Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director OR Development Services Director

The City of Arcadia is excited to announce an opportunity to join our team of collaborative leaders that have a passion for service to our community. Here in Arcadia, we believe that innovation, compassion, and kindness create a more effective way of serving our community. We believe that our value lies in what we give and that our employees are our greatest asset. If this speaks to your values, we encourage you to apply.

The City will be filling one (1) vacancy at either the Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director level or Development Services Director level. The successful candidate will be placed into the level that is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Nestled along the rolling foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest, Arcadia is a charming, family-oriented community with a population of just over 57,000. Located only 13 miles east from downtown Los Angeles, regional transportation networks like the Metro Gold Line connect Arcadia as a premier residential, shopping, and entertainment destination in the San Gabriel Valley. Arcadia is known for its top-rated schools, iconic landmarks, and serene neighborhoods. Arcadia is an award-winning community having been twice named as the Best City in California in which to Raise Kids and has been recognized as a business-friendly City in Los Angeles County.

With many exciting new developments underway including the downtown revitalization around the Metro A Line Station, new hotels, affordable housing projects, and a thriving regional shopping mall, joined with the conveniences and amenities of a full-service, mid-size city, Arcadia’s “Community of Homes” provides a quality of life that will go Above & Beyond your expectations.

We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, and engaging leader to join our City Team. The ideal candidate is community-focused, an effective communicator, and exercises sound judgment. Partnership is critically important for the Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director level, and either level will demonstrate a commitment to The Arcadia Way:

If you are looking to have a meaningful impact with service and excellence as guiding principles, then we invite you to join our team of collaborative, community-focused leaders.

Application Submission Deadline: Application filing period will close at 11:59 PM on Sunday, November 16, 2025

Qualifications Appraisal Interview: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Executive Team Interview: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Selection Interview: Week of January 12, 2026

The Development Services Director position has overall management responsibility for the Development Services Department, including engineering, planning, economic development, building, business license, code, transportation, and housing. To learn more about this position, the responsibilities it entails, any necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as the minimum qualifications, please click here.

The Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director position has the same overall management responsibility as the Development Services Director for the Development Services Department. In addition to those responsibilities, the position also serves as the Assistant City Manager, which provides strategic advice to the City Manager, serves as Acting City Manager in their absence, communicates effectively with City Council and stakeholders, and manages sensitive or cross-disciplinary projects. To learn more about this position, the responsibilities it entails, any necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as the minimum qualifications, please click here.

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job duties of the position is qualifying. The incumbent will possess the most desirable combination of training, skills, and experience, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. A typical example includes:

Development Services Director
Seven years of responsible planning and/or economic development experience including five years of management and supervisory experience.

Seven years of responsible planning and/or economic development experience including five years of management and supervisory experience, and at least one year of recent experience as Assistant to the City Manager or similar.

Development Services Director
Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in urban planning, engineering, or a related field. A Master's degree is highly desirable.

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license.

Special Requirements:
Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:
Ability to work in a standard office environment; ability to travel to different sites and locations.

Application:

A fully completed online application is required to be submitted. Incomplete, late, emailed, faxed and hard copy applications are not accepted. Resumes are not considered in lieu of the required online employment application. All certificates, resumes, cover letters, and other documents requested by the City for the position advertised, must be uploaded with your online application.

The Selection Process:

Those candidates who are determined to be best qualified based upon the information presented on the application materials will be invited to continue in the selection process which may include a qualifying written or performance evaluation and will include an interview weighted 100%. The City reserves the right to limit the number of interviews conducted. Candidates will be notified via e-mail or telephone if they qualify to move to the next step in the selection process. The interview score will determine ranking on the eligibility list and will remain in effect for one year.

Pre-employment background and medical examinations are additional requirements for hire. Failure on any part of the selection process will result in removal from the recruitment process.

Please Note: If you have a disability that may require an accommodation in the selection process, please notify Human Resources in writing when you submit your application.