Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below:

• Applicants must complete this required Supplemental Questionnaire in addition to submitting an application. The questionnaire must be completed no later than the application deadline of Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PST 
• Application Opening: 01/21/2025
• Application Deadline: 02/28/2025
• Compensation Range: $242,424 - $280,592
• Hours: Full Time
• Recruitment ID: RTF0147489-01100018

Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt (PEX). Pursuant to the City & County of San Francisco Charter, Section 10.104.6. Any person occupying a position under exempt appointment shall not be subject to civil service selection, appointment, and removal procedures. Exempt appointees serve at the Appointing Officer’s discretion.

About the Port and San Francisco 

The Port of San Francisco spans approximately 7.5 miles of waterfront, from Pier 98 to Fisherman’s Wharf, held in trust for the people of California. Governed by a Commission appointed by the Mayor, the Port manages a diverse range of commercial and public access facilities and operates as its own Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

As an enterprise department, the Port primarily funds its operations through revenue generated from land and waterside leasing activities, with limited City funding provided in specific areas. Maintaining the Port’s facilities has been challenging due to a constrained capital budget and a significant deferred maintenance backlog. Despite these challenges, the Port is at the forefront of efforts to improve the waterfront, addressing critical risks related to earthquakes and sea level rise.

San Francisco is currently experiencing a period of recovery and growth, and the Port is a central contributor to this resurgence. We are committed to ensuring that the waterfront remains a vibrant, accessible, and safe space for both residents and visitors. Significant revitalization efforts are underway, with exciting development projects planned for both the northern and southern waterfronts.

For more information about the Port of San Francisco, visit SFPort.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.  

Role description

The Port of San Francisco is recruiting for a dedicated and innovative leader to guide its Engineering Division as the Deputy Director. Many of the Port’s facilities have endured years of underfunding and require significant investment, but with new funding opportunities on the horizon, the Port is positioned to make impactful progress. Your leadership will play a critical role in revitalizing the waterfront and addressing the needs of our community.

As part of the Port's leadership team, you will join an organization committed to fostering a workplace rooted in inclusion, transparency, and respect. We are dedicated to being an anti-racist organization where equity and diversity are integral to our success. With the support of robust resources and a talented team, you will have the chance to lead meaningful change and help the Port overcome its most pressing challenges.

Key Responsibilities

The Deputy Director of Engineering will lead a multidisciplinary division that provides essential services to Port client divisions. This role requires strategic direction and leadership to ensure the division operates cohesively as a team, achieves performance goals, and meets the needs of the Port and its tenants. The Deputy Director will actively support the Port’s mission, which includes public safety and health, public waterfront use, maritime activities, and maximizing revenue in collaboration with key departments such as Real Estate, Maritime, Planning, and Maintenance.

The Engineering Division is responsible for the following core functions:

• Project and construction management for Port capital projects, funded by the Harbor Fund and grants.
• Chief Building Official for permit services and inspections for Port property and tenant projects.
• A facilities team for design, review and facility inspections which include:
  • Architectural design and ADA compliance review
  • Civil, Structural, Survey, and Utility Engineering
• Supporting negotiation and execution of design and construction agreements for public-private real estate development partnerships.
• Overseeing delivery and acceptance of horizontal and public-serving infrastructure constructed by developer partners.
• Coordinating inter-agency efforts related to infrastructure development.

The Port’s Waterfront Resilience Program (WRP) manages City bond funds, grants, and a small Harbor Fund allocation to support master planning and near-term project delivery focused on enhancing the Port’s seismic and flood resilience over the coming decades. A key component of this effort is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete a comprehensive coastal flood study for the Port’s 7.5 miles of waterfront. Securing congressional approval for the adaptation plan outlined in the study is a critical milestone, as it will unlock significant federal matching funds to support the master planning, design, and construction of this multibillion-dollar, multidecade project. 

Although the WRP does not report directly to the Deputy Director of Engineering, the program plays a critical role in fostering collaboration between Engineering and WRP staff. This collaboration ensures alignment of engineering standards, procedures, design objectives, and delivery strategies across Port capital projects, portfolio management strategies, and WRP resilience initiatives. The Deputy Director of Engineering will serve as a key reviewer and strategic partner in advancing the Port’s resilience strategy and will work closely with senior staff to guide the agency’s efforts in balancing the WRP’s near- and long-term goals with the Port’s overarching mission to manage its existing portfolio effectively.

About this Role

As a key leader, you will:

• Lead all functions within the Engineering Division, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and alignment with the Port’s mission.
• Foster a culture of integrity, collaboration, transparency, and continuous learning, inspiring staff to make meaningful contributions to our objectives.
• Collaborate on significant capital projects that enhance our waterfront and safeguard public assets.

How to qualify

Education

Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Engineering or closely related field. 

Experience

Six (6) years of senior level management experience directing large scale port or marine facilities and engineering projects. Experience must include managing complex infrastructure projects, with a focus on waterfront, environmental, or urban infrastructure.

Please note: At least two years of the experience mentioned above should include the direction and evaluation of subordinate staff.

License 

Possession of a valid California driver’s license (to be presented at time of appointment). Employees must be insurable under the Port’s automobile liability insurance.  Insurability must be maintained throughout employment.

Substitution

Education Substitution: Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of two (2) years). One (1) year is equivalent to thirty (30) semester units/forty-five (45) quarter units.

Experience Substitution: Possession of a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or master's degree may substitute for one (1) year of the required professional experience.

The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking an inspiring leader with a strong background in engineering, particularly in the context of real estate portfolio management and the redevelopment of aging facilities. This role requires not only the ability to lead discussions across diverse technical engineering areas, but also the capacity to communicate effectively, build high-performing teams, and develop and implement strategies to achieve the Port’s business and policy objectives.

The ideal candidate will possess: 

• Strong leadership skills that inspire confidence, respect, innovation, and collaboration, helping staff thrive.
• A proven ability to build trust with internal teams, stakeholders, and the public.
• Experience managing complex infrastructure projects, preferably in a marine or port environment.
• Knowledge of building codes, regulations, inspections, and permitting, ideally related to overwater projects.
• Ability to provide clear guidance throughout the design process and understand the expertise of various engineering disciplines.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to receive, interpret, and respond to verbal and non-verbal messages effectively.
• A strategic vision for long-term planning and capital investment, combined with practical management skills.
• A commitment to equity and inclusion, with a focus on empowering staff and advancing our anti-racist mission.
• Familiarity with Chapter 6 contracting regulations and policies.
• Ability to foster positive relationships and collaborate with other City agencies.
• Leadership by example, with the flexibility to adapt to changing needs.

The ideal candidate will be a champion of the Port’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, working to empower Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) in Port operations and opportunities through equitable policies and practices. 

Verification

Please make sure it is clear in your application exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications. Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

What else should I know?

Benefits: The City and County of San Francisco offers a comprehensive benefit program. For complete details, please visit: https://careers.sf.gov/benefits.

Selection Procedures: Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will be screened for relevant qualifying experience and education. Additional mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidate’s qualifications.  Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Port will be invited to continue in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “Apply Now" button and follow instructions on the screen 
• The deadline to submit?an application AND to submit this REQUIRED Supplemental Questionnaire is?February 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. 

Recruitment Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please send your inquires to Sadia Afandi, at Sadia.afandi@sfport.com. 

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco: 

• Information About the Hiring Process 
• Conviction History 
• Employee Benefits Overview?? 
• Equal Employment Opportunity? 
• Disaster Service Worker 
• ADA Accommodation 
• Right to Work 
• Copies of Application Documents 
• Diversity Statement 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. 

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.