Deputy City Engineer

City of Tulare; Tulare (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Tulare seeks a visionary Deputy City Engineer to support the City Engineer in leading the Engineering & Project Management Department, shaping municipal infrastructure and managing multi-million dollar capital improvement projects. This assistant department head role oversees staff, policy development, and department-wide initiatives, with a focus on delivering critical public works programs.

The ideal candidate will hold a California PE license, a civil engineering degree, and at

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or closely related field from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible civil engineering experience, including project planning/direction and staff supervision.
• Professional License: PE (California) on current registration.
• Driver’s license: valid Class C California license.

Responsibilities

• Department Leadership: Support the City Engineer in planning, organizing and directing department programs, goals and policies.
• Project Oversight: Coordinate planning, design, and construction of public works and capital improvement projects.
• Team Management: Directly supervise, train, coach, and evaluate engineering and project management staff.
• Fiscal Stewardship: Assist in developing and administering the departmental budget and monitoring expenditures.
• Community & Stakeholder Relations: Represent the department before City leadership, elected officials, developers, outside agencies, and the public.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Staff supervision

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

HELP BUILD THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY - Join Us as Deputy City Engineer

The City is seeking a visionary and results-driven leader to fill the role of Deputy City Engineer. As an assistant department head, you will directly support the City Engineer in leading the Engineering & Project Management Department, shaping the municipal infrastructure, and managing capital improvement projects that directly impact our community.

This position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

As the Deputy City Engineer, you will exercise broad managerial authority over professional, technical, and administrative staff. You will step into a pivotal leadership role, overseeing critical programs, participating in policy development, and acting on behalf of the City Engineer in their absence. This is a classic assistant department head role, distinguished by its department-wide oversight and strategic influence.

Key Responsibilities

• Department Leadership: Support the City Engineer in planning, organizing, and directing department programs, goals, and policies.
• Project Oversight: Coordinate the planning, design, and construction of public works and multi-million dollar capital improvement projects.
• Team Management: Directly supervise, train, coach, and evaluate engineering and project management staff.
• Fiscal Stewardship: Assist in developing and administering the departmental budget and monitoring expenditures.
• Community & Stakeholder Relations: Represent the department before City leadership, elected officials, developers, outside agencies, and the public.

The Ideal Candidate

Required Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related field from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Experience: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible civil engineering experience, which must include project planning/direction and staff supervision.

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Professional License: Current Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer (PE) issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
• Driver's License: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver’s license.

Core Knowledge & Abilities

• Deep understanding of civil engineering principles, public works administration, and municipal infrastructure (streets, drainage, utilities).
• Proven ability to analyze complex technical problems and deliver practical, regulatory-compliant solutions.
• Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with contractors, developers, city officials, and citizens.

Tulare is a full-service Charter City with approximately 400 full-time employees. The City of Tulare is a supportive organization where people take pride in their work and in the community they serve. Tulare is a place where people can grow professionally, a place that values innovation and a place where people can make a positive and lasting change in the community.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under administrative direction, supports the City Engineer in planning, organizing, directing, and managing, the operations and activities of the Engineering & Project Management Department, including the planning, design, and construction of public works and capital improvement projects. Provides highly responsible professional support to the City Engineer; coordinates assigned activities with other City departments, public agencies, contractors, and the public; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives administrative direction from the City Engineer. Exercises general direction and supervision over management, supervisory, professional, technical, and administrative staff directly and through subordinate levels of supervision.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is an assistant department head level classification in the Engineering & Project Management Department responsible for assisting in management and administration of department operations. The incumbent oversees department programs and projects and participates in the development and implementation of goals, policies, and procedures.

This classification is distinguished from Senior Civil Engineer or Project Manager classifications by its broader managerial authority, administrative responsibilities, and department-wide oversight. This class is further distinguished from the City Engineer in that the latter has overall responsibility for the Engineering Division in addition to handling the most complex and sensitive engineering projects.

Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. The duties listed below represent the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is related or a logical assignment to the class.

• Supports the City Engineer in planning, organizing and directing department programs, services, and activities.
• Coordinates the planning, design, and construction of public works and capital improvement projects.
• Directs, coordinates, and reviews engineering activities including project management, permitting, development review and related engineering services.
• Participates in the development and administration of the departmentbudget; monitors expenditures and recommends adjustments as necessary.
• Supervises, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned staff; provides coaching, discipline, and performance management as necessary.
• Develops and implements policies, procedures, and operational improvements to enhance departmental efficiency and service delivery.
• Manages engineering studies, analyses, and technical reviews related to City infrastructure, transportation systems, and development projects.
• Reviews engineering plans, specifications, reports, and other technical documents for compliance with City standards, engineering principles, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversees the preparation of requests for proposals, consultant contracts, and construction contracts related to engineering projects.
• Coordinates work activities with other City departments, public agencies, utilities, developers, consultants and contractors.
• Provides technical guidance and professional recommendations to City leadership on engineering issues, infrastructure planning and capital improvement projects.
• Investigates and resolves complex technical, operational, and construction issues.
• Represents the department in meetings with elected officials, boards, commissions, outside agencies, and the public.
• Conducts research, prepares reports, and provides recommendations regarding engineering policies, programs, and projects.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• May assume responsibility for department operations in the absence of the City Engineer.

Knowledge of:

• City government and issues of concern to developers, property owners, contractors, private engineers and other when dealing with the City on engineering matters
• Principles and practices of civil engineering and public works administration.
• Engineering design, construction, and project management methods
• Municipal infrastructure systems including streets, drainage, transportation, and utilities
• Capital improvement program development and implementation
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and engineering standards
• Budget development, administration, and fiscal management
• Principles of supervision, leadership, training and performance evaluation
• Contract administration and consultant management
• Public sector project delivery and regulatory processes

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, and direct complex engineering programs and projects
• Analyze technical engineering problems and develop practical solutions
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, codes, and engineering standards
• Prepare and present clear technical reports and recommendations
• Manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Supervise, motivate, and evaluate professional and technical staff
• Communicate effectively with City officials, staff, contractors, developers, and the public
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Equivalent to graduation from an accreditedfour-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field, and five (5)years of increasingly responsible civil engineering experience including planning and directing projects and the supervision of engineering staff.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver’s license.
• Possession of Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer license issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office environment and use standard office equipment; ability to operate a motor vehicle to visit project sites; vision to read printed materials and computer screens; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Occasional field inspections may require walking on uneven terrain and exposure to construction environments. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds and heavier weights with the use of proper equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in both office and field settings. Field work may involve exposure to construction sites, traffic, noise, weather conditions, and other environmental factors associated with public works projects.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to attend evening meetings as required.
• May be required to respond to emergency situations or critical infrastructure issues outside normal working hours.