Job Details

Job DescriptionJob Description

$115,544 - $140,442 Annually with a 5% COLA on 7/1/26 and an excellent benefits package including:

Retirement: CalPERS pension retirement with City contribution. The City does not participate in Social Security, so no 6.2% deduction from your check.
Time Off: Vacation (depending on service years), 72 hours of administrative leave, 12 paid holidays, 2 paid floating holidays, and 96 hours of sick leave annually.
Health Insurance: Fully paid CalPERS Health Insurance for employee only, small cost monthly pretax for family. Fully paid dental, vision, and life insurance for employee and family. Employee Assistance Program. $50,000 City paid life insurance.
Deferred Compensation: City contributes up to $1,500 per calendar year on a 2:1 basis.

The City of Morro Bay is seeking a skilled and motivated Utilities Project Manager to join our Public Works management team. This position plays a vital role in planning, coordinating, and delivering capital and maintenance projects related to water, wastewater, and other public utilities. If you have a background in engineering or construction management, experience leading infrastructure projects, and a passion for public service, we invite you to bring your expertise to our dynamic, community-focused environment!

DEFINITION

Under general direction of the City Engineer, plans, coordinates, inspects, and implements capital and maintenance projects; oversees and may conduct reviews for compliance of public works codes and regulations related to utilities for private development projects; consults with technical staff on priorities and schedules; establishes and maintains liaison with consultants, contractors, participants, , developers, and other stakeholders; and performs related work as assigned.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as project/construction manager and/or oversees the planning, design, and construction/repair of various utilities capital and maintenance projects, including general construction and tenant improvements, water, and wastewater.
• Assists in the development of and updates to the City's utilities related infrastructure programs and assessments.
• Develops project budget estimates and schedules; reviews plans, specifications, and estimates for construction.
• Hires, manages, and coordinates professional consultant contracts, including development of requests for qualifications (RFQ) and requests for proposal (RFP). Negotiates, recommends for award, and oversees execution of professional service contracts.
• Develops bid packages and awards construction contracts; negotiates change orders; takes all appropriate actions and identifies and utilizes all available resources to ensure that construction work is performed on schedule and in accordance with specifications.
• Identifies, investigates, and resolves project-related problems to keep all construction activities on track and moving forward.
• Inspects construction of utilities projects for adherence by contractors to specifications, drawings, codes, and contractual terms.
• Develops and maintains paper and electronic files of departmental data, maps, and charts.
• Conducts plan checks.
• Collaborates with staff from various City departments, outside agencies, and the public on project coordination matters and approvals, as well as in resolving technical issues.
• Coordinates with consultants, contractors, finance professionals, operations and maintenance personnel, and administrative personnel in the design development and delivery of the project.
• Assigns work to administrative and non-management employees.
• Applies for grants funding and administers grant funding appropriated on projects; prepares required local, state, and federal reports for various construction projects, and other reports, memos, and correspondence related to contract compliance.
• Reviews daily inspection reports; prepares periodic reports on the progress of all contracts; compiles and maintains records on project status and contractor performance; performs inspections in the field on special and more complex inspection assignments; conducts final review of all projects.
• Establishes and tracks project objectives, budgets, and schedules consistent with departmental plans and policies.
• Prepares and presents reports to City Council, advisory boards, commissions, and committees.
• Represents the department at various public meetings; prepares and conveys presentations to build consensus and secure public support; maintains effective community participation on assigned projects.
• Addresses complaints and questions received from the public.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of

• Municipal resource planning, infrastructure, and administration; regulations, methods, tools, and equipment used in the improvement, operations and maintenance of water, wastewater, streets, and storm drainage.
• Laws, codes, policies, and safety orders applicable to said systems.
• Principles of utilities construction and project management and administration, including budgeting and project management tools and software.
• Consultant and contractor supervision and coordination.
• General information on water rights.
• Funding mechanisms including, but not limited to, grant application procedures and assessment districts.
• Principles of construction inspection.
• Engineering plans and specifications.
• City, state, and federal procurement policies and regulations.
• Effective written and oral communication techniques.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing, with employees, consultants, other government agency representatives, City officials, and the general public.
• Conduct necessary engineering research and compile comprehensive reports..

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or a closely related field; and
• Minimum four years of progressively responsible experience in utilities capital project and construction management, engineering, general contracting.

Licenses and Certificates:

• When driving is an essential function of the position, a valid California driver's license will be required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT USED

Personal computer, including word processing and other software, mobile radio, telephone, copy and fax machine.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed mostly in office settings. Some outdoor work is required in the inspection of various land use developments, construction sites, or public works facilities. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to site; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and smell.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position, if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Individuals must apply through the City website at

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled. First review of applications for maximum consideration on July 21, 2025.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the City's policy to ensure equal employment opportunity for all persons seeking employment or promotion to assure equal employment opportunity based upon ability and fitness to all persons regardless of , creed, , , ancestry, , childbirth, breast-feeding, , physical or mental , medical condition, , marital status, , expression, genetic characteristics or information, military or veteran's status, and/or any other category protected by federal and/or state law.