Job Details

Deputy Director of Public Works – Mobility and Business Services

Make a Lasting Impact on How People Experience San Luis Obispo

For many people, their first experience with a community happens before they ever reach their final destination. The ease of finding a parking space, connecting to transit, navigating downtown, or accessing a place they value can shape how they experience a city.

Parking and mobility services are more than just daily operations—they are part of the community's first impression. They influence whether a visitor feels welcomed, whether a business can thrive, whether a student can access campus, and whether residents can easily connect to the places and services that matter most to them.

The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking an innovative and collaborative leader to serve as its next Deputy Director of Public Works – Mobility and Business Services. This is a unique opportunity to shape how people experience the city every day by leading essential services including parking, transit, mobility programs, and business operations while connecting these services to broader community goals.

The successful candidate will understand the bigger picture of mobility—recognizing how transportation choices, downtown access, economic vitality, sustainability, accessibility, and equitable access to services are all interconnected. This leader will work with residents, businesses, community partners, elected officials, and California Polytechnic State University to develop solutions that meet today's needs while planning for the future of a growing and dynamic community.

If you are passionate about public service, building partnerships, solving complex challenges, and creating systems that help people better experience their community, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact.

If you are selected for interviews, they will take place in person on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, so please hold that date.

Job Summary: Plans, organizes, oversees, and reviews programs and activities of the Mobility Services Division within the Public Works and Utilities Department, including the transit and parking functions, department-wide communications, enterprise fund administration, and assigned Public Works business services functions; develops, manages, and implements strategic plans and projects (including major capital projects) related to the division functions; oversees external communications and relations, including managing and supporting committees and boards, community partnerships, and resident and business relations; manages the division budget, fiscal services, grants, contracts, and required reporting; serves as a departmental and City liaison and provides effective customer service to the community; functions as a key member of the departmental management team; performs related work as assigned.

Class Characteristics: This single-position classification has responsibility of overall direction and administration of the City's Mobility Services programs and assigned Public Works branch business services functions, including enterprise fund administration and departmental communications. The incumbent is accountable for formulating policy, developing goals and objectives, supervising staff, administering the budget, and directing day-to-day operations. Assignments allow for a high degree of administrative discretion in their execution. This class is distinguished from the Assistant Director of Public Works by the latter's overall managerial accountability for a comprehensive municipal department comprised of capital projects design, construction management, engineering, transportation, transit, parking, as well as the maintenance of parks, streets, trees, facilities, and fleet.

Supervision Received and Exercised: The Deputy Director of Public Works – Mobility and Business Services receives general direction from the Assistant Director of Public Works within a framework of broad policies, procedures, organizational values, and processes. This classification provides supervision to supervisory, professional, technical, operational, maintenance, and office support staff.

Example of Duties and Responsibilities: (Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks that may be found in positions of this class.)

• Plans, organizes, oversees, and reviews the City's transit and parking programs and activities.
• Assists in the development and administration of department and division goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
• Provides leadership, coaching, mentoring, and supervision to employees; demonstrates open and direct communication with peers, subordinates, and the public; promotes organizational and employee development.
• Plans, organizes, administers, reviews, and evaluates the work of supervisory, professional, technical, operations, maintenance, and office support staff; provides training and policy guidance and interpretation to staff.
• Manages and directs the development, implementation, and evaluation of plans, goals, objectives, policies, systems, and procedures of the Mobility Services Division.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommends appropriate services and staffing levels; implements performance measures.
• Ensures that staff provides a high degree of service to both internal and external customers that supports achieving the department's and the City's, mission, vision, objectives, and values.
• Contributes to the overall quality of the department's service by developing, reviewing, and implementing policies and procedures to meet legal requirements and City needs.
• Analyzes and applies laws, rules, and regulations to projects and policy decisions.
• Prepares and manages the Mobility Services Division budget, including two enterprise funds, assigned Public Works operating budgets, and major Capital Improvement Plan projects; monitors work to ensure that funds and staff time are used effectively and efficiently; analyzes workflow, assignments, priorities, and staffing levels and makes adjustments when required.
• Manages and administers fiscal services, grants, and contracts related to division functions.
• Directs the preparation of a variety of projects, studies, and reports relating to transit and parking issues and needs, and develops specific proposals to address the issues.
• Initiates and presents proposals and recommendations to the Assistant Director of Public Works, committees, boards, and community groups.
• Manages and supervises federal, state, and local mandated reporting, such as safety and audit reports.
• Prepares and directs the preparation of a variety of written correspondence, reports, procedures, ordinances, and other materials.
• Monitors changes in laws, regulations, and technology that may affect departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
• Oversees external communications and relations, including managing and supporting committees and boards, community partnerships, and resident and business relations; may serve as the staff liaison or advisor to advisory bodies affiliated with transit, parking, and active transportation; serves on external community-based committees such as San Luis Obispo Council of Governments.
• Coordinates and supports department-wide business services functions, including financial planning, enterprise fund administration, budget development, performance reporting, strategic initiatives, and organizational communications.
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

Knowledge and Abilities: Knowledge of: Principles and practices of public works administration, including transit, parking, enterprise fund management, supervision, budgeting, contract and grant administration, capital project delivery, fund forecasting, communications, and project management. Applicable local, state, and federal rules, regulations, guidelines, ordinances, and laws. Effective techniques and methods of leadership, mentoring, empowering, and teamwork. Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review, evaluation, and training of staff in work procedures. Basic budgetary principles and practices. Principles and practices of organizational communications, public engagement, and public information. Research methods and statistical techniques used in transit and parking studies. Methods and techniques for making effective public presentations of complex information. Standard office practices and procedures, including the use of software programs such as Microsoft Office. Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, regulatory, and legislative organizations. Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to the public and City staff.

Ability to: Develop and direct the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards, and develop and implement management systems, procedures, and standards for program evaluation. Plan, organize, assign, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate the work of assigned staff, directly and through subordinate levels of supervision. Delegate and hold others accountable for work products, policy compliance, and employee performance. Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials. Interpret, apply, and explain complex laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances to a variety of audiences. Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines. Represent the City and the department in meetings with commissions, community groups, government bodies, the media, and the public. Establish and maintain effective working relations with those contacted in the course of work. Work in a team atmosphere and participate on a variety of departmental and City-wide committees to enhance the provision of all City services. Develop and implement communication strategies for departmental initiatives, capital projects, and public-facing programs. Develop and manage operating and enterprise fund budgets and communicate financial information to a variety of audiences. Work with diverse populations and maintain an inclusive environment.

Education and Experience: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in, public or business administration, transportation, urban planning, engineering, or a field related to the work; and five years of increasingly responsible experience in the administration, management, operation, or planning of transit, parking, public works operations, business services, public