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The Community

The City of Menlo Park is a thriving community with tree-lined neighborhoods, active commercial areas, excellent schools, spaces to enjoy the outdoors, and opportunities to engage in local activities. Located conveniently between the major metropolitan areas of San Francisco and San Jose, Menlo Park is home to just under 34,000 residents in its 19 square miles. The stunning natural surroundings of the city afford views of the San Francisco Bay to the east and the Pacific Coastal Range to the west. Menlo Park’s climate is moderate to warm, with an average of 265 sunny days a year. Menlo Park’s residents reflect a range of backgrounds and interests, with a tendency toward being actively engaged in community life. Excellent public and private schools serve its many young families, while residents of all ages enjoy the City’s numerous parks and recreational facilities. The City’s close proximity to Stanford University and Menlo College provide a multitude of academic, cultural and athletic event opportunities. The City regularly hosts musical performances and cultural experiences at both the downtown Burgess campus and the newly opened Belle Haven Community Campus. The Downtown, with its many eateries and unique shops, attracts locals and visitors alike. The Menlo Park Caltrain station also provides a convenient connection to the numerous arts and leisure activities in the San Francisco and San Jose areas. Known worldwide as the “Capital of Venture Capital,” Menlo Park hosts many venture capital firms and is well situated to benefit from and help shape new technologies and markets originating from Silicon Valley. Additionally, Menlo Park is host to numerous technology and healthcare related companies, including such major employers as Meta (formerly Facebook), SRI International, Pacific Biosciences, Grail, Exponent, and CSBio.

The Organization 

Incorporated in 1927, Menlo Park is a general Law city operating under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is the City’s five-member governing body whose members are elected by district for four-year overlapping terms in general municipal elections. The Mayor and Vice Mayor each serve one-year terms and are selected annually by the City Council. The City Council appoints the City Manager and City Attorney as well as members of the Planning Commission and numerous advisory boards. The City Manager appoints all executive and management level positions. City staff report to one of six departments: Administrative Services, City Manager’s Office, Community Development, Library and Community Services, Police, and Public Works, which includes Menlo Park Municipal Water. Fire protection and sanitary services are provided by separate special districts. The City is supported by 296 FTE and has over 55 funds with a total expenditure budget over $216 million. As evidence of the City’s sound financial stewardship and solid financial standing, Menlo Park consistently maintains an AAA bond rating, in large part due to its healthy reserves and strong revenue base. In addition to its many attributes, Menlo Park has one of the most beautiful civic center campuses in the Bay Area. Heritage trees, a running fountain and a duck pond surround City Hall. The campus also includes a nine-acre park, recreation facilities and the Menlo Park Library. These civic amenities make the campus a noted destination for residents, local employees and visitors. Conveniently located, the campus is a short walk to the Menlo Park Caltrain Station and the downtown retail district.

The Department

This position falls within the City Manager’s Office, which, under the direction of the City Manager, has responsibility for staff organizational management, personnel appointment, preparation and execution of the City budget, as well as administration of city ordinances and policies adopted by the City Council. The City Manager's Office provides administrative support to the City Council and advisory commissions, in addition to working closely with the City Attorney's Office. The City Manager’s Office also includes the following key functions:

• Administration
• City Clerk
• Communications & Public
• Engagement
• Economic Development
• Emergency Preparedness
• Sustainability

As an integral part of the City Manager’s Office, the Economic Development division ensures that the City addresses the needs of local businesses and provides opportunities for their success. This includes identifying new businesses that will enhance the community and the City’s overall economic health, and assisting with expeditious, thorough, and effective development approvals. This also includes regular outreach to local businesses to offer assistance through referrals to state and federal programs, strategic planning for expansion approval, and marketing/networking opportunities. This division creates and maintains partnerships with multiple economic development associations, community-based organizations, and state and federal resources to market Menlo Park as an attractive location for businesses.

The Position

The City of Menlo Park is seeking a dynamic and experienced Economic Development Manager to join the City Manager’s Office. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape and lead innovative programs that enhance the local economy, reimagine and activate the built environment, and attract, retain, and support businesses in the world class community of Menlo Park.

Menlo Park is home to a vibrant mix of small businesses, restaurants, hotels and venues, cutting-edge life sciences companies, venture capital firms, and multinational technology companies, among others. The Economic Development Manager plays a vital role in fostering relationships with the business community, developing and implementing economic development strategies, and providing direct support to meet business needs—a truly diverse range of work in partnership building, policy development, long-term visioning, program implementation, data analysis and research, and service delivery.

“Downtown vibrancy” is one of the top five priorities of the City Council. The Economic Development Manager would join the City at an exciting time, with a clear opportunity to guide the vision and community engagement strategy for efforts in the Downtown. The Manager would play a pivotal role in the implementation of the “Streetary” outdoor dining program, activation of public space, efforts around the construction of affordable housing, improvements to parking plazas and streetscapes, and more.

The City of Menlo Park is a great place to work! We are now accepting applications for Recreation Coordinators. This is an unparalleled opportunity to join our energetic and creative team. Interested and qualified candidates should apply now.

Recreation Coordinators are hands-on team leaders responsible for a wide range of programming, operational, and administrative duties, including: program implementation, facility operations, customer service, systems management, marketing and promotion, and special projects as needed and assigned. Assigned areas of program responsibility may include one or more of the following: recreation center operations, childcare, youth and adult sports, aquatics, and/or systems management.

The City of Menlo Park is currently hiring a full-time Recreation Coordinator available immediately with focus area in recreation center operations, programs and systems at the Arrillaga Family Gymnastics Center. This full-time team lead position offers interesting and rewarding work experience, a competitive benefits package, and potential advancement opportunities for highly skilled applicants who are committed to continuous improvement and professional excellence. 

In addition to the currently available opportunity, this recruitment will be used to establish the eligibility list for Recreation Coordinator to fill potential future openings in other programs. The City assigns Recreation Coordinators to a wide range of community-oriented programs and projects including but not limited to recreation centers, senior centers, systems administration, event coordination, and child care centers. Interested candidates should apply now to be considered for current and future openings in this classification.

About the Department 

The Library and Community Services department is responsible for providing excellent customer service through recreational, educational, and cultural programs for children, adults and seniors. Our facilities include 221 acres of parkland distributed among 13 parks, two libraries, two community centers, two public pools, three childcare centers, two gymnasiums, and one gymnastics center. Included in the parks and recreation areas are tennis and pickleball courts, dog parks, softball diamonds, picnic areas, playgrounds, soccer fields, a skate park, shared use of a performing arts center and open space.  The City of Menlo Park opened a state-of-the-art new facility that incorporates a community center, gymnasium, aquatics center, senior center, youth center, and branch library in May 2024.

We have an exciting opportunity for a full-time Chief Building Official to join our team in Millbrae, San Mateo County.  

Reporting to the Community Development Director, you will help lead Millbrae’s growth by directing fieldwork, ensuring compliance with building regulations, facilitating major construction projects, and upholding high safety standards.

In addition to administrative duties, this customer-service-oriented position includes providing education and guidance to residents and contractors, performing hands-on plan checks and building inspections, and overseeing a support team of contracted permit technicians, plan checkers, and inspectors.

Definition: This division head classification is responsible for managing the City’s building inspection activities, enforcing the state building codes and regulations, plan check services and advising builders and homeowners on construction design and standards.

Essential Duties: Depending upon assignment, the duties of the Building Official include:

• Managing and directing the division staff. Through inspections, ensures that all structures comply with applicable state and local laws, codes and ordinances.  Ensuring prompt review of plans for proposed building construction or alterations, and the timely inspection of structures.
• Reviewing and recommending revisions of the City codes to comply with federal, state and local requirements.
• Developing policies and procedures designed to improve plan checking and the code enforcement program. Streamlining permit issuance procedures, when applicable, and developing updated forms as needed.
• Effectively monitoring division workloads to ensure adequate and timely plan checks and building inspections.
• Providing technical assistance and advice to architects, engineers, contractors and homeowners on matters pertaining to building plans, zoning regulations, construction methods, materials, procedures and building and related codes.
• Maintaining a competent and motivated work force by training, developing, disciplining and evaluating the performance of subordinates. Objectively and constructively evaluating the performance of subordinates, promptly apprizing subordinates of how well they are performing and/or in what specific areas they should seek improvement.
• Ensuring financial soundness of the division by developing, justifying and effectively managing the division budget.
• Generating monthly reports for the City Manager regarding building activity and workload, and other reports as necessary.  Maintaining work records related to the development of such reports.
• Responding to and resolving complaints from the public in a tactful and courteous manner.  Investigating problems to determine responsibility and methods for resolution as appropriate.
• Interpreting and making decisions on technical problems related to building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical codes and related federal, state and local laws and ordinances.
• Ensuring that checks and analysis of new construction and building alteration plans for residential, commercial, industrial buildings are done in a timely manner to ensure compliance with codes and policies. Ensuring plan checks accurately identify corrections, corrections notices are prepared and forwarded to applicant, maintaining plan check log for up to date information and current status of the plan check. Approving plans and issuing permits when appropriate.
• Maintaining and developing the electronic permitting and inspection system.
• Maintaining and developing the City street file system.

Special Requirements: Physical agility adequate to inspect construction sites.  Requires physical flexibility and dexterity, including the ability to continually stand, bend, stoop, reach and crouch.  Must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, hear voices and operate telephones.  Must have the ability to quickly and accurately see, review, and interpret plans and diagrams and make inspections.

Minimum Qualifications:

Knowledge of: Building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical codes and ordinances enforced by the City; principals, practices and techniques of combination inspection, building materials, accepted safety standards; State laws regulating building construction and zoning; precautionary safety and fire prevention methods in occupancy of buildings; building construction and materials, particularly structural construction materials and specialized terminology used in connection therewith; general knowledge of accepted methods of training; and knowledge of the construction industry and of modern supervisory principals and practices.

Ability and skills: To direct the work of others; provide technical supervision and training to division staff; read and

quality control building plans, diagrams, specification and building codes; enforce laws, codes and regulations with tact;

maintain records and prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence; supervise plan checking; analyze facts and exercise good independent judgement; read, interpret and perform analysis of plans for various structures; formulate and apply uniform policies and standards for the building inspection program; deal tactfully and effectively with contractors and the public; learn, retain, interpret and use technical knowledge related to federal, state and local laws related to building codes. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Establish, maintain and foster cooperative teamwork within the division, within various departments and other agencies that are associated with building construction.

Education and Training Guidelines: Sufficient education and experience to satisfactorily perform the duties of this classification. A typical qualifying background would be four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in combination inspections, including two (2) years at a supervisory level. An Associate of Arts or Science Degree in Building Inspection Technology or a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field is desirable.

Experience: Four (4) years of progressively responsible full-time experience as a Building Inspector with a Municipal Building Department with at least two (2) years in a supervisory position.

Supervision Exercised and Received: The Building Official supervises the Building Inspector/Plan Checker and the Permit Technician.  The Building Official reports to the Community Development Director. 

License: Must possess and maintain a valid California Operator’s License issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles and a satisfactory driving record.

Certification: Must possess and maintain certifications by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO): Plans Examiner and Combination Inspector. Must possess, or obtain within one year of employment, certification by the International Code Council (ICC) as a Building Official. A Certified Access Specialist (CASp) certification is highly desirable. Registration as an architect, civil, or structural engineer is highly desirable.