Career Center

San Jose, CA (pop. 1 million plus) is conducting a national search for an innovative leader to manage $200 million San Jose International Airport capital improvement program, including construction of a new billion-dollar terminal addition over the next five years, oversight of the Measure T Bond Program Development and the oversight of the Public Works Department internal Training and Development program.

If you are a proactive, innovative, high-energy manager and are looking for a high public service position with high reward career opportunity, you are an ideal candidate to become the next Division Manager for the capital improvement program for the San Jose International Airport. 

San Jose is the 10^th largest city in the country. The City is known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley” and plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the world’s leading region of innovation. Encompassing 178 square miles, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States. San José’s is home to major tech headquarters like Cisco, Adobe, Samsung, and eBay.

San José receives accolades for its vibrant neighborhoods, healthy lifestyle, and multiple attractions. Nineteen (19) public school districts and 300 private and parochial schools provide educational choices. Nearby universities include San José State University, Santa Clara University, Stanford University, and three University of California campuses.

San José’s quality of life is unsurpassed. Surrounded by the Diablo and Santa Cruz Mountain ranges and enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine a year and residents have easy access to the beaches along the California coast, the mountains of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada range, and a rich cultural and recreational life.

The ideal Division Manager will be experienced in bringing capital projects from start to finish, will be a fast learner, nimble, diplomatic, and have a demonstrated capability of working with multiple stakeholders.  The ideal person will also enjoy working with a multitude of stakeholders as partners in the delivery of airport capital improvements that will return forever-lasting credit to the new Division Director’s capabilities and career. 

The Division Manager reports directly to the Deputy Director of Public Works and will manage a growing team of nine (9) skilled engineers, architects, and analysts.  The successful candidate will be a registered professional engineering and/or architect.  The position is responsible for total project management:  from forecasting, planning, engineering, bidding, and construction through to ribbon cuttings.

Pursuant to the City’s Covid-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City of San Jose is requiring all new hires to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of employment absent a documented medical and/or religious exemption.

The Division Manager position performs work of considerable difficulty including:

1. Leadership and coordination for airport capital activities between the Public Works departmental divisions and San Jose Departments
2. Directs and performs special Airport strategic planning programs that impact Airport operations
3. Oversight of the $650 million Measure T Bond Program expenditures which builds projects to improve disaster preparedness, public safety, and infrastructure
4. Oversight of the staff in Public Works Department’s internal Training and Development Program
5. Takes responsibility for enhancing the Public Works Department’s airport capital planning by working successfully with City staff, elected officials, other stakeholders, and the public, using the City’s values as a guide
6. Represents the Department of Public Works in a variety of airport interdepartmental, intergovernmental, and community matters

Note:  This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional related opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment

Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.  Desirable competencies for this position include:

• Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations. Including knowledge and experience related to:
• • Capital Improvements projects
  • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
  • Design, review, and construction of public infrastructure, such as airport/airfield, public roads, trails, parks and sewers
  • Understanding the use of technology.
  • Experience in large capital project budget preparation and administration
  • Experience in human resource management, including employee recruitment, retention, and organizational development
  • Knowledge and familiarity with Federal Aviation Administration policies related to grants and construction

• Supervision: Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
• Communication Skills: Communicates and listens effectively and responds in a timely, effective, positive and respectful manner; written reports and correspondence are accurate, complete, current; well-organized, legible, concise, neat, and in proper grammatical form. Ability to effectively present ideas orally and in writing.
• Management: Evaluates priorities to ensure that the “true” top priorities are handled satisfactorily; sets clear goals for the employees and the work unit.
• Political Skills: In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how their actions will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.
• Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem(s); collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.
• Customer Service: Approaches problem-solving by focusing on customers first; advocates for customer results point of view; demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers’ needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently in a timely, accurate, respectful and friendly manner.
• Conflict Management: Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to resolve conflict that arises from the varying opinions on project issues/outcomes.
• Fiscal Management: Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.
• Teamwork / Interpersonal Skills: Uses efficient and cost-effective approaches to integrate technology into the workplace and improve program effectiveness.

Qualifications

1. Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Architecture, or a similar field.
2. Experience: Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in managing public infrastructure engineering, capital project delivery, program administration or equivalent, including three (3) years of supervisory experience.
3. Licenses or Certificates: Positions in this class may require one or more of the following: Valid CA Driver’s License and must be a Registered Professional Engineer or Architect.

4. Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will not prepare or file a labor condition application with the Dept. of Labor.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application, resume, and cover letter and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process.  Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response.

• Do you have a bachelor’s degree? If yes, please indicate the field of study and the college or university from which you obtained your degree.
• Do you have six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in managing public infrastructure engineering, land use permitting, capital project delivery, program administration or equivalent? If so, describe your experience.
• Do you have at least three years of experience supervising or leading staff or project teams? If so, describe your experience.
• Provide the licensure numbers for their registered professional engineer or architecture license.

In addition, you must attach an updated resume and cover letter to application.

Requirement for cover letter

Describe how your education and experience makes you the best candidate for this position, please be sure to include any experience in the following areas:

• Managing and delivering capital projects
• Budget planning and monitoring of various programs and projects
• Leading a work unit to achieve a common goal.
• Having knowledge and experience related to an airport capital improvement program or similar industrial facility

Your cover letter should be no more than two pages in length (single spaced and at least 10-pt font). This response will also be used to evaluate your written communication skills.

Preferences

• Master’s degree in a related field
• Management experience in an equivalent major division within a City
• Airport-specific project management

Compensation and Benefits

The approved salary range is $117,868 to 186,574, DOQ/E, including five percent (5%) on-going non-pensionable pay. The City also provides an excellent array of benefits, including:

• Retirement – Competitive defined benefit retirement plan with full reciprocity with CalPERS; defined contribution plan available as an option.
• Health Insurance – The City contributes 85 percent towards the premium of the lowest cost non-deductible plan. There are several plan options.
• Dental Insurance – The City contributes 100 percent of the premium of the lowest priced plan for dental coverage.
• Personal Time – Vacation is accrued initially at the rate of three weeks per year with amounts increasing up to five weeks after 15 years of service. Executive Leave of 40 hours is granted annually and depending upon success in the Management Performance Program could increase to up to 80 hours. Sick Leave is accrued at the rate of approximately 8 hours per month.
• Holidays – The City observes 15 paid holidays annually.
• Deferred Compensation – The City offers an optional 457 Plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts – The City participates in Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Reimbursement Programs.
• Insurance – The City provides a term life policy equal to two times annual salary. Long-term disability and AD&D plans are optional.
• Employee Assistance Program – The City provides a comprehensive range of services through the EAP.
• Remote Work - Some remote work flexibility is available yet three days minimum are required in the office.

Application deadline is March 27, 2023. Candidates apply online at www.GovHRjobs.com along with their cover letter and resume and answers to the questions included in the application link and three work-related references (who will not be contacted without prior notice).  If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection, or hiring processes, please contact Ryan Cotton at  847-380-3240 x114.

Save the possible interview dates:  April 20^th (virtual) and April 27th & 28^th (in-person)

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San José will not sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa that requires an employee application.  EEOC.