff and volunteers. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, computer and data-management literacy. Solutions and team-oriented with strong problem-solving and leadership skills to resolve policy challenges, technical issues, grower-identified issues, and other challenges effectively. Strong ability to prioritize and understand how best to support core mission strategies. Experience successfully managing contract scopes, schedules, and budgets for GSAs or water agencies.
