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Assistant Director Utilities - Water Gas Wastewater

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Assistant Director Utilities - Water Gas Wastewater

Salary

$236,891.20 - $315,848.00 Annually

Location

Elwell Court 1007 Elwell Court Palo Alto, CA

Job Type

Regular Full-Time

Job Number

20250000

Department

Utilities Department

Opening Date

07/29/2025

Closing Date

8/17/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

+ Description

+ Benefits

Description

This recruitment is being conducted by J. Powers Recruiting, Inc (JPR)

You can view the recruitment brochure and submit your application directly on J. Powers Recruiting website. (https://jpowersinc.com/current-jobs/?t=14&b=LWMALKTPR3QL3W4L5LGPOO7A24QCPKCO25ZBLQQ2ZMKALM5RUIY32MC3BT4GY6ZJOMOKYEBVKB2VDR5UD2ZFKYE64C4NW&action=detail&src=PREVIEW)

The City

Palo Alto, famed as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley,” boasts a population of 69,700 residents and nearly 100,000 employment opportunities. Distinguished among municipal entities, the City of Palo Alto administers a comprehensive range of services, including gas, electric, water, sewer, refuse, and storm drainage, offered at highly competitive rates. Additionally, the city provides an extensive array of community amenities, including 36 parks, 39 playgrounds, five community and youth centers, 41 miles of walking and biking trails, and five libraries. The city offers a unique blend of dining experiences ranging from international cuisines to classic American comfort food, alongside a high-quality educational environment that includes some of the nation’s top schools and access to world renowned higher education institutions. The city also oversees a regional airport and delivers fire, police, and emergency services. Palo Alto garners accolades nationally for its innovation and adept management, boasting a AAA bond rating alongside a track record of excellence as per the annual citizen survey conducted by Polco (formerly National Research Center). Incorporated over 125 years ago, now with a staff of close to 1,100 full-time employees, and an adopted budget of $1.01 billion (2025). The government of the City of Palo Alto exists to promote and sustain a superior quality of life in Palo Alto.

City of Palo Alto Utilities

The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) history began over 125 years ago, in 1896 when the water supply system was first installed. Two years later, the wastewater (sewer) collection system came online in 1898. In 1900, the electric power system began operation, followed in 1917 by a natural gas distribution system. In 1996, Palo Alto ventured into a new endeavor with the construction of its dark fiber loop and is presently working on a full fiber internet system. CPAU is a diverse city department with approximately 270 employees working in five utilities divisions including: administration, customer service, electric engineering and operations, resource management, and water- gas- wastewater engineering and operations.

These employees serve the needs of all Palo Alto residents, businesses, and other non residential customers, with a strong focus on safety, reliability, cost-effective service delivery, and sustainability, offering water, wastewater, gas, electric, and fiber. The infrastructure includes nine substations and 307 miles of electric distribution lines. For those prioritizing environmental concerns, Palo Alto is committed to environmental sustainability, managing carbon

neutral electric and gas resource portfolios, and programs to support beneficial electrification of homes and businesses for reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Palo Alto is a prime location for those committed to carbon neutral electric and gas resource portfolios, and electrification. The city has allocated $300 million over the next six years for this purpose, with annual spending of $50 million funded through bond financing and council approvals. CPAU’s financial strength is evident with assets totaling $500 million and a stellar AAA financial rating, indicating strong fiscal management.

The Water-Gas-Wastewater (WGW) Engineering & Operations Division is a dedicated team of around 100 professionals. This division is responsible for the operations, maintenance, and emergency response of Palo Alto’s gas, water, and wastewater distribution systems. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and resource optimization, the division fosters a culture of excellence, ensuring a sustainable and resilient community. Palo Alto is the only city in California to own and operate five essential utility services, in addition to refuse and storm drain (operated out of Public Works). Explore the City of Palo Alto’s Utility at a Glance (https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Utilities/Customer-Service/About-CPAU/Utilities-at-a-Glance) brochure for an overview of CPAU’s services.

The following key initiatives are designed to address the City’s evolving and expanding needs:

• Water Master Plan

• Wastewater Master Plan

• Water Distribution main replacement

• Wastewater Collection System Replacement

• Natural Gas Transition Planning

• Gas distribution replacement

• Water Tank Seismic Upgrade

• Commercial AMI Water Meter replacement and conversion

• WGW ESRI GIS conversion

The Ideal Candidate

The Assistant Director of Water-Gas-Wastewater (WGW) will be responsible for overseeing WGW field operations and engineering and is tasked with managing construction, capital improvement projects (CIP), operations, engineering, maintenance, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) of the WGW systems for performance, quality, cost, and safety. This position oversees a unit of 100 employees and two direct reports. The total WGW budget for FY26 is $179 million dollars, encompassing all divisions, including Administration and Resource Management. Of this, $98 million dollars is allocated specifically to WGW Education and Outreach (E&O). The ideal candidate will effectively build and develop teams, motivate staff, set objectives to meet critical project deadlines, and have a strong technical background in WGW system operations. This position is an important part of the leadership team to ensure the delivery of safe and reliable services to utility customers. We invite you to join an amazing organization and be a part of a leadership team where you can make a difference in the lives of Palo Alto’s residents and businesses.

The current salary range is $236,891.20 - $315,848.00; salary supplemented by attractive benefits. (https://eb.alliant.com/25copabaag/full-view.html)

Closes Sunday, August 17, 2025 (midnight)

Follow this link to learn more about the City of Palo Alto Utilities Department

Supplemental Information

Application & Selection Process

The closing date for this recruitment is midnight, Sunday, August 17, 2025. To be considered for this opportunity, upload a compelling cover letter and resume using the "Apply" (https://jpowersinc.com/current-jobs/?t=14&b=LWMALKTPR3QL3W4L5LGPOO7A24QCPKCO25ZBLQQ2ZMKALM5RUIY32MC3BT4GY6ZJOMOKYEBVKB2VDR5UD2ZFKYE64C4NW&action=detail&src=PREVIEW) feature at JPR Recruiting (https://jpowersinc.com/current-jobs/?t=14&b=LWMALKTPR3QL3W4L5LGPOO7A24QCPKCO25ZBLQQ2ZMKALM5RUIY32MC3BT4GY6ZJOMOKYEBVKB2VDR5UD2ZFKYE64C4NW&action=detail&src=PREVIEW) .

Contact Executive Recruiter for Questions

+ Jenna Flanagan • 916-304-6663

+ [email protected]