Assistant Director, Public Works — Strategic Leader

City of Oakland; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15 paid holidays

CalPERS retirement

Health, dental, vision

Sick leave 12 days

Tuition Reimbursement

Telecommuting

Job summary

The City of Oakland is seeking a dynamic leader to guide the Public Works Department, setting clear goals, building trust, and aligning teams to deliver high‑quality services across a diverse city. You will report to Council and committees, translate complex topics into plain language, and foster staff engagement while navigating budgets and resource constraints.

Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's in civil engineering or public administration and five years in a division-manager role in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Five years of experience comparable to a division manager position in the City of Oakland.
• Valid California Driver's License or ability to travel as required.
• Possession of a Professional Civil Engineer registration may be required for certain positions.
• Desirable APWA and/or GFOA certifications.

Responsibilities

• Setting and tracking clear goals for the bureau and troubleshooting where the bureau is not meeting goals.
• Reporting to Council and Committees on OPW's budget development and monitoring.
• Translating complex topics into plain language for colleagues and policy makers.
• Building staff morale and improving employee engagement.
• Improving intra-Bureau and inter-Bureau communication and collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Communication

Problem solving

Change management

Political savvy

Technical expertise

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or public administration

Job description

The City of Oakland is seeking a dynamic leader to guide the Public Works Department, setting clear goals, building trust, and aligning teams to deliver high‑quality services across a diverse city. You will report to Council and committees, translate complex topics into plain language, and foster staff engagement while navigating budgets and resource constraints.

Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's in civil engineering or public administration and five years in a division-manager role in