Deputy Director of Public Works/City Engineer

Deputy Director Of Public Works/City Engineer

This recruitment is for one full-time Deputy Director of Public Works/City Engineer. Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $ 169,509.86 - $206,000.00 (DOE/DOQ) Additional Compensation: 5% for Related Master's Degree Application Deadline: August 02, 2026 First Interview: Week of August 17, 2026

The City of Santa Maria is a full-service city with a City Council/City Manager form of government, over 700 employees, an annual budget of approximately $367 million, and serves approximately 113,041 constituents. Santa Maria is located on the beautiful central coast of California and covers over 23 square miles. The City harmoniously balances maintaining coastal and agricultural lands while promoting business. The City of Santa Maria has been recognized nationally as an All-America City by the National Civic League and offers community festivals, reasonably priced housing, and quality schools. Santa Maria is in proximity to a local airport, beaches, cultural arts, institutions of higher education, and wineries. The Department of Public Works is responsible for ensuring that City-owned transportation infrastructure and facilities, transit services, and capital improvement programs are designed, engineered, constructed, maintained, and/or modified in a presentable and safe condition. The department coordinates a variety of activities and services, including the preparation of plans and specifications for public works-related construction projects; the design and inspection of public facilities; and ensuring the proper installation of all public improvements made in new subdivisions, such as streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, water mains, sewer lines, and drainage.

The City Engineer reports directly to the Department Director and is responsible for the management and operation of the Engineering Division. The Engineering Division is responsible for the delivery of the City's capital improvement projects; managing and implementing the City's growth mitigation program; drafting and enforcing City standards and specifications; ensuring development is designed and constructed consistent with the City's Municipal Code, relevant land use documents, the Subdivision Map Act, and applicable standards and specifications; active management of the City rights-of-way, including utility undergrounding, management and issuance of encroachment permits, including recommendations on traffic control, striping, and signalization; and tracking and documenting final construction of City infrastructure. The City Engineer provides supervision and technical direction to professional and non-professional staff and performs related work as assigned. The City Engineer may act in the capacity of Department Director in the absence of the Director.

The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking and strategic public works professional who possesses a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and licensed as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California. They bring extensive experience delivering capital improvement projects, managing complex public infrastructure programs, and leading multidisciplinary engineering teams. The successful candidate will have a strong background in municipal engineering, land development, infrastructure planning, and regulatory compliance. They are an effective communicator and collaborative leader who can balance technical expertise with business acumen, demonstrating the ability to develop staff, manage resources, and guide the organization through complex challenges and opportunities. In addition, the ideal candidate embraces innovation, values public service, and is committed to constructing and maintaining infrastructure that supports the City's long-term vision, economic vitality, and quality of life.

Cover Letter, Resume, Copy of Professional Civil Engineer License

Duties

In addition to the broad duties and responsibilities of the Organizational/Enterprise Leader (Non-Safety) classification, the Deputy Director of Public Works/City Engineer shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Plans, directs, and organizes the work of a large and multi-disciplined engineering staff in the areas of capital projects, land development, transportation, and special projects.
• Coordinates and manages capital projects, including developing the overall budget and schedule.
• Prepares and reviews construction plans (in-house and consultant-generated), estimates, site investigations, specifications, and the report for the construction and/or improvement of public facilities and infrastructure.
• Supervises and manages the preparation of requests for professional services and recommends award of contract; interviews prospective consultants; provides technical and procedural information; keeps current with regulations, litigation, and legislation concerning public works activities.
• Reviews and approves public infrastructure plans for development to ensure they are designed and constructed consistent with the City's Municipal Code, relevant land use documents, the Subdivision Map Act, and applicable standards and specifications.
• Meets with developers and contractors to facilitate projects and resolve issues; coordinates Engineering Division projects with other City departments and outside agencies; represents the Engineering Division at various meetings, conferences, and workshops.
• Archives, stores, documents, and updates the geographical information system databases for all newly constructed or modified City infrastructure.
• Reviews operational procedures to stay current and compliant with applicable policies and quality control standards; recommends and initiates changes to departmental procedures, policies, and regulations, including City standards and specifications.
• Selects Engineering Division employees; develops and establishes work methods and standards; conducts or directs staff training and development; reviews and evaluates employee performance; executes disciplinary action.
• Serves as the City's Legally Responsible Person for State Water Resources Control Board and/or Regional Water Quality Control Board permits.
• Reviews and signs Public Improvement Plans (PIP's).
• Serves as Engineer of Record, including signing and sealing plans and studies prepared by in-house Engineering Division staff.
• Developing, updating, and implementing the City's Growth Mitigation Program and fees consistent with Assembly Bill 1600 and subsequent legislation.
• Directs the conduct of studies; the preparation and presentation of a variety of reports regarding engineering-related issues; reviews, edits, writes, and signs Council agenda reports; presents staff reports, studies, and findings to City Council, citizen commissions and committees, community groups, and others as needed.
• Initiates and participates in the preparation of departmental budget; monitors expenditures; and makes recommendations on staffing and equipment.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualifications/Experience

• Experience and/or education equivalent to a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
• Possession of a current and valid Professional Civil Engineer license issued by the California State Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.
• Six years of experience as an engineer, including current technical/professional knowledge of the complex principles, methods, standards, and techniques associated with the profession of civil engineering.
• Three years of experience as a supervisor, with demonstrated experience building and developing staff in a technical environment.
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License, Class C or higher, by date of appointment. Must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record and meet the City's liability requirements to drive for City business.
• Mastery of the core competencies listed below and the ability to immediately demonstrate these competencies, consistent with the position's level in the leadership series and the specific work assignment.

Core Competencies

Strategic Leader

• Mission Focus - understand and support the organization's mission, believe in it, value it, and display commitment.
• Visioning - imaginative, able to create a vision of the future, communicate it clearly and enthusiastically to others.
• Strategic Thinking - act with the future in mind, understand the factors influencing strategy, and consider future impact when weighing decisions.
• Business Thinking - see the organization as integrated and interlocking; understand the impacts of changes.
• Diplomacy - work within the organization's power network; recognize personal agendas, balance internal politics, and work well with elected officials.
• Global Mindset - see their city role in a larger context within the community, region, and beyond; value diversity and other points of view, identify partnership opportunities, and exhibit coalition-building skills.
• Risk Taking - willingness to take calculated chances to achieve goals; gracefully accept failure, learn, & move forward.
• Leadership Identification - identify with leaders and enjoy positions of responsibility and authority.
• Presentation Skills - comfortable and confident in front of an audience; effectively deliver messages and engage with the public and stakeholders.

Selection Process

The completed electronic application packet will include the online application and digital attachments.

Application Ranking The application, including resume and cover letter, will be evaluated and scored. The candidates' final score and rank will be determined by their complete application packet, upon meeting the employment standards of the position, and will be certified to the Eligibility List. The most qualified applicants will be screened and invited to a selection interview with a panel of subject matter experts. Note: Only those applicants who best fit the needs of the Hiring Department will be considered for this opportunity.

Prior to an offer of employment, the selected candidate may undergo a background check to