Public Works Operations Manager (Exempt)

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.


Why join the City of Oakland Public Works Department??

Joining the City of Oakland's Public Works Department (OPW) means becoming part of a team dedicated to real-time service, problem-solving, and operational excellence. The work performed in this division has a visible and meaningful impact on the daily lives of Oakland residents and contributes to a stronger, safer, and more resilient city.

The OPW, Drainage Services Division, plays a critical role in protecting the City’s infrastructure and ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents. The work of this division directly supports the functioning of essential storm drain and sanitary sewer systems that safeguard neighborhoods during both routine conditions and severe weather events. Serving in the Public Works Operations Manager role offers the opportunity to lead complex operational, maintenance, and emergency-response efforts that help prevent flooding, protect public health, and strengthen Oakland’s overall community resilience. This position oversees extensive stormwater infrastructure, including more than 400 miles of storm drainpipe, thousands of storm drain inlets, multiple lift stations, and key creek and weir maintenance operations, all of which are central to the City’s ability to respond effectively during heavy rains and infrastructure challenges.

The role provides an opportunity to manage and motivate a diverse and skilled workforce while ensuring that high-quality service is delivered equitably across Oakland’s neighborhoods. As part of a mission-driven department, the Public Works Operations Manager collaborates with leadership, stakeholders, and community partners to maintain reliable systems, plan long-term improvements, and support operational decisions that directly affect safety and service delivery. The position also reflects the City of Oakland’s commitment to equity, requiring the application of equitable approaches when evaluating programs, prioritizing resources, and designing service strategies.

The ideal candidate for this role is a seasoned public works professional with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify core issues and implement solutions that enhance operational efficiency, preparedness, and overall effectiveness. This individual brings advanced communication and collaboration skills and is adept at working with internal partners, external stakeholders, and community members. The ideal candidate is an experienced leader who has managed complex maintenance operations, led diverse teams, and navigated the challenges of a unionized public-sector environment. A commitment to equity is essential, including the ability to integrate equity principles into operational planning, program evaluation, and decision-making. This candidate is motivated by public service, committed to delivering high-quality infrastructure services, and prepared to guide teams through both day-to-day responsibilities and high-pressure emergency situations.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Strong in public works operation leadership.You confidently lead daily storm drain, drainage, or utility operations, and you understand storm drain systems, underground pipeline maintenance and repairs, construction techniques, confined space procedures, and the use of flusher/combo units, rodding equipment, and CCTV inspection tools.
• Knowledgeable in regulatory and environmental compliance.You know stormwater regulations, MS4 permit requirements, environmental standards, and safety practices and you can turn those requirements into practical, effective field operations.
• Skilled in people management and labor relations.You enjoy leading supervisors and crews, developing staff, managing performance, and working effectively in a unionized public-sector environment.
• Steady and confident under pressure.You make sound, timely decisions during storms, flooding events, and infrastructure failures, keeping public safety, staffing realities, and operational risks in balance.
• Adept at budget and resource management.You manage operating budgets, equipment, contracts, and staffing resources with an eye toward efficiency, accountability, and strong service delivery.
• A collaborative and clear communicator.You work well across divisions and departments, communicate effectively with leadership, and represent the organization professionally when responding to the public and community partners.
• Committed to continuous improvement. You look for better ways to work, believe in preventative maintenance, and use data-informed insights to enhance reliability, compliance, and customer service.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Planning, organizing, managing, and directing the daily operations of drainage (stormwater/storm drain) and related infrastructure systems to ensure safe and efficient service delivery.
• Developing and implementing policies, methods, and procedures to improve division performance and ensure compliance with city goals and regulatory requirements.
• Setting operational goals, performance standards, and priorities for maintenance, inspection, and response activities.
• Supervising subordinate supervisors and staff, including hiring, training, evaluating, and managing performance.

• Providing leadership, coaching, and direction to field crews and administrative teams to meet division objectives.
• Overseeing preventive and corrective maintenance programs for storm drains, inlets, and associated drainage infrastructure.
• Coordinating operational responses to emergencies such as flooding, severe weather events, or infrastructure failures.
• Reviewing and managing work plans and schedules to ensure project and maintenance tasks are completed on time and within standards.

Read the complete job description by clicking this link:

Public Works Operations Manager

*Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!

Working for the City of Oakland

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will be part of a team that makes a positive difference in the lives of Oakland residents, and you will directly see the impact your work has on the community, including residents, businesses, and visitors.
• You have the opportunity to build strong teams, improve systems, and leave a lasting public legacy knowing that when things work, the entire city benefits.
• As a member of a full-service City, you will experience daily challenges and variety that keep your work exciting. Notably, you will play a role as the City of Oakland develops and implements a Storm Drain Strategic Plan designed to deliver staffing and resources for rehabilitating, upgrading, and enhancing the City’s Storm Drain system for the future.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will prioritize and handle multiple tasks with competing and critical deadlines in a resource-limited environment.
• You will navigate complex rules, policies, and labor agreements that govern the unionized, Civil Service environment of the City of Oakland.
• You will guide direct reports and response teams that are dispersed throughout the City of Oakland daily, using your knowledge and application of policies and processes.

Competencies Required:

• Attention to Detail:Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Teamwork:Building and maintaining professional relationships, collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative):Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment
• Adaptability:Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability:Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
• Managing Performance:Ensuring superior individual and group performance
• Oral Communication:Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable:

Education:

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business or public administration or a related field.Certifications from professional organizations may be considered.

Experience:

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in public works construction and maintenance with a minimum of three (3) years at the Senior Supervisor level.

The Recruitment Process:

This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules, per Charter Section 902. All applications received will be forwarded to Public Works for further consideration.

Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration, only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

What’s in it for you?

• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation – 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement – CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health –The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental –The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision –The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave – Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation – 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement & Employee Training.

*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system.

APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY.You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.

If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system.

For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Melanie Spears, Support Services Manager at MSpears@oaklandca.gov.