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1376 AD WGW
PCRecruiter - Recruitment Software & Applicant Tracking System, Palo Alto, California, United States, 94306
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Assistant Director Utilities - Water-Gas-Wastewater (WGW) Engineering & Operations The salary range for this position is $236,891.20 - $315,848.00 annually.
Become part of this prestigious utility company dedicated to delivering a wide array of City-owned and operated utility services, including electricity, natural gas, water, sanitary sewer, and commercial fiber optic services, to residents and businesses alike.
The Community 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).
As a global hub of technology and ingenuity, Palo Alto serves as the corporate headquarters for esteemed companies and research institutions such as VMWare, Hewlett-Packard, and Tesla. Alongside being the home of Stanford University and a top-tier public school system, Palo Alto features captivating historic residential neighborhoods and bustling shopping districts. Its populace, highly educated and culturally astute, actively participates in local and global initiatives.
With a history spanning over a century, Palo Alto derives its name from a majestic coastal redwood tree over a thousand years old, situated along San Francisquito Creek, where early Spanish explorers settled. The fusion of commercial and residential zones, anchored by a lively downtown, embodies Palo Alto’s distinctive essence. Its tree-lined avenues and historic edifices reflect its Californian legacy, while simultaneously earning global recognition for its forefront advancements in technology.
The City 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 City of Palo Alto is led by City Manager Ed Shikada. The government of the City of Palo Alto exists to promote and sustain a superior quality of life in Palo Alto. In partnership with the community, their goal is to deliver cost-effective services in a personal, responsive, and innovative manner. City values are:
• Quality: Superior delivery of services • Courtesy: Providing service with respect and concern • Efficiency: Productive, effective use of resources • Integrity: Straight-forward, honest, and fair relations • Innovation: Excellence in creative thought and implementation
The city operates five libraries, 4,000+ acres of parks, preserves, and open spaces, a junior museum and zoo, an art center, two large community centers, a municipal golf course, and 471 miles of streets, reflecting its community-oriented ethos.
The Department 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 nonresidential 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
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 Position 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 Ideal Candidate The Assistant Director of Utilities WGW Engineering
& Operations will be customer service oriented
and have exceptional leadership skills to build and
develop teams, motivate staff, and set objectives to
meet critical project deadlines. This candidate will
have a background in distribution system operations,
engineering, project management, and budget
development and management. The ideal candidate
will work effectively with other utilities divisions and
city departments to ensure effective coordination
of related construction and maintenance projects,
and champion collaboration. We are looking for an
excellent communicator who is transparent, innovative,
and enterprising.
The next Assistant Director will also…. • Provide long-term strategic planning for the division. • Be a relationship builder and politically savvy. • Create strong relationships with other business units and partner agencies. • Have the ability to shift focus when priorities change. • Manage emergency situations with tact. • Be a problem-solver. • Address operational and environmental challenges. • Be a strong decision-maker. • Focus on training and developing staff. • Prepare clear, concise technical and budgetary reports. • Have knowledge of WGW SCADA systems, dispatch procedures, routing, and emergency conditions. • Have operational knowledge of construction, maintenance, field practices, etc. • Review engineering plans and make recommendations as they relate to field problems.
Minimum Qualifications: 1. Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through: 2. Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field and eight years of related experience, including five years of management-level experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. 3. Master’s degree is preferred. Registration as an Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineer in the State of California is preferred. 4. Licensing Requirements: • Depending on the area of assignment, some positions may require by Municipal Code, State or Federal law, one or more of the following: • Valid California Driver’s License.
Compensation Benefits The salary range for this position is $236,891.20 - $315,848.00 annually.
Placement within this range is dependent upon the qualifications. In addition, the City also provides a competitive benefits package described in more detail here that includes but is not limited to:
Click here to review City of Palo Alto Benefits
Flexible:
9/80. Retirement:
CalPERS 2% @ 60 formula for Classic employees with an 8% employee contribution; 2% @ 62 formula for New Members with an employee contribution of 50% of the normal cost (currently 7.25%).
Deferred Compensation: Allows employees to save money towards retirement in a 457 Plan through either Empower or Mission Square. City provides an employer match, dollar for dollar, up to $4,000 per calendar year. The City will match employee contributions into their City-approved 457 plans up to a maximum of $4,000. No combination of Employee and Employer funds can exceed the IRS limits for City-approved 457 plans.
Medical: The city pays a flat rate contribution (in 2025, up to $2,444 per month for family coverage), and the employee pays in accordance with the health plan option selected.
Dental:
Fully paid coverage includes an annual limit of $2,000 for basic services, with the option to choose higher coverage. Orthodontic coverage provides $1,500 per family member as a one-time benefit.
Vision:
Fully paid basic coverage includes an annual eye exam and either a pair of glasses or contacts every other year. There’s a $10 copay for the exam, and $105 is allocated towards frames, while basic lenses are covered. Alternatively, you can opt for the VIP VSP plan, which includes an annual exam and annual glasses or contacts.
Life and AD&D Insurance:
Fully paid up to annual salary.
Vacation:
120-200 hours annually, depending on years of service, with an option for cash out once a year.
Management Leave: 80 hours per calendar year, eligible to convert into vacation time, allocated to a deferred compensation plan for cash-out.
Paid Parental Leave:
Up to six weeks of paid leave at 100% of salary, for the first twelve-month period, immediately following the birth, adoption, or placement of a child with the employee.
Sick Leave:
96 hours per year.
Holidays:
12 paid holidays per year.
Commuter Benefits:
Benefits that allow you to deduct money pre-tax, match expenses in many cases, and even receive fully subsidized transit in some cases.
Annual Day of Recognition:
One floating holiday each calendar year in acknowledgment of days of cultural significance.
Gold Standard Employee Assistance Program:
The City’s partnership with CONCERN EAP has benefited employees in all aspects of their lives, from financial planning to proactive meditation courses and countless more in-person and virtual offerings, 5 in-person sessions available per area of interest.
Pilot Childcare and Educational Benefits: The City offers an annual Pilot Childcare Assistance Benefit. Up to $10,000 assistance for childcare costs at eligible childcare facilities located within Palo Alto City limits.
Find Childcare Resources . Through a new City of Palo Alto School District partnership, City employees are eligible to apply for their children to attend award-winning Palo Alto Unified District Schools.
Find Palo Alto Unified School District school information .
To Apply If you are interested in this outstanding opportunity, please contact: Jenna Flanagan (916) 304-6663 jenna@jpowersinc.com
Filing Deadline We will be reviewing applications, and the filing deadline for this position is August 17, 2025.
The City of Palo Alto is an equal-opportunity employer.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Assistant Director Utilities - Water-Gas-Wastewater (WGW) Engineering & Operations The salary range for this position is $236,891.20 - $315,848.00 annually.
Become part of this prestigious utility company dedicated to delivering a wide array of City-owned and operated utility services, including electricity, natural gas, water, sanitary sewer, and commercial fiber optic services, to residents and businesses alike.
The Community 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).
As a global hub of technology and ingenuity, Palo Alto serves as the corporate headquarters for esteemed companies and research institutions such as VMWare, Hewlett-Packard, and Tesla. Alongside being the home of Stanford University and a top-tier public school system, Palo Alto features captivating historic residential neighborhoods and bustling shopping districts. Its populace, highly educated and culturally astute, actively participates in local and global initiatives.
With a history spanning over a century, Palo Alto derives its name from a majestic coastal redwood tree over a thousand years old, situated along San Francisquito Creek, where early Spanish explorers settled. The fusion of commercial and residential zones, anchored by a lively downtown, embodies Palo Alto’s distinctive essence. Its tree-lined avenues and historic edifices reflect its Californian legacy, while simultaneously earning global recognition for its forefront advancements in technology.
The City 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 City of Palo Alto is led by City Manager Ed Shikada. The government of the City of Palo Alto exists to promote and sustain a superior quality of life in Palo Alto. In partnership with the community, their goal is to deliver cost-effective services in a personal, responsive, and innovative manner. City values are:
• Quality: Superior delivery of services • Courtesy: Providing service with respect and concern • Efficiency: Productive, effective use of resources • Integrity: Straight-forward, honest, and fair relations • Innovation: Excellence in creative thought and implementation
The city operates five libraries, 4,000+ acres of parks, preserves, and open spaces, a junior museum and zoo, an art center, two large community centers, a municipal golf course, and 471 miles of streets, reflecting its community-oriented ethos.
The Department 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 nonresidential 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
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 Position 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 Ideal Candidate The Assistant Director of Utilities WGW Engineering
& Operations will be customer service oriented
and have exceptional leadership skills to build and
develop teams, motivate staff, and set objectives to
meet critical project deadlines. This candidate will
have a background in distribution system operations,
engineering, project management, and budget
development and management. The ideal candidate
will work effectively with other utilities divisions and
city departments to ensure effective coordination
of related construction and maintenance projects,
and champion collaboration. We are looking for an
excellent communicator who is transparent, innovative,
and enterprising.
The next Assistant Director will also…. • Provide long-term strategic planning for the division. • Be a relationship builder and politically savvy. • Create strong relationships with other business units and partner agencies. • Have the ability to shift focus when priorities change. • Manage emergency situations with tact. • Be a problem-solver. • Address operational and environmental challenges. • Be a strong decision-maker. • Focus on training and developing staff. • Prepare clear, concise technical and budgetary reports. • Have knowledge of WGW SCADA systems, dispatch procedures, routing, and emergency conditions. • Have operational knowledge of construction, maintenance, field practices, etc. • Review engineering plans and make recommendations as they relate to field problems.
Minimum Qualifications: 1. Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through: 2. Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field and eight years of related experience, including five years of management-level experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. 3. Master’s degree is preferred. Registration as an Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineer in the State of California is preferred. 4. Licensing Requirements: • Depending on the area of assignment, some positions may require by Municipal Code, State or Federal law, one or more of the following: • Valid California Driver’s License.
Compensation Benefits The salary range for this position is $236,891.20 - $315,848.00 annually.
Placement within this range is dependent upon the qualifications. In addition, the City also provides a competitive benefits package described in more detail here that includes but is not limited to:
Click here to review City of Palo Alto Benefits
Flexible:
9/80. Retirement:
CalPERS 2% @ 60 formula for Classic employees with an 8% employee contribution; 2% @ 62 formula for New Members with an employee contribution of 50% of the normal cost (currently 7.25%).
Deferred Compensation: Allows employees to save money towards retirement in a 457 Plan through either Empower or Mission Square. City provides an employer match, dollar for dollar, up to $4,000 per calendar year. The City will match employee contributions into their City-approved 457 plans up to a maximum of $4,000. No combination of Employee and Employer funds can exceed the IRS limits for City-approved 457 plans.
Medical: The city pays a flat rate contribution (in 2025, up to $2,444 per month for family coverage), and the employee pays in accordance with the health plan option selected.
Dental:
Fully paid coverage includes an annual limit of $2,000 for basic services, with the option to choose higher coverage. Orthodontic coverage provides $1,500 per family member as a one-time benefit.
Vision:
Fully paid basic coverage includes an annual eye exam and either a pair of glasses or contacts every other year. There’s a $10 copay for the exam, and $105 is allocated towards frames, while basic lenses are covered. Alternatively, you can opt for the VIP VSP plan, which includes an annual exam and annual glasses or contacts.
Life and AD&D Insurance:
Fully paid up to annual salary.
Vacation:
120-200 hours annually, depending on years of service, with an option for cash out once a year.
Management Leave: 80 hours per calendar year, eligible to convert into vacation time, allocated to a deferred compensation plan for cash-out.
Paid Parental Leave:
Up to six weeks of paid leave at 100% of salary, for the first twelve-month period, immediately following the birth, adoption, or placement of a child with the employee.
Sick Leave:
96 hours per year.
Holidays:
12 paid holidays per year.
Commuter Benefits:
Benefits that allow you to deduct money pre-tax, match expenses in many cases, and even receive fully subsidized transit in some cases.
Annual Day of Recognition:
One floating holiday each calendar year in acknowledgment of days of cultural significance.
Gold Standard Employee Assistance Program:
The City’s partnership with CONCERN EAP has benefited employees in all aspects of their lives, from financial planning to proactive meditation courses and countless more in-person and virtual offerings, 5 in-person sessions available per area of interest.
Pilot Childcare and Educational Benefits: The City offers an annual Pilot Childcare Assistance Benefit. Up to $10,000 assistance for childcare costs at eligible childcare facilities located within Palo Alto City limits.
Find Childcare Resources . Through a new City of Palo Alto School District partnership, City employees are eligible to apply for their children to attend award-winning Palo Alto Unified District Schools.
Find Palo Alto Unified School District school information .
To Apply If you are interested in this outstanding opportunity, please contact: Jenna Flanagan (916) 304-6663 jenna@jpowersinc.com
Filing Deadline We will be reviewing applications, and the filing deadline for this position is August 17, 2025.
The City of Palo Alto is an equal-opportunity employer.
#J-18808-Ljbffr