Facilities Manager

Berkeley Search Consultants; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Palo Alto seeks an experienced Facilities Manager to lead a municipal facilities program. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Public Works for Public Services, this position provides strategic leadership for facilities operations, contract maintenance, capital maintenance planning, and service delivery across the City.

The Facilities Manager will balance a demanding flow of day-to-day issues and contract activity with a broader, forward-looking approach to the City's facilities

Qualifications

• Seven years (7) of directly related experience
• Two years (2) of supervisory or management-level experience

Responsibilities

• Lead facilities maintenance and repair, preventive maintenance, building security, custodial services, and other facilities operations citywide.
• Direct and develop the facilities workforce, including work planning, performance management, training, career development, succession planning, hiring recommendations, and employee relations in a union environment.
• Oversee a Project Manager and Engineering Technician supporting roof replacements, building-system equipment replacements, smaller renovations, and other capital maintenance work.
• Manage more than 100 contractors and consultants, including scope development, competitive procurement, contract administration, performance review, and closeout.
• Develop and administer operating and capital maintenance budgets, multi-year maintenance plans, asset priorities, and resource strategies.
• Partner with the Engineering Services Division to identify and prioritize larger capital improvement needs and ensure that operational and maintenance considerations are incorporated into renovation, construction, and electrification projects.
• Review mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, controls, life-safety, security, and energy-related plans and specifications to ensure operational and maintenance needs are addressed.
• Advance preventive and predictive maintenance, asset information management, workplace safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. Track facility energy and water use to identify efficiency opportunities and investment priorities. Support building electrification, the City's transition to electric vehicles, and its network of more than 130 EV chargers while helping advance the City's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) goals.
• Prepare technical and executive-level reports and present recommendations to City leadership, the City Council and its committees, and outside agencies as needed.
• Serve as a collaborative and responsive Public Works representative to City departments, building trusted relationships and addressing complex customer and facility needs.

Job description

Salary Range/Compensation:

$127,150 to $190,736 annually

Client:

City of Palo Alto

Company Overview:

At the center of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto combines a culture of innovation with engaged residents and a steadfast commitment to public service. As a full-service city, Palo Alto delivers a broad range of municipal services and maintains a diverse portfolio of public buildings that support community programs, public safety, recreation, administration, and essential operations.

Professionals in Palo Alto work on complex, highly visible issues in a collaborative environment where thoughtful problem-solving and long-term stewardship have a meaningful impact. The City values dependable public services, responsible infrastructure investment, and a workplace that supports its employees. Palo Alto is also a leader in electric-vehicle adoption, with roughly one-quarter of resident vehicles electric and EVs representing more than half of recent new-vehicle purchases.

About Public Works and Facilities:

The Public Works Department's Public Services Division supports the reliable delivery of essential City services. Within the division, the Facilities team is responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair, security, and improvement of a diverse portfolio that includes public safety facilities, libraries, community and recreation centers, administrative offices, and other buildings supporting essential operations.

The Facilities Manager leads a facilities operations team of approximately 16 employees and directly oversees a Project Manager and an Engineering Technician. An extensive network of contractors and consultants supplements the team with specialized expertise in maintenance, inspections, building systems, and project delivery.

Job Description:

The City of Palo Alto seeks an experienced Facilities Manager to lead a comprehensive municipal facilities program. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Public Works for Public Services, this position provides strategic leadership for facilities operations, contract maintenance, capital maintenance planning, and service delivery across the City.

The Facilities Manager will balance a demanding flow of day-to-day issues and contract activity with a broader, forward-looking approach to the City's facilities portfolio. The position leads a talented team, manages an extensive contractor network, serves as a key Public Works partner to City departments, and works closely with the Engineering Services Division to plan and prioritize larger facility investments.

This opportunity calls for a leader who understands facilities operations and building systems, communicates well across departments, and can translate operational needs into sound priorities and long-term plans. The ability to connect maintenance, capital planning, energy performance, and the City's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) goals will be especially valuable.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead facilities maintenance and repair, preventive maintenance, building security, custodial services, and other facilities operations citywide.
• Direct and develop the facilities workforce, including work planning, performance management, training, career development, succession planning, hiring recommendations, and employee relations in a union environment.
• Oversee a Project Manager and Engineering Technician supporting roof replacements, building-system equipment replacements, smaller renovations, and other capital maintenance work.
• Manage more than 100 contractors and consultants, including scope development, competitive procurement, contract administration, performance review, and closeout.
• Develop and administer operating and capital maintenance budgets, multi-year maintenance plans, asset priorities, and resource strategies.
• Partner with the Engineering Services Division to identify and prioritize larger capital improvement needs and ensure that operational and maintenance considerations are incorporated into renovation, construction, and electrification projects.
• Review mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, controls, life-safety, security, and energy-related plans and specifications to ensure operational and maintenance needs are addressed.
• Advance preventive and predictive maintenance, asset information management, workplace safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. Track facility energy and water use to identify efficiency opportunities and investment priorities. Support building electrification, the City's transition to electric vehicles, and its network of more than 130 EV chargers while helping advance the City's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) goals.
• Prepare technical and executive-level reports and present recommendations to City leadership, the City Council and its committees, and outside agencies as needed.
• Serve as a collaborative and responsive Public Works representative to City departments, building trusted relationships and addressing complex customer and facility needs.

Experience and Education:

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must possess an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the position's essential duties, including the qualifications listed below.

• Seven years (7) of directly related experience
• Two years (2) of supervisory or management-level experience

Skills:

Palo Alto seeks a practical, credible facilities leader who can manage immediate operational demands while elevating the program's strategic focus. The ideal candidate will combine broad technical knowledge with well-developed people, contract, and project management skills and understand how to translate facility needs into sound budgets, scopes, contracts, schedules, and decisions.

The successful candidate will be visible, calm, collaborative, and comfortable serving as a key representative of Public Works across the organization. This individual will communicate clearly, set expectations, support and develop employees, create opportunities for internal growth, address performance issues directly and fairly, and earn trust across departments. Sound judgment, follow-through, and organizational awareness will be essential.

This role is well suited to someone who can move comfortably between day-to-day service priorities and long-term facilities planning. The next Facilities Manager will provide clear direction, strengthen coordination among staff, contractors, departments, and Engineering Services, and bring genuine interest to energy performance, electrification, and other forward-looking City goals.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Facilities management experience that includes responsibility for building operations, preventive maintenance, skilled trades, and service delivery.
• Experience with facility capital maintenance projects, renovations, design review, cost estimating, scheduling, contractor oversight, and collaboration with engineering and construction teams.
• Experience managing union-represented employees and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Experience developing and administering operating and capital maintenance budgets, long-range maintenance plans, procurements, complex service contracts, and facility priorities for capital improvement planning.
• Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, controls, life-safety, security, energy, and other building systems, with an interest in building performance, energy and water efficiency, and electrification.
• Experience in government, higher education, healthcare, airports, commercial facilities, or another complex, service-intensive environment.
• Designation as a Certified Facility Manager or a comparable professional credential.

Benefits Include:

The City of Palo Alto offers a comprehensive benefits program designed to support employees and their families. City of Palo Alto Benefits

Contact Information:

For additional information or questions, please contact:

Selection Process:

Applications will be reviewed based on relevant experience and qualifications. Additional screening may be used as needed. Only applicants whose backgrounds closely align with the City's needs will be invited to continue. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.