Principal Civil Engineer

City of Oakland; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & holidays

Retirement plan

Health benefits

Dental & Vision

Wellness programs

Job summary

City of Oakland Public Works Department seeks an experienced leader to plan, organize, and direct the activities of its engineering division. The role oversees design, construction inspection, plan review, and permit processing for a variety of capital improvements and infrastructure maintenance projects.

You will manage staff, develop budgets, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive project delivery from planning through construction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related field.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in design and construction management of civil engineering projects, drafting of ordinances and resolutions, and contract and budget administration, including at least one (1) year of supervisory experience.
• Incumbent may be expected to operate automotive vehicles and maintain a valid California Driver's License.
• Desirable qualifications include possession of a PE license in California.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, manage, and direct the activities of an engineering division within the Public Works Department.
• Oversee design, construction inspection, plan review, and permit processing for capital projects.
• Develop division goals, policies, procedures, and budgets; supervise and develop staff.
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards, codes, safety regulations, and public works policies.
• Direct large-scale capital improvement projects from planning through construction and payments.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Critical thinking

Project management

Budget planning

Collaboration

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Interpersonal handling

Organizational effectiveness

Attention to detail

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's in Civil Engineering

Job description

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why join the City of Oakland's Public Works Department?

Oakland Public Works strives to maintain, improve, and preserve Oakland's infrastructure and environment for residents, businesses, visitors, and future generations across our diverse city. Joining Oakland Public Works allows you to make a meaningful impact on the community's daily life while contributing to a team committed to responsive service, problem-solving, and operational excellence. Under general direction, you will plan, organize, manage, and direct the activities of an engineering division within the Public Works Department. You will oversee staff responsible for design, construction inspection, plan review, and permit processing. You will also manage large-scale construction projects, direct the preparation of ordinances and resolutions, and supervise, develop, and train assigned staff while performing other related duties as assigned.

We are looking for someone who is:

• An Inspiring Leader. You provide clear direction, motivate others, and foster collaboration to achieve shared goals. You create a vision for the division, develop practical strategies to accomplish its objectives, and invest in the growth and development of your team.
• An Effective Communicator. You communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. You build strong working relationships through trust, collaboration, and open communication while preparing clear reports, correspondence, and presentations for a variety of audiences.
• A Critical Thinker and Problem Solver. You analyze complex technical and administrative challenges, evaluate alternatives, exercise sound judgment, and implement effective solutions that advance organizational goals.
• Results-Driven. You are committed to delivering high-quality work and exceptional public service. You achieve organizational goals by applying technical expertise, analyzing challenges, managing risk, and making timely, effective decisions.
• Experienced Public Works in Engineering and Capital Projects. You bring the expertise to manage complex public works engineering programs, oversee design and construction activities, navigate legal and regulatory requirements, and successfully deliver infrastructure projects that benefit the Oakland community.

What you typically be responsible for:

• Planning, organizing, and directing the work of an engineering division through subordinate supervisors, overseeing functions such as design, construction administration, and project delivery.
• Leading and reviewing the development of engineering plans, specifications, designs, cost estimates, and other technical documents for a variety of capital improvement and maintenance projects.
• Developing and directing studies, reports, and recommendations to support the City's current and long-range capital improvement and infrastructure maintenance needs.
• Managing complex capital improvement projects from planning through construction, including overseeing project design, ensuring compliance with technical and regulatory requirements, negotiating contracts, and approving change orders and progress payments.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable engineering standards, legal requirements, building codes, safety regulations, and public works policies governing capital improvement projects.
• Preparing and administering the division's budget while monitoring expenditures and allocating resources to support operational priorities.
• Selecting, supervising, mentoring, and developing staff by providing coaching, performance feedback, training opportunities, and support for professional growth.
• Developing, implanting, and evaluating division goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, performance measures, and internal controls to promote operational excellence and continuous improvement.

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will work on projects that make a lasting impact by helping deliver infrastructure improvements that enhance the quality of life for the Oakland community.
• You will collaborate with a diverse network of partners by working closely with regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, community members, and colleagues across City departments.
• You will be part of a collaborative and supportive team within Oakland Public Works, where teamwork, innovation, and a shared commitment to a public service drive everything we do.
• You will lead and learn alongside a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including architects, engineers, construction managers, inspectors, and contract administrators, who bring diverse expertise and work together to successfully deliver complex capital improvement projects.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will balance multiple high-priority projects while managing competing deadlines, shifting priorities, and available resources.
• You will navigate complex regulatory requirements and coordinating with multiple permitting and oversight agencies to keep projects moving forward.
• You will build consensus among diverse stakeholders by balancing technical, operational, community, and organizational priorities to achieve successful project outcomes.
• You will respond to evolving infrastructure needs by developing innovative, practical solutions that support the City's long-term capital improvement goals.

Competencies Required:

• Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative): Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment.
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products.
• Communication Informing: Proactively obtaining and sharing information.
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and situations.
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
• Group Effectiveness and Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance.
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
• Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new and better ways of doing things.
• Interpersonal Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained solutions.
• Interpersonal Involving Others (Engaging Teams): Engaging others for input, contribution, and shared responsibilities for outcomes.
• Organizational Effectiveness Allocating Resources: Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize organizational effectiveness.
• Organizational Effectiveness Leading Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrating cooperation and teamwork while working within and across divisions, functions, or teams.
• Organizational Effectiveness Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on-time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives.
• Organizational Effectiveness Strategic Thinking & Perspective: Evaluating immediate actions in context of achieving long range objectives.
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job.
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications.

Education

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in civil engineering or a closely related field.

Experience

Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in design and construction management of civil engineering projects, drafting of ordinances and resolutions, and contract and budget administration, including at least one (1) year of supervisory experience.

License or Certificate/ Other Requirements

Incumbent in this position may be expected to operate automotive vehicles in the performance of assigned duties. Due to assignments and hours worked, public transportation may not be an efficient method for traveling to required locations. Individuals appointed may be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License while employed.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Possession of a Certificate of Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer (PE) in the state of California

The Recruitment Process:

This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules, per Charter Section 902. All applications received will be forwarded to the Public Works Department for further consideration.

Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration; only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Salary is negotiable within the defined range depending on qualifications.

What's in it for you?

• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation- 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement- CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and % @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health- The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental- The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision- The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave- Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation- 457 (b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401 (k) plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & Telecommuting

Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers:

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.