What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director of Electric Engineering and Operations position at City of Palo Alto?
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.
The City
Incorporated over 125 years ago with a staff of 1,110 full-time employees, an adopted budget of $1.03 Billion (2026), and is headed 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. Our values consist of:
• 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, three large community centers, a Municipal Golf Course, and 471 miles of streets, reflecting its community-oriented ethos. The city is governed by a seven-member elected City Council and an appointed City Manager.
The Department
The City of Palo Alto Utilities Department is a nationally recognized, full-service municipal utility serving approximately 67,000 residents and businesses. With 266 full-time employees and a $317 million operating budget, the department is organized into five core areas: Engineering, Operations, Resource Management, Customer Service, and Administration. Palo Alto is unique as one of a few cities in California that owns and operates a complete range of utilities, including electric, fiber optics, natural gas, water, and wastewater, delivering safe, reliable, and environmentally sustainable services to the community since 1896. City of Palo Alto Utilities
Within this structure, the Electric & Fiber Engineering and Operations Division plays a critical leadership role in planning, designing, building, and maintaining the City’s electric distribution system and expanding the municipal fiber network. The division delivers major capital improvement programs, ensuring modern, reliable infrastructure while meeting regulatory requirements and industry best practices. Engineering teams lead system planning and infrastructure development, while Operations ensures 24/7 system reliability, maintenance, and emergency response to safely serve the community. Utilities Services & Safety
The division supports a workforce of approximately 130 operations staff and is at the forefront of innovation, maintaining a 100% carbon-neutral electric portfolio and advancing major initiatives such as grid modernization, wildfire mitigation, and undergrounding of electric and fiber infrastructure to improve safety and resilience. In parallel, the City is piloting fiber-to-the-premises internet services while reconstructing the electric system to increase capacity and minimize disruption. Utilities at a glanceFY23, Grid Modernization for Electrification, Underground Infrastructure Palo Alto Fiber.
Check out this interview with Chief Operating Officer Terry Crowley as he discusses the utility, the department, and the position.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a strategic and technically strong utility leader who brings both vision and execution to electric and fiber operations. You combine deep expertise in electric utility engineering and operations with the
ability to lead teams through complex challenges while maintaining a focus on safety, reliability, and customer service. You are forward-thinking and solutions-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to implement modern utility practices, deliver capital improvement programs, and align operations with ambitious sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Equally important, you are an inspiring and collaborative leader who builds high-performing teams and fosters a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. You communicate effectively across all levels—engaging with staff, City leadership, regulatory agencies, and the community—while balancing operational needs with customer expectations. You are passionate about delivering clean, reliable energy and advancing utility services that serve a dynamic and engaged community.
Salary range for this position is $245,315.20 - 327,060.00; salary supplemented by attractive benefits.
First review of applications will be on June 25th, 2026.
The City of Palo Alto reserves the right to close this posting once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
To be considered for this opportunity, upload a compelling cover letter and resume using the "Apply" feature at JPR Recruiting.
Contact Executive Recruiter for Questions
- Jenna Flanagan • 916-304-6663
- jenna@jpowersinc.com
Salary : $245,315 - $327,059