ASSISTANT, ASSOCIATE CIVIL ENGINEER
Assistant Civil Engineer $89,508- $121,740
Associate Civil Engineer $115,452- $135,396
Plus Excellent Benefits
Are you looking for a place to grow and develop your engineering skills, to have the opportunity to do meaningful work, and serve your community? Come join us!
Located in San Mateo County just twelve miles south of San Francisco, Pacifica feels worlds away from it, yet is easily accessible from Highway 1. The most panoramic coastal town in the San Francisco Bay Area, Pacifica is famous for its six miles of scenic coastline, classic northern California beaches, breathtaking vistas, and charming ambience. The city is nestled in between small valleys, with Sweeney Ridge to the east, Montara Mountain to the south and the Pacific Ocean’s rocky bluffs and sandy beaches to the west. Pacifica encompasses roughly 12.6 square miles, of which, approximately one-half is publicly owned open space. Numerous cities, county and state parks provide panoramic views and a feeling of spaciousness rarely found in suburban areas. Several miles of coastal and ridge top trails tie Pacifica to neighboring communities.
This natural connecting point of beaches, headlands and hills provides a wide range of recreational opportunities from surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, scuba diving and paragliding, to hiking, whale and bird watching and cycling. Pacifica’s one-quarter mile fishing pier is considered to be one of the best in the state and is ranked number one by anglers in the Bay area. Other recreational amenities include golf, bowling, archery and team sports. Pacifica’s natural beauty is enhanced by its Mediterranean style weather.
With a population of approximately 40,000, Pacifica is a unique family-oriented coastal community that prides itself on fostering a “small town” feel. Many of Pacifica’s residents are highly engaged and involved in the community. Pacifica has excellent elementary and secondary schools, both public and private, and was recently named one of the Top 100 Safest Cities in America by Location, Inc. The City was also awarded the League of California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence for the restoration of Linda Mar Beach and the reclamation of the wetlands in that area.
The community enjoys a diverse economic base and has a significant number of smaller businesses. Tourism is especially important to Pacifica’s economy with thousands of people annually attracted to its beaches, vistas, and open space. Unique shops and a variety of lodging are available with restaurants offering relaxing sunset and coastal viewing. For live local theater and performing arts, Pacifica Spindrift Players is a local and popular favorite, along with Pacifica Performances, which regularly provide both musical presentations and performing arts as well. The world-class bromeliad nursery, Shelldance Orchid Gardens, is located just off Highway 1. Pacifica plays host to the Pacific Coast Fog Festival each September, which showcases everything from artists and performers to children’s activities and a hometown parade.
Pacifica is a place where one can step into the natural world and enjoy a variety of recreational offerings, sample a cultural arts performance or gallery opening, and later relax at a local restaurant and bask in a spectacular sunset. Pacifica’s rich cultural heritage and unique personality make it a community worth uncovering.
To learn more about the City of Pacifica, please visit City of Pacifica.
THE ORGANIZATION
The City of Pacifica is a General Law City incorporated in 1957 and operates under the Council/Manager form of government. Legislative authority is vested in a five-member City Council elected by district for four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor is selected each year by a majority vote of the other Council members. The Council appoints the City Manager, City Attorney, and members of advisory commissions and committees.
Pacifica is a full-service city (approximately 188 FTE) with a proposed FY 2023/24 general fund budget of $40.1M. The City delivers municipal services through seven departments: the City Manager’s office (including the City Clerk, Economic Development, and contract City Attorney); Administrative Services (Finance, Human Resources and IT Divisions); Parks, Beaches, and Recreation; Planning; Public Works (Field Services & Engineering and Wastewater); Police; and Fire (via North County Fire Authority). Employees are represented by eight bargaining units.
Each year the City Council convenes in advance of the new fiscal year to review and amend as necessary City Council goals, and to develop a list of priorities to be implemented in the upcoming fiscal year to fulfill the goals. In Spring 2023, over the course of three public meetings, the Pacifica City Council undertook a comprehensive strategic planning process instead of its annual goal-setting process. Beginning with identifying Mission, Vision, and Values statements for the organization, followed by identifying goals that represent those statements and strategies to fulfill those goals, the Pacifica City Council developed this 2023 to 2030 Strategic Plan.
- Enhance organizational and fiscal stability.
- Improve and steward City infrastructure, streets and facilities.
- Prioritize protection and development of affordable housing.
- Pursue climate change adaptation and mitigation.
- Broaden public communications and collaboration.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
The Public Works Department is organized into two Divisions: Field Services/Engineering and Wastewater. The City has two Deputy Director positions, one that is responsible for Field Services/Engineering and the other that is responsible for Wastewater. This position would be responsible for the Field Services/Engineering Division of Public Works, with a key emphasis on delivery of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The Field Services section maintains parks, buildings, playing field and medians and keeps streets and trails clean and well-maintained. Additionally, Field Services coordinates the tree program, cleans beaches and maintains the city’s storm drain system. The Engineering section implements the city’s CIP related to streets, roads, storm drains, facilities and coastal projects. Additionally, the Engineering section pursues grants, manages consultants, reviews development projects and oversees the construction of the CIP and development within the City’s right of way.
The Principal Civil Engineer will work under general direction, to direct, manage, supervise the Engineering Division; to perform highly complex professional engineering work; to plan, director, and supervise a variety of engineering projects and programs; and to conceptualize, develop, design, and implement all phases of difficult design and engineering research projects, to supervise and review the work professional and technical staff engaged in the preparation and/or review of plans, specifications, maps, designs, estimates, and inspections of capital improvement, construction, development and maintenance projects; coordinate the work of Engineering Division with the rest of Public Works.
The Public Works Department is supported by 56 Full-Time staff and an operating budget of $21 million, along with FY2023-24 CIP appropriation of $26 million. The Engineering Division has an annual operating budget of $5 million, along with a FY2023-24 CIP appropriation of $18.5 million and is supported by 28 full-time staff. The Principal Civil Engineer reports to the Deputy Director of Public Works.
Public Works Department Values
Show Support
- Include everyone; respect, listen to and appreciate others
- Build strong relationships, be a team player
- Develop ourselves and mentor and develop others
- Collaborate and work together effectively as one team
Build Trust
- Communicate clearly, concisely, and candidly
- Make sound decisions using facts and data
- Hold ourselves and others accountable for delivering results
- Show initiative, courage, and integrity
Maintain a Positive Culture
- Deal positively with residents, businesses, other departments, and each other
- Have a can do, find a way attitude and emotional resilience
- Have a continuous improvement philosophy and practice
- Enjoy the journey and have fun – never at others’ expense
BASIC EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Develop, plan, and implement goals and objectives of the Public Works Engineering Capital Improvement Projects; recommend and administer policies and procedures.
- Supervise, coordinate, and review all Public Works engineering activities including engineering design, construction inspection and surveying, as well as contract administration.
- Develop a cohesive team working atmosphere between city staff and contract staff. Establish design guideline parameters to meet regulatory requirements and the goals of the program for the benefit of the customers served.
- Participate in the development and administration of the Capital Improvement Program projects. Forecast annual funding needed for construction, staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies to complete the Capital Improvement Program. Monitor and approve capital improvement expenditures and implement mid-year budget adjustments.
- Determine scope of engineering projects, review plans of private developers and contractors, make technical engineering decisions and establish technical criteria and standards.
- Ensure that quality assurance and quality control plans are in place and being followed for engineering work. Verify computations, plans, specifications, and estimates for Public Works projects, review engineering drawings, and land record maps.
- Attend and participate in meetings and conferences, make project presentations to the City Council and other City commissions and committees, City administrators, public officials, professional organizations, contractors, County, Regional and State regulatory agencies regarding matters relating to areas of assigned responsibilities.
- Prepare a variety of budgets, reports, correspondence, and special studies.
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.
