Deputy Director of Support Services - Public Works (0954)

City and County of San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Deputy Director serves under the broad direction of the Director of Public Works, helping to shape and execute the department’s strategic plan and ensuring its mission, vision, values, and goals are advanced across the organization. This role is entrusted with carrying out complex, high‑priority assignments that support the City’s most vital objectives. The ideal leader is an attentive listener who is curious, open to new ideas, and effective at implementing organizational and process changes. They must be able to make tough, well‑reasoned decisions that advance departmental and Citywide priorities, even when those decisions may be difficult or unpopular. This position requires the highest ethical standards and a commitment to good governance, transparency, and public trust. The Deputy Director should be an informed and enthusiastic ambassador for San Francisco Public Works, someone who values public service and leads with empathy in a fast‑paced environment filled with both challenges and opportunities.

Requirements

Education : Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in coursework such as public administration, public policy, social work, urban planning, business management, or a related field.
Experience: Six (6) years of management experience leading organization-wide initiatives, directing cross-departmental operations, and implementing strategic priorities within a large government organization. All of the qualifying experience must include supervisory.
Education Substitution: Qualifying experience as described above may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis, up to a maximum of two (2) years. (One year of work experience is equal to 30 semester or 45 quarter units).

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in business administration, finance, public administration, public policy, or related field.
Prior public sector management experience including familiarity with the public budgeting process, human resources management, public contracting process, construction and operational delivery, and working in a unionized workplace bound by civil service rules.
Prior experience working within or in partnership with the City & County of San Francisco.
Experience managing or working with Human Resources programs
Experience with staff and organizational development
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience with public speaking and making public presentations; strong group facilitation skills.
Organized, self-directed, detail-oriented, and able to effectively manage competing priorities to meet external timelines.
Able to quickly pivot with changing priorities and maintain a professional and calm demeanor under pressure and amid high-stress situations.
Proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships with high emotional intelligence and diplomacy.

Responsibilities

Act as a key strategic partner to the Director with developing and identifying solutions to challenges.
Work effectively with the Public Works Director and be able to independently develop consequential policies and procedures and ensure implementation.
Provide strategic oversight of the Human Resources division to ensure it provides exceptional services and supports our core business goals.
Manage large, often cross-functional, organization-wide projects or initiatives.
Work collaboratively with the Executive Team to set strategic priorities, identify areas where leaders should direct their focus and set metrics for success, and then revisit those metrics regularly and evaluate progress based on them.
Create and improve processes and operations within the organization.
Analyze current procedures, structures and policies to determine the overall effectiveness of bureaus within the department.
Discuss operational objectives with managers to make informed recommendations to improve the bureaus.
Contribute to creating a high-performing organization by successfully engaging with staff and managing key projects on behalf of the Executive Team.
Serve as a strategy partner to the Director and the Executive Team, providing insight that is both analytical and qualitative on the organization’s operations and key decisions.
Bring together important stakeholders and help drive decisions, ensure alignment with department and City goals and objectives and follow up on action items to ensure timely progress; track impact on department operations.
Support the Director to ensure execution of the department’s collaboration with other City departments and government agencies to address challenging street conditions, including unhoused populations.
Serve as liaison between Public Works and Commissions, the Mayor’s Office, the Board of Supervisors, government panels and agencies, community organizations, business interests and other stakeholders.
Assist the Director in implementing and supporting the department’s Racial Equity Action Plan and empower racial equity leaders on staff to ensure that action items are performed, tracked and transparent.
Support the strategic planning of the department’s organizational structure, staff assignments, service levels and administrative systems required to accomplish the department’s mission effectively and efficiently.
Oversee the department’s employee and organizational development group, University of Public Works.
Provide strategic leadership for the staff within the Human Resources, Training & Development, and Workforce Development sections.