WGW Development Services Utilities Supervisor

The Department

The City of Palo Alto is the only city in California that owns and operates full-scale municipal utility services, including electric, fiber optics, natural gas, water, and wastewater. The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) Department is organized into five divisions: Engineering, Operations, Resource Management, Customer Support Services, and Administration. Engineering is further organized into two groups: Electric and Fiber Engineering and Water, Gas, and Wastewater (WGW) Engineering.  WGW Engineering includes the Development Services group who work directly with the City’s Planning and Development Department and other Departments as needed to review and evaluate proposed private development impact(s) on water, gas, and wastewater utilities. Learn more about the City's Utilities Department.

The Position

The Development Services Supervisor for Utilities Engineering manages the Development Services group which consist of the following positions: Supervisor, Engineer, Engineering Estimator, and Project Coordinator. In addition to managing the group, the Supervisor actively participates in challenging development project review, as well as critical and higher profile development projects that require advanced coordination with the City Planning and Development Department, and other City Departments.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a candidate with technical insight and practical problem-solving skills to support WGW Engineering and Development Services in a dynamic environment where municipal utilities must coordinate closely with stormwater, electrical, and fiber-optic systems. This role requires someone who can communicate effectively, navigate fast-paced development demands, and collaborate seamlessly with engineers, operations staff, and private developers.

The ideal candidate possesses the following attributes:

• B.S. in Civil or Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution
• Skilled in municipal water, gas, and wastewater utility systems
• Familiar with the coordination challenges posed by nearby stormwater, electrical, and fiber-optic utilities
• An effective verbal and written communicator, able to collaborate with WGW Engineering, WGW Operations, and private developers
• Experienced in a Development Services environment and understands its end-to-end processes
• Knowledgeable about the California Building and Mechanical Codes as they relate to new development
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced private-development setting, including direct interaction at a Development Center
• Experienced with Accela or similar government software

• Supervises technical, clerical, and lead staff to prioritize and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff is trained; and making hiring, termination and disciplinary recommendations. 
• Supervises activities and participates in the monitoring, operating, servicing, troubleshooting, and maintenance of division equipment to ensure proper operations, which includes: adjusting processes; scheduling maintenance; interpreting raw data; monitoring activities for industrial compliance; ordering supplies and inventory; and/or, performing other related duties. 
• Updates and maintains operating, procedural, and/or maintenance manuals and related files.
• Reviews and prepares a variety of applications, studies, data sheets and/or reports, which includes: compiling and calculating information and data; checking, recording, and updating records; and/or, preparing other related information. Submits reports to applicable internal departments and staff, as well as external agencies. 
• Participates in facility maintenance, expansion, design, and/or renovation activities and projects. 
• Facilitates and organizes training on applicable safety issues, division procedures, and/or other related topics. 
• Responds to requests for information from the general public, other internal departments, external agencies, the community, employees, and/or other interested parties. 
• Prepares, reviews, processes, and maintains a variety of records, data, and information in support of assigned program and/or project. 

• High School Diploma, or G.E.D., and ten years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. 

• Valid California Class C Driver's License

The Selection Process:

• Recruitment status notifications will be sent via email or text (please enroll in text alerts when applying).
• Updates can also be found on your governmentjobs.com account.
• Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time. 
• The screening process for this position may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.

Salary : $168,314 - $224,411