Assistant Director of Public Services and Engineering

The City of Coronado is Accepting Applications for the

Assistant Director of Public Services and Engineering

The Department:

The Department of Public Services and Engineering is responsible for maintaining the City’s physical infrastructure including the City’s beaches, parks, facilities, streets, sidewalks, sanitary sewer and storm drain systems, and other public rights of way to protect public health and safety. The department also oversees planning, design, engineering, and construction of capital projects, in addition to management of a wide range of public services and programs.

The following tasks are typical for positions in this classification. Any single position may not perform all of these tasks and/or may perform similar related tasks not listed here:

1. Assist the Director of Public Services and Engineering in managing and directing department services and activities, including Capital Improvement Program, land development review and permitting, traffic engineering, programs in support of city services/regulatory requirements, and maintenance of City infrastructure including: streets/waterways, facilities, beaches parks, and utilities.
2. Assist in the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies and priorities for each assigned service area.
3. Establish, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; allocate resources accordingly.
4. Coordinate the preparation of work schedules; coordinate conduct of bidding procedures, including compilation of bid packages; make recommendations to Council to accept/reject bids; notify successful and unsuccessful bidders.
5. Participate in planning, directing and coordinating, through subordinate level staff, the department’s work plan; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods and procedures; meet with key staff to identify and resolve problems.
6. Assess and monitor workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement; direct and implement changes.
7. Oversee the provision of contracted services; prepare specifications and requests for proposal; evaluate bids and make recommendations for contract award; manage and administer contracts to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and approved budget; conduct negotiations for contracts and agreements with other agencies.
8. Monitor issuance of construction, excavation, encroachment, right-of-way and other permits.
9. Select, train, motivate and evaluate assigned personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures.
10. Assist in the development and administration of the department budget; approve the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; approve expenditures and implement budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary.
11. Develop and maintain community relationships and engagement. Provide excellent customer service to residents and the community. 
12. Represent the department to other departments, elected officials and outside agencies; coordinate assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations. 
13. Provide staff assistance to the Director of Public Services and Engineering and City Manager; participate on a variety of boards, commissions and committees; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
14. Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
15. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

When Assigned to Engineering:

1. Serve as City Engineer; practice professional engineering on behalf of the City; sign engineering plans and act as expert witness on engineering matters; coordinate and provide direction and information to design consultants.
2. Review construction costs and prepare studies on financing of projects; establish technical criteria and standards; compose correspondence relative to a variety of projects; assist in the preparation of subdivision agreements; review soils reports, grading plans and environmental impact statements; inspect construction and recommend acceptance/rejection of projects. Prepare designs, plans, maps and specifications for various construction and capital improvement projects.
3. Assist in the development and execution of infrastructure and capital improvement needs. Develop and design capital improvement projects. Participate in the development and implementation of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan. Oversee the funding, contract administration, and construction inspection of capital improvement projects.
4. Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of civil engineering.
5. Assume full responsibility for management of the Engineering division in the Director’s absence. 
6. Promptly respond to and address unplanned Engineering emergencies and situations, including on evenings, weekends, and holidays. 

When Assigned to Public Services:

1. Evaluate external and internal public services maintenance needs; recommend and implement public service projects/maintenance strategies for all divisions: including public right of way, parks, beaches, sewer and storm facilities, city facilities and fleet assets.
2. Attend and participate in professional group meetings. 
3. Assume full responsibility for management of the Public Services division in the Director’s absence. 
4. Promptly respond to and address unplanned Public Services emergencies and situations, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate for the position of Assistant Director of Public Services and Engineering will have strong technical and professional skills to assist with managing day-to-day operations of the department. The candidate should be able to effectively manage construction and maintenance of public infrastructure. The candidate is expected to conduct themselves with integrity and demonstrate strong leadership skills. The candidate must be able to assess staff strengths and weaknesses and be effective in addressing deficiencies through mentoring, training and team building. The candidate must be able to communicate clearly and effectively, be forward-thinking, and place a high priority on process improvements including the use of technology for the betterment of the department and the City. The candidate shall provide exceptional customer service to other City departments, residents, visitors and other members of the community.

To view the full job description, click on the following link:  Assistant Director of Public Services & Engineering

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

When Assigned to Engineering:

Experience: 

• At least five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience directing and managing civil engineering projects/programs; including at least two (2) years of supervisory or management experience.

Education/Training: 

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related field. A master’s degree in one of these areas is desirable.

Licenses and Certificates:

• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License with a safe driving record.
• Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the State of California’s Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

When Assigned to Public Services:

Experience:

• At least seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience administering and managing public services/works, maintenance, operations, waste collection or recycling programs, and water and wastewater treatment, distribution systems, and collection systems, including two (2) years of management experience.

Education/Training:

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public administration, business administration, or a related field.

Licenses and Certificates: 

• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License with a safe driving record. 

Examination & Selection Process:

Application Review Phase:

A completed City of Coronado employment application, cover letter, and resume must be received by the Human Resources Division by 11:59 PM PST on November 20, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on the basis of relevant education, training, and experience. 

Examination Process:

Applicants considered most qualified after the application review will be invited to participate in an interview panel tentatively scheduled for the week of December 7, 2026. Additionally, applicants may be requested to undertake one of the following exercises – written assessment, practical, or presentation – as part of the examination process.

Final Interview:

Top candidates will be invited to participate in a final department interview with the Director of Public Services & Engineering, tentatively scheduled for the week of December 14, 2026. 

Candidate Selection:

The selected candidate will be issued a conditional offer, subject to the successful completion of background check and medical examination.

Additional Information:

All candidates who successfully obtain a 70% or above in each phase of the exam process will be placed on an eligibility list. The City of Coronado participates in E-Verify, all new employees are required to submit verification of legal right to work in the United States. The City of Coronado is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). Individuals with disabilities who will require reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any portion of the examination process may voluntarily request the accommodation from the City five working days prior to the requested accommodation. Documentation of the need for the accommodation may be required upon receipt of the request.

• A rich benefits package contributes to the total compensation value. Benefits include a monthly cafeteria allotment of $2,450 voluntary retirement savings/deferred compensation, tuition reimbursement, group term life, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an employee assistance program, and more. 
• The Retirement Benefit Formula for Classic CalPERS hired prior to January 1, 2013, is Members is 3% at 60. The current employee contribution rate is 9.5%.
• The Retirement Benefit Formula for PEPRA CalPERS Members, hired after January 1, 2013, is 2% at 62. The current employee contribution rate is 7.50%.
• As part of ensuring our employees maintain a work/life balance, employees earn 144 hours of Annual Leave per year for the first 5 years. After 5 years, the accrual rate increases.   
• The City provides Term Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance in an amount equal to a one-time annual salary or $50,000, whichever is greater, at no cost to the employee. 
• The City provides short- and long-term disability insurance equal to 66 2/3% of income. Employees that earn over the maximum benefit of $5,000/month available under the long-term disability plan, have the option to purchase enhanced long-term disability insurance. 
• The City provides up to $2,000 per fiscal year for reimbursement of directly related costs of tuition, school fees, books, and required materials for approved courses and professional development opportunities. Student Loan Repayment can be used under this benefit. 
• Longevity Pay; bonus at 10 years and every 5 years after.  
• Lateral Vacation Service Credit, effective January 1, 2023, employees shall be given credit for prior verifiable public service employment for annual leave accrual rates. 
• Access to community pool and gym.  
• Valuable experience, training opportunities, and engaged leadership in a supportive community environment.