Description

Ready to shape the future? Discover what makes this opportunity exceptional and view the official recruitment brochure and application details on the Bob Murray & Associates website.

About Paso Robles

Nestled in the heart of California’s scenic Central Coast, the City of Paso Robles – officially El Paso de Robles, meaning “The Pass of Oaks” – is a vibrant and welcoming community with a rich heritage, flourishing economy, and exceptional quality of life. Paso Robles is celebrated worldwide as a premier wine region, home to over 200 wineries and sprawling vineyards that produce a diverse array of award-winning wines. Its Mediterranean inspired climate and fertile soils foster thriving agriculture, complementing a local culinary scene rooted in farm-to-fork traditions and growing recognition for fine dining and hospitality.

Paso Robles blends small-town charm with modern amenities. Historic downtown streets invite residents and visitors to explore boutique shops, art galleries, cafes, and community events, while year-round festivals, including the California Mid-State Fair, celebrate Paso Robles’ cultural spirit and agricultural legacy. Located just off of U.S. Highway 101 and within easy reach of beaches, rolling hills, and outdoor recreation, Paso Robles offers a balanced lifestyle that appeals to families, professionals, and entrepreneurs alike. The City’s strategic location, supportive business climate, and thriving tourism economy make it an exciting place to live, work, and grow.

THE ORGANIZATION

The City of Paso Robles is a dynamic and growing municipal organization committed to serving its community with excellence, integrity, and innovation. Incorporated in 1889 as a general law city, Paso Robles operates under a Council-Manager form of government, blending community leadership with professional administration to meet the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors alike. The five-member City Council, including an at-large, elected Mayor and four district Councilmembers, sets policy direction, adopts ordinances and resolutions, makes land use decisions, and approves the City’s budget. The Council appoints a City Manager, who acts as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer, overseeing daily operations, advancing strategic initiatives, and ensuring efficient delivery of municipal services.

As a full-service City, the organization directly provides a wide range of essential public services that enhance community safety, quality of life, and sustainable growth. City Hall is currently undergoing renovations to modern facilities, improve functionality, and better serve staff and the public. With a strong commitment to responsive governance, transparency, and community engagement, the City of Paso Robles fosters a collaborative work environment where dedicated public servants work together to build a safe, vibrant, and resilient community. The organization supports strategic goals that balance long-term fiscal stewardship with innovative solutions that serve residents today and in the future.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Public Works Department is a cornerstone of Paso Robles’ quality of life and long-term resilience, directly operating and maintaining the infrastructure and public assets that keep the community safe, connected, and thriving. The department is responsible for the planning, delivery, operation, and stewardship of the City’s essential systems—many of which are managed in-house—including the transportation network, stormwater infrastructure, municipal airport, City facilities, and fleet services. Through this direct service model, Public Works ensures reliable, responsive, and cost-effective operations that support residents, businesses, and visitors every day.

The department manages a robust and evolving capital improvement and maintenance program that reflects Paso Robles’ commitment to investing in both its infrastructure and its people. Through a growing in-house streets and landscape maintenance workforce, supported by a City-operated fleet maintenance facility, Public Works delivers core services directly—providing greater flexibility, accountability, and responsiveness to community needs. Responsibilities span pavement and transportation system management, traffic and parking improvements, airport operations and capital projects, and comprehensive stormwater management. Guided by asset management systems, data analytics, and long-range planning, the department strategically prioritizes investments, extends the life of critical infrastructure, and continuously improves service delivery across the City.

Organized across key functional areas—including Engineering, Streets and Landscape Maintenance, Facilities and Fleet Services, Stormwater Management, and Airport Operations—the department brings together technical expertise, operational excellence, and collaborative problem-solving. The Public Works Director serves as a strategic and visible leader, working closely with elected officials, City leadership, regulatory agencies, and the community to deliver essential services and high-impact projects. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a high-performing organization whose work is highly visible, deeply impactful, and fundamental to Paso Robles’ safety, mobility, economic vitality, and overall quality of life.

EXCITING UPCOMING PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS

Paso Robles Is Launching An Ambitious And Highly Visible Slate Of Infrastructure Initiatives That Will Redefine Mobility, Economic Development, And Quality Of Life For Decades To Come. The Next Public Works Director Will Step Into a Moment Of Momentum—leading Bold, Complex, And Innovative Projects With Lasting Community Impact. Signature Initiatives Include

Positioning Paso Robles at the forefront of aerospace innovation through the pursuit of a horizontal launch spaceport license at Paso Robles Airport—a rare and visionary opportunity for a municipal airport.
Transforming the City’s airport with the completion and implementation of a new Airport Master Plan, followed by expansion of terminal and hangar facilities in collaboration with the fixed-base operator to support aviation growth and economic vitality.
Delivering a new southern gateway to the City through construction of a new bridge and realigned roadway, improving regional connectivity, safety, and access while reshaping how visitors and residents enter Paso Robles.
Expanding active transportation and recreation networks with the completion of a $17 million, state grant–funded Class I multi-use path, and securing funding to advance the North River segment of the City’s signature Class I river trail.
Driving a citywide streets transformation through implementation of a robust five-year local streets repair capital program, backed by dedicated funding from the recently renewed Measure I-24, delivering visible improvements in neighborhoods across Paso Robles.
Building the future of Public Works operations through the design and construction of a new Corporation Yard campus, supporting modern fleet services, in-house crews, and long-term operational efficiency.
Modernizing how the City manages infrastructure with the rollout of a comprehensive asset management platform, enabling data-driven decision-making, long-range planning, and proactive management of deferred maintenance.
Leading department-wide transformation by implementing the results of a recent organizational assessment, aligning people, processes, and resources to meet the demands of a growing and evolving city.
Evaluating local ownership of streetlight infrastructure, creating opportunities for improved service delivery, energy efficiency, and greater local control over a highly visible public asset.

This is a rare opportunity for a forward-thinking Public Works leader to leave a lasting legacy—guiding transformational projects, building high-performing teams, and shaping infrastructure that defines how a city looks, moves, and thrives.

Typical Duties

Reporting directly to the City Manager, the Public Works Director serves as a key member of the City’s executive leadership team, providing strategic direction and operational oversight for all functions of the Public Works Department. The director is responsible for planning, directing, and managing a broad portfolio of infrastructure systems, services, and capital programs that are essential to Paso Robles’ health, safety, economic vitality, and overall quality of life.

The Public Works Director provides visionary leadership to ensure the effective, efficient, and sustainable delivery of municipal services. This includes responsibility for long-range planning, policy development, and organizational strategy, as well as the preparation, administration, and oversight of the department’s operating and capital budgets. The Director ensures sound fiscal management, alignment with City priorities, and the responsible stewardship of public resources.

The Director leads a multidisciplinary organization of professional, technical, maintenance, and administrative staff, fostering a high-performing, service-oriented culture. Responsibilities include organizational design, workforce development, recruitment and retention, performance management, succession planning, and labor relations. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a modern Public Works organization with strong in-house operational capabilities and a focus on continuous improvement.

The position provides executive oversight of all major Public Works functions, including streets and transportation systems, City facilities and infrastructure, fleet services, stormwater management, the municipal airport, and other public assets. The Director oversees the planning, design, and delivery of the City’s capital improvement program, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget while meeting regulatory requirements and quality standards that support community growth and infrastructure reliability.

As a highly visible leader, the Public Works Director represents the department and the City before the City Council, boards and commissions, regulatory agencies, developers, contractors, community organizations, and the public. The Director works collaboratively across departments and with external partners to advance citywide objectives, monitors evolving legislation, funding opportunities, and industry best practices, and recommends policy and procedural updates as needed.

Employment Standards & Special Requirements

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The City of Paso Robles is seeking a visionary, collaborative, and people-focused leader to serve as its next Public Works Director—someone who inspires teams, fosters professional growth, and positions Public Works as a strategic partner in advancing the City’s long-term vision. The ideal candidate actively breaks down silos, builds strong cross-departmental partnerships, and encourages innovation, continuous improvement, and shared accountability throughout the organization.

This role calls for a leader who prioritizes career development and mentorship. The successful candidate builds high-performing teams by empowering staff, providing opportunities for learning and advancement, and cultivating future leaders. They foster a culture of engagement, collaboration, and excellence, ensuring employees understand how their work contributes to broader City goals.

The ideal candidate brings proven experience managing complex public works operations and capital improvement programs, including oversight of operating and capital budgets, long-range financial planning, and strategic resource allocation. They have experience leveraging grant programs and external funding opportunities to advance infrastructure and community initiatives while aligning with City priorities.

A forward-looking mindset is critical: the successful candidate actively drives departmental modernization, ensuring that Public Works reflects industry best practices, adopts new technologies, and pursues professional accreditation where applicable. They champion staff professional development and engagement in industry associations, fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and service excellence.

A comprehensive knowledge of core public works functions—including transportation systems, streets and infrastructure, fleet operations, stormwater management, airport or aviation operations, and capital project delivery—is essential. The candidate applies data-driven decision-making, innovative practices, and industry standards to deliver projects efficiently, safely, and sustainably, while continuously seeking opportunities to improve service delivery and organizational performance.

The Public Works Director is an engaging communicator, trusted advisor, and politically savvy leader, representing the City with professionalism before elected officials, regulatory agencies, regional partners, and the public. They are adept at navigating complex political and organizational environments, balancing competing priorities, and providing clear, well-reasoned recommendations. Above all, this leader is committed to ethical leadership, professional development, modernization, and fostering a collaborative culture where employees thrive, innovation is embraced, and Public Works plays a visible and valued role in the community.

Qualifications & Requirements

Experience & Education:

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in civil engineering, construction management, public administration, public works management, business administration, or a closely related field.
Five (5) years of managerial or administrative experience in public works administration, engineering, infrastructure management, municipal operations, or a related field.
An advanced degree in a related field is highly desirable.
A professional engineering license is highly desirable but not required.

Licenses & Certificates:

Must possess a valid California class C driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.

Selection Procedure & Application Process

To be considered for this position, please submit your application at https://www.bobmurrayassoc.com by 11:59 p.m. PST on March 20, 2026.

Following the closing date, resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above. The most qualified candidates will be invited to personal interviews with Bob Murray & Associates.

A select group of candidates will be asked to provide references once it is anticipated that they may be recommended as finalists. References will be contacted only following candidate approval. Finalist interviews will be held with the City of Paso Robles.

Candidates will be advised of the status of the recruitment following selection of the Public Works Director. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Ms. Yasmin Beers (916) 784-9080.

All persons employed by the City of Paso Robles are designated as "disaster service workers" as defined in the California Government Code section 3100 and 3101.

The City of Paso Robles provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute a contract.

Photos courtesy of Brittany App and the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance

Leave Benefits

Vacation: Accrual of 80-200 hours per year based on years of City service
Sick: Accrual of 96 hours per year
Holidays: 14 days per year
Administrative Leave: 80 hours per year

Health And Wellness

Medical: The City contributes up to $956.28 per month for employee-only coverage, $1,721.30 for employee plus one, and $2,113.38 for family coverage. Under the lowest-cost PPO plan, current employee monthly premiums are $0 (employee only), $191.26 (employee + one), and $372.95 (family). Employees who waive coverage may be eligible for a $300 monthly cash-in-lieu payment.
Dental: The City pays 100% of employee coverage and partial family coverage
Vision: The City pays 100% of employee and family coverage
Life Insurance: $200,000 employee-only coverage paid by the City
Long Term Disability: Employee-only coverage paid by the City
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): The City pays 100% of employee and family coverage
Flexible Spending Account: Allows you to pay for dependent care and un-reimbursed medical expenses on a pre-tax basis

Retirement

CalPERS:
- Tier 1: 2.5% at 55; employee contribution of 10% (8% member contribution plus 2% cost sharing)
- Tier 2: 2% at 60; employee contribution of 10% (7% member contribution plus 3% cost sharing)
- PEPRA: 2% at 62; current employee contribution of 10.75% (one-half of the normal cost, currently 7.75%, plus 3% cost sharing)
457 Deferred Compensation: The City contributes $192.31 per pay period plus matches up to $96.15. Employees may contribute pre-tax, Roth (post-tax), or both to maximize retirement savings.
Social Security: Both the City and employee contribute

Additional Benefits:

Auto Allowance: $115.38 per pay period
Bilingual Pay: Spanish verbal services: $46.15 per pay period; Spanish written services: $11.54 per pay period
Education Reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per fiscal year for job-related coursework
Retiree Health Reimbursement: Up to $500 per month until the age of 65 for employees who retire from the City with at least 20 years of service

For additional details, please refer to the MGMT Wage and Benefit Summary available on the City's website.

City of Paso Robles

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Public Works Director