Capital Improvement Program Manager

City of St. Helena; St. Helena (CA); On-site; USD 131,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of St. Helena is seeking a Capital Improvement Program Manager to lead the planning, design, procurement, construction, and closeout of the City’s capital program.

You will provide leadership, coordinate across departments, and manage complex, multi-year projects with significant public involvement. Reporting to the Director of Public Works, you will oversee budgets, schedules, grants, and contractor management, build consensus among stakeholders, and mentor staff to deliver

Qualifications

• Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in capital improvement program management, including at least two years of supervisory or management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in engineering, construction management, architecture, public administration, business administration, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct, and oversee the City’s capital improvement program and the delivery of large and complex capital projects.
• Develop and administer the multi-year capital program; set priorities, schedules, budgets, and funding plans.
• Oversee consultants, contractors, and project teams; manage contracts and procurement activities.
• Develop and administer capital project budgets; monitor costs, schedules, funding, and performance; resolve risks and issues.
• Coordinate with City departments, agencies, utilities, property owners, and the public; facilitate communication and consensus.
• Develop community outreach and present reports and recommendations to Council and the public.
• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff; provide guidance to project teams.
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and funding requirements; advise leadership on capital planning.

Skills

Capital improvement mgmt

Public works

Budgeting & funding

Communication

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Civil Engineer license

Job description

Salary: $130,641.00 - $158,795.00 Annually

Location: St. Helena

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 2027-03

Department: Public Works

Opening Date: 10/07/2026

Closing Date: 11/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA: Exempt

Bargaining Unit: UCP

Definition

Under administrative direction from the Director of Public Works, plans, organizes, manages, coordinates, and directs the City’s capital improvement program and the implementation of large, complex, and highly visible capital improvement projects. Provides leadership and support to City departments involved in various aspects of capital planning, project design, permitting, procurement, construction, and project closeout. Oversees capital project delivery from initial scoping and planning through design, construction, project closeout, and transition to operations. This position exercises a considerable amount of independent judgment and discretion to ensure that significant capital projects are delivered in a quality, timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Capital Improvement Program Manager is a single-position mid-management classification responsible for providing leadership, management, and oversight of the City’s capital improvement program and assigned capital projects. This classification is distinguished from professional engineering and other technical classifications in that those classifications are primarily responsible for the technical aspects of planning, designing, and implementing capital improvement projects, while the manager of the Capital Improvement Program has broader responsibility for program management, project delivery, interdepartmental coordination, budget development and management, and organizational leadership.

The position is characterized by a high degree of independence and responsibility for projects of substantial complexity and value that may extend over multiple years, require significant cross-departmental and cross-disciplinary coordination, and involve substantial interaction with elected officials, governmental agencies, consultants, contractors, community organizations, property owners, and the public. Assigned projects may be highly visible or politically sensitive and require significant negotiation, problem solving, consensus building, and coordination among parties with differing interests.

Supervision Received/Exercised

Receives administrative direction from the Director of Public Works. Exercises direct supervision over assigned professional, technical, and support staff and provides functional direction and oversight to City staff, consultants, contractors, and interdisciplinary project teams engaged in the planning and delivery of assigned capital programs and projects.

• Plans, organizes, manages, and directs the City’s capital improvement program and the delivery of large and complex capital projects from planning and design through construction, completion, and closeout.
• Develops and implements the City’s multi-year capital improvement program; establishes project priorities, schedules, budgets, funding strategies, and delivery plans in coordination with the Director of Public Works and affected departments.
• Directs and oversees consultants, contractors, and interdisciplinary project teams; develops and administers contracts, scopes of work, procurement activities, and other professional and technical services necessary for project delivery.
• Develops and administers capital project budgets; monitors costs, schedules, funding, and project performance; identifies and resolves project risks and issues and ensures compliance with applicable grant and funding requirements.
• Coordinates capital programs and projects with City departments, governmental agencies, utilities, property owners, businesses, residents, community organizations, and other stakeholders; facilitates communication, negotiation, and resolution of project-related issues.
• Develops and conducts community outreach and public participation activities; prepares and presents staff reports, project updates, and recommendations to the Director of Public Works, City Council, boards, commissions, governmental agencies, and the public.
• Selects, supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned staff; establishes work priorities and provides professional and technical guidance to staff and project teams.
• Ensures capital programs and projects comply with applicable laws, regulations, City policies, funding requirements, contractual obligations, and industry standards; advises City leadership regarding capital planning and project delivery.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

(The following are minimal qualifications necessary for entry into the classification.)

Education and/or Experience

Any combination of education and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for a Capital Improvement Program Manager. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications would be:

• Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in capital improvement program management, capital project management, public works, engineering, construction management, contract administration, or a closely related field, including at least two years of supervisory or management experience.
• Possession of the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in engineering, construction management, architecture, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.

License/Certificate:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver's license.

Possession of a valid California Professional Civil Engineer license issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES (The following are a representative sample of the KSA’s necessary to perform essential duties of the position.)

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of capital improvement program and project management, including planning, design, construction, scheduling, budgeting, and project controls.
• Principles and practices of public works construction, contract administration, consultant and contractor management, and public procurement.
• Capital improvement budgeting, cost estimating, funding strategies, and grant administration and compliance.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, policies, and procedures related to public capital projects.
• Principles and practices of supervision, leadership, and personnel management.
• Methods and techniques of public communication, community engagement, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

Skill to:

• Operate office equipment including computers and applicable word processing, spreadsheet, project management, and database applications.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, direct, and oversee complex capital programs and projects from development through completion.
• Develop and administer project budgets, schedules, contracts, and funding plans; analyze project performance and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Coordinate the work of consultants, contractors, City staff, governmental agencies, and other project stakeholders.
• Analyze complex technical, financial, administrative, and operational issues; evaluate alternatives and develop effective recommendations.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, and prepare and present reports and recommendations to the Director of Public Works, City Council, boards, commissions, community groups, and the public.
• Negotiate effectively, resolve conflicts, and build consensus among parties with differing interests.
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations, policies, contracts, and funding requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City staff, elected officials, consultants, contractors, governmental agencies, and the public.
• Plan, supervise, review, and evaluate the work of assigned staff.