Deputy Director (Capital Improvement Program) - Public Works Department

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

The City of San José
Known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” the City of San José plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the world’s leading region of innovation. Encompassing 180 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is Northern California’s largest city, third largest in the State, and the 12th largest city in the nation. With more than one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world, including major tech headquarters like Cisco, Adobe, Samsung, and eBay as well as start-ups and advanced manufacturing.

San José’s quality of life is unsurpassed. Surrounded by the Diablo and Santa Cruz mountain ranges and enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, residents have easy access to the beaches along the California coast including Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Carmel-by-the-Sea; Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada; local and Napa Valley wine country, and the rich cultural and recreational life of the entire Bay region.

San José has received accolades for its vibrant neighborhoods, healthy lifestyle, and diverse attractions from national media including Business Week and Money magazines. The downtown area is home to high-rise residential projects, theaters, museums, and diverse entertainment attractions such as live music, live theater, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs. Inquiring minds are served by The Tech Interactive, the San José Museum of Art, and many local galleries and venues. The City is served by 19 of the 32 public school districts in the County, and over 300 private and parochial schools provide residents with a range of educational choices. Universities in and near the City include San José State University, Santa Clara University, Stanford University, and three University of California campuses.

The City Government
The City of San José is a full-service Charter City and operates under a Council Manager form of government. The City Council consists of ten (10) council members elected by district and a mayor elected at large. The City Manager, who reports to the Council, and her executive team provide strategic leadership that supports the policy-making role of the Mayor and the City Council and motivates and challenges the organization to deliver high quality services that meet the community’s needs. Department heads, including the Director of Finance, are appointed by the City Manager with confirmation by the City Council. The City actively engages with members of the community through Council-appointed boards and commissions.

The City’s priorities are guided by four City Council Focus Areas which bring greater organizational emphasis, resource prioritization, and regular governance-level reporting to make notable progress on a limited number of strategic areas impacting the community. The current City Council Focus Areas are Increasing Community Safety, Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness, Cleaning up Our Neighborhoods, and Attracting Investment in Jobs and Housing. In addition to providing a full range of municipal services including police and fire, San José operates an international airport, a municipal water system, a regional wastewater treatment facility, some 200 neighborhood and regional parks, and a library system with 24 branches. The City also oversees convention, cultural, and hospitality facilities that include the San José McEnery Convention Center, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theater, Mexican Heritage Plaza, and the SAP Center San José - home of the National Hockey League San José Sharks.

City operations are supported by 6,994 full-time equivalent positions and a total operating and capital budget of $6.1 billion (for the 2024-25 fiscal year). San José is dedicated to maintaining the highest fiscal integrity and maintaining its consistently high credit ratings to ensure the consistent delivery of quality services to the community. Extensive information regarding San José can be found on the City website at www.sanjoseca.gov.

The Public Works Department
The Public Works Department’s mission is to provide excellent service in building a smart and sustainable community, maintaining and managing city assets, and serving the animal care needs of the community.

The Department provides six core services:
Animal Care Services - Promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of animals and people in the City of San Jose
Facilities Management - Provide safe, efficient, comfortable, attractive, and functional buildings and facilities
Fleet and Equipment Services - Manage operations which provide a safe and reliable fleet of vehicles and equipment. Plan, Design, and Construct
Public Facilities and Infrastructure - Plan, design, and construct public facilities and infrastructure, Materials Testing Laboratory, and Surveying Services
Regulate/Facilitate Private Development - Review private development to ensure that new development contributes to the safety and welfare of the residents as well as the City’s economic development
Strategic Support - Infrastructure and Mapping, Financial and Contractual Administration, Technology Services, Equality Assurance, Human Resources, and Emergency Response and Recovery

Public Works is one of the largest Departments in the City of San José with a staff of 660 and an annual operating budget of $230 million. The Public Works Director’s Management Team includes an Assistant Director and five Deputy Directors with responsibilities for these services.
For more detailed information, please visit San Jose Public Works.

Position Duties

The Opportunity The Capital Improvement Program Deputy Director reports to the Director and Assistant Director of Public Works and is one of two Deputy Directors primarily focused on capital delivery (“CIP Deputy Directors”). The CIP Deputy Directors provide leadership and direction to the services and functions in various divisions they oversee.

The primary responsibilities at this time are to lead the teams responsible for the following functional areas: Electrical Engineering, Storm and Sanitary Engineering, Roads and Bridges, Storm and Sanitary Master Planning, and construction management at the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Water Facility.

The CIP Deputy Director is supported by a team of approximately 100 full time employees who contribute to a highly collaborative, highly productive, family like work environment. It is likely that these responsibilities will remain the same in the near term. However, since the Department has two deputy director positions overseeing the CIP program, these responsibilities may shift depending on skills, interests, and priorities.

In addition, the responsibilities of the CIP Deputy Directors include but are not limited to:

• Lead the integrated Construction Management Team, which is composed of Public Works staff and third-party specialty construction managers/inspectors, to implement the $1.4 billion Capital Improvement Program for the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility
• Lead the master planning, rehabilitation and construction program for the City’s sanitary and storm sewer systems (the City’s Department of Transportation oversees system maintenance)
• Lead the planning and implementation of Green Stormwater Infrastructure to meet the City’s long-term goal of creating healthier environments by managing water runoff
• Lead the design and construction of major public works projects within the public right-of-way, in partnership with the Department of Transportation which handles the majority of the advanced planning and funding responsibilities
• Oversee and partner with the Department’s other executive staff to lead transformation, training and other process improvement efforts in the City’s capital improvement program
• Program oversight, planning, design and construction for projects within the $650 Million 2018 Measure T bond measure;
• Partnership for project delivery at the San Jose International Airport;
• Project design and construction for city facility projects such as parks, libraries, community centers, cultural centers and other city buildings. The position is open due to the retirement of the prior incumbent.

The Ideal Candidate
The City of San José’s Department of Public Works is a high-energy, collaborative team dedicated to excellence and community service. It prides itself on being a responsive partner to its residents, consistently raising the bar for municipal performance each year.

The Department is seeking a CIP Deputy Director who is a self-starter, has a strong engineering background and is a proven leader in construction management. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in budget oversight and public procurement, contracting methods and compliance requirements to drive the City's most vital CIP projects forward. The ideal candidate will also bring a proven track record of managing high-profile construction developments from inception to completion.

The next Deputy Director-Capital Improvement Program will be someone who:

• Communicates effectively and empathetically, is skilled at building positive relationships, and fosters a collaborative and open environment.
• Leads with purpose, builds trust, mentors staff and develops future leaders within their teams.
• Empowers their employees, supports their professional development, and recognizes their achievements.
• Maintains a sharp focus on budgets and fiscal responsibility.
• Partners with teams within the Department, other City departments and external agencies.

The next Deputy Director will be an open and engaging partner who finds purpose in mission-driven work. They will have a commitment to public service and a consistent record of fairness, professionalism and integrity. They will embrace the chance to shape the City’s future, specifically by investing time in coaching and empowering the Department’s rising talent.

Previous experience working in a large, complex government agency and/or experience managing construction projects in a large, complex scale wastewater treatment will be an asset but is not required.

For the full recruitment brochure click here.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Any combination equivalent to successful completion of advanced course work from an accredited college or university in engineering or related field.
Experience: Six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience in senior level administrative and/or analytic work in a public or private agency. Experience managing a work unit equivalent to a major division within a City operating department is desirable.
License Requirement: Possession of a valid license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in California. It is highly desirable that candidates have registration as a Professional Engineer for the State of California.

Other Qualifications

Important Information
Form 700: Upon commencement of employment and subsequently each spring, the incumbent of this position must file the Family Gift Reporting Form together with the Statement of Economic Interest-Form 700. Please view the following link for details related to the State-Required reporting: Form 700 (ca.gov) and the following link for the City of San José Family Gift Reporting Form: showpublisheddocument (sanJoséca.gov).

Compensation
The salary range is currently $161,513 to $260,737; placement within this range will be dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the individual selected. This salary includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits page for detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan (pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks site to explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

How to Apply
Please apply on-line by February 13, 2026 at https://www.alliancerc.com/searches/current-recruitments/deputy-director-capital-improvement-program-san-jose/

The anticipated date for the City’s first round interviews are targeted for the week of March 2, 2026.

For questions, inquiries or candidate recommendations, please contact:
Sherrill Uyeda suyeda@alliancerc.com (562) 901-0769 x 331
Wesley Herman wherman@alliancerc.com (562) 901-0769 x 337

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 2/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of San Jose

• 408-535-1285

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