Location
Description
The City of Brisbane, a close-knit community committed to exceptional public service, is seeking a proactive, experienced, and customer-focused Deputy Director of Public Works / City Engineer.
The Deputy Director of Public Works / City Engineer, plans, directs and manages assigned functional areas within the engineering or utility division in connection with engineering design, construction, inspection, transportation projects and the capital improvement program; staffs one or more citizen advisory committees; performs advanced professional engineering assignments on a wide range of municipal projects of a complex nature; serves as project manager on a variety of projects; supervises engineering and technical staff of the department directly or through subordinate levels of supervision on a day to day basis; functions as department head in their absence as assigned. Serves as the City Engineer responsible for engineering standards, development review, and oversight of public works engineering activities.
Class Characteristics
Deputy Director of Public Works – City Engineer is a Deputy Director level engineering classification responsible for overseeing the City’s engineering functions and performing a wide variety of engineering duties requiring independent judgement and initiative in prioritizing, scheduling, assigning and coordinating work. This class requires registration as a professional engineer. This class is distinguished from all other engineering classes by its supervisory and administrative responsibilities over a wide range of duties as well as the requirement to perform the more complex engineering and project management assignments. Assignments and projects may be long-term or may constitute a major portion of a continuous or comprehensive engineering or construction program. Typically assigned functional areas include private development review and plan checking, oversight of regulatory compliance (e.g., Municipal Regional Permit [NPDES], Cal-OSHA, SWRCB/RWQCB non-utility related orders), waste franchise, Sierra Point Lighting & Landscape District, and Capital Improvement Program.
Supervision Received and Exercised:
Receives general direction from the Public Works Department Head.
Provides general supervision to engineering, maintenance, and administrative support staff.
Examples of Important and Essential Duties- the duties described below are provided as examples and are not to be considered as exclusive or all-inclusive:
- Recommends and assists in development and implementation of departmental policies, goals, and objectives.
- Plans, directs, and coordinates engineering work programs and activities within the Public Works Department, directly and through subordinate levels of supervision.
- Manages the City’s Capital Improvement Program and Projects; supervises, coordinates, and reviews all public works engineering activities, including engineering design, inspection, and survey; contract administration, and construction management for projects planned and approved by City Council; Deputy Director of Public Works prepares plans, specifications, and estimates. Deputy Director of Public Works – City Engineer has overall responsibility for the city’s CIP.
- Supervises staff assigned, including scheduling, assigning, prioritizing, and reviewing work; training and evaluating staff; approving time off; and developing effective recommendations on all employee actions.
- Assigns work and exercises general supervision of office and field staff in order to effectively utilize their services and accomplish objectives.
- Oversees consultants and professionals hired by the City for the purposes of designing and completing public works construction projects and studies.
- Establishes criteria for design, construction, and inspection of public works projects.
- Oversees the inspection of public works construction by contractors for established plans and specifications.
- Supervises and participates in the development and administration of the department’s capital and operating budgets; directs the forecast of additional funds needed for construction, staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitors and approves expenditures.
- Prepares work programs and special engineering studies.
- Reviews and prepares specifications and obtains bids for construction and maintenance projects; accepts or rejects such specifications and bids; verifies computations, plans, specifications, and estimates for public works facility’s projects; reviews and signs engineering drawings and land record maps.
- Evaluates and applies for grants; provides for administration and oversight of reporting requirements.
- Conducts negotiations on engineering matters and accepts or rejects change order requests related to contracts; addresses contractor claims.
- Manages administrative matters; prepares and oversees budgets and monitors monthly expenditures; manages requests for additional funding.
- Prepares fee assessments and agenda reports.
- Develops record maintenance systems, procedures, and training necessary for maintaining effective liaison with other City departments.
- Serves as department head in the absence of the director, including attending and participating in City Council, community and board and commission meetings.
- Responds to questions and requests from the general public, including conducting correspondence and attending meetings.
Ideal Candidate
Qualifications
Knowledge of:
- Principles, methods and practices of civil engineering as applied to the planning, designing and construction of municipal public works facilities, including streets, sewers, traffic and construction projects.
- Design principles, methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction and maintenance of public works, utilities or building construction projects.
- Design principles, strengths of materials, principles of mechanical, electrical and structural engineering and surveying as they apply to the design of public works structures.
- Engineering and construction management methods.
- Technical, legal, financial and public relations issues involved in the conduct of municipal public works programs.
- Modern developments, current literature and sources of information on engineering laws and regulations.
- Applicable Federal, state and local laws, legal issues and regulatory codes related to design and construction.
- Principles and practices of municipal management, including supervision and evaluation of personnel, budget planning and preparation and public relations.
Ability to:
- Apply computer programs related to the work, including presentation, project management, GIS, and data management applications; use a personal computer, the Internet and other engineering technological resources. Prepare engineering estimates, plans, drawings and specifications.
- Perform difficult engineering work in design and construction of public works facilities.
- Interpret and accurately apply applicable Federal, state, and local policies, procedures, codes, laws, ordinances and regulations.
- Understand and implement laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
- Prepare construction contracts and requests for proposal; administer contracts.
- Plan, organize and supervise the work or engineering projects.
- Plan, supervise, direct, schedule and evaluate the work of subordinate staff.
- Develop and implement improvements to systems, organization, and operations within the division.
- Take a proactive approach to customer service issues and hold others within the department responsible for this effort.
- Make process improvement changes to streamline procedures.
- Work in a safe manner following City safety practices and procedures in a variety of environments; model and coach others in correct City safety practices; identify, correct, and report safety hazards.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
- Represent the City and the department effectively in contacts with representatives of other agencies and the public.
Education and Experience: Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in civil engineering or a closely related field. A Master’s Degree in Engineering, Public Administration, or Business Administration is desirable.
Experience: Five years of professional civil engineering experience at a supervisory/management level involving design, plan checking, project management, and construction management. Municipal professional engineering and supervisory experience is highly desirable.
Deputy Director of Public Works – City Engineer should have experience using online plan checking, such as Clariti, and also be familiar/competent with Bluebeam Revu 21.
Licenses:
Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the State Department of Registration for Professional Engineers. Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid California Class C driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record. Such licenses and certifications shall be maintained during employment.
Working Conditions:
Work in a standard office environment with some exposure to outdoors, mechanical hazards, traffic, and electrical hazards. Travel to different sites and locations.
Physical Demands:
Sufficient mobility and physical flexibility to negotiate difficult project sites and construction terrain where crouching, bending, stooping, climbing, and/or kneeling would be required. Vision to adequately and quickly review plans and specifications, read printed materials, and a computer screen. Mental alertness and comprehension to learn and retain technical and administrative information, terminology, equipment, policies, procedures, and safety practices. Physical stamina to work extended or irregular hours, attend lengthy meetings, and attentively follow proceedings. Ability to maintain sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time. Hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.
Benefits
SALARY AND HOURS:
$15,751.85 - $16,538.65 - $17,367.56 - $18,235.93 - $19,146.42 per month.
Appointments are generally made at the first step in this range. This is a full-time, 40 hours per week position.
BENEFITS:
This position is eligible for benefits under the Mid-Management/ Professional Employees memorandum of understanding. Health benefits are offered through the CalPERS Health Program. The City contributes to a flexible compensation plan towards the cost of health plans offered, up to family coverage. City provides paid vision through VSP, dental through a self-insured reimbursement program, long-term disability and life insurance coverage through Voya Financial, and an Employee Assistance Program through Concern. Retirement benefits are provided through CalPERS, 2%@60 for “Classic” members, 2%@62 for “New” members. The City will make a contribution of 1.5% to a Deferred Compensation 457K plan with additional matching available. Flexible spending accounts (Health and Dependent Care) and transportation spending accounts are also available. Free commuter shuttle to and from BART and Caltrain.
Special Instructions
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Interested candidates must submit a completed online application at www.calopps.org. Applications must be received by May 5, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
SELECTION PROCESS:
Applications will be screened, and a limited number of the most highly qualified candidates will be invited to the oral panel. An eligibility list will be established from those who pass the oral panel interview process. A limited number of eligible candidates from the list will be invited for a Department Head/Manager interview, who will make the final recommendation. Eligibility lists are good for one year, unless abolished sooner. After a mutual interest has been established, the final candidate must pass a fingerprint check submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), a pre-employment process, including a pre-employment physical and drug screening (when applicable), a driving record review, and a reference check.
The City of Brisbane is an Equal Opportunity Employer and as such does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin in its employment actions, decisions, policies, and practices. The duties described in this job announcement are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. This job announcement does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.