Assistant Deputy Director

The City of San Diego; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 202,000 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined retirement plan

Health and wellness plans

11 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday

Paid annual leave (176 hours first 15y

Paid discretionary leave (up to 24h)

Parental Leave up to 320 hours

Tuition reimbursement

Free transit pass

Discounted golf

Fitness center memberships

City-paid life insurance

Job summary

The City of San Diego seeks an Assistant Deputy Director to lead the Dam Safety Program within the Dams and Safety division. The role oversees the program, staff and consultants, ensuring integration with engineering, planning, operations and capital delivery while meeting regulatory obligations.

The position entails managing budgets, liaising with regulatory agencies, and presenting to governing bodies. A Civil Engineer license and senior leadership experience are highly valued as you guide

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates qualifications for the job.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Dam Safety Program for the Department.
• Oversee the Dam Program team, including in-house staff and consultants.
• Coordinate cohesiveness between engineering, planning, operations, and the capital delivery team.
• Represent the Program before governing bodies within the City, including oversight committees and City Council.
• Meet with regulatory agencies and represent the Division on dam safety, water supply, and related issues.
• Prepare the Dam Program’s annual operating, capital outlay, and personnel budget.
• Represent the Program and Department at industry and professional forums.
• Establish and coordinate Department administrative policies within assigned areas.
• Collaborate with other department management to ensure efficient operation.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Project oversight

Education

Bachelor’s degree (engineering / business / public administration)

Job description

Job Req ID: 944

Division: Dams and Safety

Salary Range: $224,744.00 to $224,744.00

Job Type: Unclassified

Business Area: Public Utilities

Personnel Area: PU Administrative Services

Closing Date: 10/06/2026

Under the general direction of the Public Utilities Department (PUD) Director, Technical Support Assistant Director, and Engineering and Program Management Division Deputy Director, the Assistant Deputy Director will lead the Department’s Dam Safety team and oversee implementation of its Dam Safety Program.

The City of San Diego currently owns and maintains 13 dams under the regulatory jurisdiction of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD). The City’s portfolio includes some of the oldest dams in California, several of which are more than 100 years old and are approaching or have exceeded their useful service lives. Many of these facilities require significant repair, rehabilitation, or replacement to address deficiencies, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure safe and reliable operation. Dam conditions can also affect the City’s ability to store water, with operational restrictions at certain facilities limiting reservoir capacity and potentially affecting regional water supplies. Continued investment in these critical assets is necessary to restore and maintain the functionality of the raw water system, protect public health and safety, and support a reliable local water supply.

The Assistant Deputy Director will oversee a recently established, multi-billion-dollar water supply infrastructure program focused on the rehabilitation and capital replacement of the City’s dams. As a key member of the PUD management team, the position will direct short- and long-term program planning, technical studies, project design and delivery, large-scale and complex capital improvement projects, and regulatory compliance. The Assistant Deputy Director will also coordinate multidisciplinary teams across multiple divisions and departments to successfully implement critical dam safety initiatives and deliver major infrastructure projects.

The Engineering and Program Management Division has 125 budgeted employees and a Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget of approximately $50 million. The Division provides planning and engineering services for the Department’s wastewater, recycled water, and water systems. Services include capital program management; wastewater and water planning; long-range water resource planning; GIS support; energy engineering; environmental compliance and permitting; and leadership of the Department’s Dam Safety Program. The Division currently offers a hybrid work option for employees following probation.

Key Areas Of Responsibility

• Manage the Dam Safety Program for the Department.
• Oversee the Dam Program team, including in-house staff and consultants.
• Ensure cohesiveness between multiple teams including engineering, planning, operations, and the capital delivery team.
• Represent the Program before a variety of governing bodies within the City, including oversight committees, City Council, etc.
• Meet with regulatory agencies and represent the Division on dam safety, water supply, raw water capital programming, and other regulatory issues.
• Prepare the Dam Program’s annual operating, capital outlay, and personnel budget, including justifying budget requests and monitoring expenditures against goals and objectives.
• Representing the Program and Department at various industry and professional forums.
• Establish and coordinate Department administrative policies within assigned areas of responsibility.
• Work collaboratively with other department management and their staff to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Department; and
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field and,
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates qualifications for the job may be qualifying.

Desirable Qualifications

• A valid registration as a Professional Civil Engineer with the State of California.
• Experience designing and overseeing the construction of major dam repair or replacement projects.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to successfully interact with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the California regulatory environment and experience working with regulatory agencies, including but not limited to the Division of Safety of Dams, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and California State Water Resources Control Board.
• Experience in developing and overseeing large infrastructure programs.Experience in developing and managing complex budgets.
• A thorough understanding of the City’s and PUD’s priorities and capital program.
• Structural engineering, water system design, and consultant oversight experience.
• Commitment to public service, fiscal responsibility, and innovation in government.
• Exceptional ability to manage and motivate people and teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong business and political acumen to work effectively with customers, elected officials, external stakeholders, and governmental agencies.
• Active and genuine commitment to managing diversity in the workplace and encouraging high-performing teams.

The Department

The City of San Diego, through the Public Utilities Department, owns and operates the Water and Wastewater Systems.The Water System serves the City and certain surrounding areas, including retail, wholesale and reclaimed water customers. The Water System’s service area covers 403 square miles, including 342 square miles within the City, operates and maintains roughly 3,300 miles of drinking water pipelines, and has approximately 1.4 million retail customers. The Wastewater System consists of two sub-systems: the Municipal Sub-System and the Metropolitan Sub-System. The Municipal system is a sewage collection and conveyance system for the City’s residents, and the Metropolitan system treats and disposes of the wastewater generated by the City and 12 members of the Metro Joint Powers Authority who represent 15 other cities and districts surrounding the city. The wastewater system covers approximately 450 square miles, operates and maintains roughly 3,000 miles of wastewater pipelines, and serves a regional population of over 2.3 million customers. For more information, please visit the Department on the City's website.

The City

With more than 1.4 million residents, the City of San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. The City of San Diego’s strong economy, diverse population, great educational institutions, unsurpassed quality of life, and world-renowned location make it the ideal place to work, live, and play. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego has something to offer for everyone.

The City’s Mission, as stated in the Strategic Plan is “Every day we serve our communities to make San Diego not just a fine city, but a great City.” The City’s Vision is "Opportunity in every neighborhood, excellent service for every San Diegan".

As one of the region’s largest employers, the City of San Diego employs nearly 13,000 highly dedicated employees and has a combined Fiscal Year 2027 operating and capital budget of approximately $6.42 billion. Additional information about the City of San Diego can be found on the City’s website.

Benefits

• Defined retirement plan, including pension reciprocity, dependent on an employee’s eligibility status (new hire, rehire, etc.).
• A wide variety of cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and 1 floating holiday per fiscal year.
• Approximately 176 hours of paid annual leave for an employee’s first 15 years of service, and approximately 216 hours for 16+ years of service.
• Up to 24 hours of paid discretionary leave per fiscal year.
• Up to 320 hours of paid Parental Leave per childbirth or placement of a child.
• Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave per fiscal year.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per fiscal year, and complimentary LinkedIn Learning professional development opportunities.
• Free transit pass (including MTS Trolley, MTS Bus, and all Rapid and Rapid Express bus services).
• Access to premier City golf courses at a discounted rate.
• Reduced-rate fitness center memberships.
• City-paid life insurance.

For additional details, please review the Benefits Summary for Unclassified Employees (Download PDF reader) or contact the Benefits Division of the Risk Management Department at [phone].

Pre-Employment Requirements And Screening Process

Employment offers are conditional, pending the results of all screening processes applicable to the position. All the processes required by the City of San Diego must be successfully completed before employment begins. Please refer to the City’s pre-employment requirements and screening process webpage for additional information. Nothing in this job posting constitutes or should be construed as part of an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego.

Resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above and the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview.

The City of San Diego has an active Equal Opportunity/ADA Program for employment and vigorously supports diversity in the workplace.