Capital Improvement Manager

City of West Sacramento, CA

$141K — $171K *
Real Estate & Construction
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in public administration, finance, project management, civil engineering, or related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in capital improvement project management.
  • 2+ years of supervisory experience.
  • Strong understanding of public administration principles and regulatory frameworks.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee the full lifecycle of capital infrastructure projects from budgeting to close-out.
  • Develop and implement departmental goals, policies, and procedures.
  • Coordinate project activities with city departments and public agencies.
  • Direct and participate in the preparation of the Capital Improvement Program and budget.
  • Manage and review capital improvement project proposals during budget preparations.
  • Represent the department at community meetings and respond to citizen inquiries.
  • Conduct grant research and prepare grant applications.

Benefits

  • Flexible work schedule with potential for off-hour engagement.
  • Opportunity to influence city growth and community outcomes.
  • Engagement in high-visibility projects that impact public infrastructure.
  • Work in a collaborative environment with various city departments and stakeholders.
Full Job Description
Salary : $141,288.00 - $171,708.00 Annually
Location : City Hall, 1110 West Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA
Job Type: Regular Full Time
Job Number:
Department: CAPITAL PROJECTS
Opening Date: 09/09/2026
Closing Date: 10/14/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: MGMT
Max Number of Applicants: 50

The Capital Improvement Manager doesn't just oversee infrastructure projects they own the full lifecycle, from first budget line to final close-out, and bring the financial acumen and follow-through to see every commitment through to completion. Reporting to the Director of Capital Projects, this role manages a broad and consequential portfolio: capital and infrastructure project delivery, citywide facilities, vehicle and equipment master planning, and ADA transition planning with direct accountability for portfolio-level revenue and expense tracking. This is a role for someone who thinks programmatically as much as tactically, who can move fluidly between strategic financial oversight and the granular administrative work that keeps projects on track.
Beyond the numbers, this role is highly visible. The successful candidate will represent the City in front of residents and stakeholders, lead community outreach efforts, and confidently navigate off-hour meetings and public presentations. It demands someone comfortable being the face of a project someone who can turn a room of concerned citizens into engaged partners. The Capital Improvement Manager is a direct driver of the City's growth, translating infrastructure investment into real outcomes for the community. We're looking for a bold, eager leader ready to bring decisive judgment, genuine ownership, and a service-first mindset to this work.
The ideal candidate for the Capital Improvement Manager position will possess a dynamic blend of leadership, strategic thinking, and project management skills. We prefer candidates with a proven track record in managing diverse capital improvement projects with a creative approach to problem solving. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential, as the role involves coordinating activities with various City departments, public agencies, and addressing citizen inquiries. Preference will be given to candidates with a successful history of fostering a collaborative and high-performance team environment. Experience in developing and implementing strategic goals, policies, and procedures, along with a deep understanding of public administration principles, will be highly valued. The ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks and stay informed about relevant codes and regulations is crucial. We seek candidates with a commitment to excellence, effective representation of the department at meetings, and the flexibility to handle off-hour commitments and occasional community engagement and outreach meetings. A Bachelor's Degree in a related field is required, and possession of a valid California driver's license is preferred. Overall, we value individuals who can contribute to the City's growth and development through proactive and strategic management of capital improvement projects and a desire to work in a highly motivated and service-centered team environment.

DEFINITION: The Capital Improvement Manager is responsible for the development and implementation of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The Capital Improvement Manager oversees project management of capital projects and facility upgrade projects, and works with professional, technical and supervisory staff to ensure project schedules, costs and performance meet expectations. The Capital Improvement Manager monitors the progress of assigned projects at all stages of development to ensure projects are delivered timely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. The Capital Improvement Manager is an at-will position that is appointed by and sits at the pleasure of the City Manager.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED: Receives general direction from the Director of Capital Projects, or designee. May exercise direct supervision over professional, technical and contracted staff. The Capital Improvement Manager may serve as the acting department head in the absence of the Director of Capital Projects.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS: This is a single, management level position. The incumbent reports to the Director of Capital Projects and typically has responsibility for providing indirect management of projects and may provide direct supervision to professional and technical staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (Illustrative Only): Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

  • Plans, coordinates, manages and oversees activities including the budgeting, scheduling, programming, planning, design development and construction of City infrastructure projects including streets, traffic control devices, sewer lines, water lines, buildings, parks, and other facilities/infrastructure owned and operated by the City.
  • Develops and implements department goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
  • Coordinates Capital Projects Department activities with those of other City departments and other public agencies.
  • Directs, oversees and participates in the development of various department work plans.
  • Leads the development of the City's Capital Improvement Program and budget.
  • Manages and oversees the review of CIP requests and proposals during the annual budget process.
  • Participates in department budget preparation and administration.
  • Prepares cost estimates for budget recommendations and justification for requests related to staffing, supplies, materials, equipment, training, etc.
  • Reviews and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures.
  • Prepares or supervises the preparation of a variety of reports, correspondence, and special studies.
  • Responds to complex citizen inquiries and complaints.
  • Represents the department and City at a variety of meetings.
  • Implement and/or oversee various special projects assigned to the Capital Projects Department.
  • Provides legislative analysis of potential new legislation.
  • Conducts grant research and prepares grant applications on behalf of the Department.
  • Performs other duties as assigned to support and enhance the City's Capital Improvement Program.


EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and skill. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skill would be:

Education: A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, public finance, planning, project management, construction management, management, civil engineering or related field.

Experience: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in public administration, , capital improvement program/project management, or comparable experience demonstrating the ability to perform the essential functions of the position, including two (2) years of supervisory responsibility..

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver's license.

Possession of the following certification is desired, but not required: Valid Certificate of Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California.

WORKING CONDITIONS: May serve as staff to commissions and may be required to attend off-hour meetings.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Mobility to work in a standard office or construction environment, use standard office equipment and attend off-site meetings. On an intermittent basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, twist, and reach while performing office duties; mobility to occasionally traverse uneven terrain, periodically standing, stooping, bending, climbing and kneeling to perform inspections; on occasion may be required to work in exposure to weather. Manual dexterity to use standard office equipment and supplies and small tools and to manipulate both single sheets of paper and large document holders (manuals, binders, etc.); vision to read handwritten and printed material and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and by telephone; ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds such as files, manuals, or small tools and equipment for distances up to 50 feet.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS: Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing department guidelines, policies and procedures.
An applicant who qualifies for veterans' preference and successfully places on an eligibility list for initial entrance into employment with the city shall be advanced one rank on the final eligibility list. Where there are five (5) or less qualified applicants, no veterans' preference shall apply and all applicants shall be placed on the certification list forwarded to the departments for hiring consideration. The exercise of veterans' preference shall be exhausted upon appointment to a regular position from an eligibility list.
An official City of West Sacramento application form must be filled out, in its entirety. It is the applicant's responsibility to explain their qualifications fully and clearly. In addition, applicants must submit a resume and complete the required supplemental questionnaire (if applicable). Incomplete information on the application, resume and/or supplemental questionnaire may be cause for disqualification. Application packages will be reviewed and screened for qualifications. Additional screening criteria will be developed based on the supplemental questionnaire (if applicable).
01

To be considered for the position, all candidates are required to fully complete and submit the required supplemental questionnaire and application. An incomplete application or supplemental questionnaire will be grounds for rejection and cannot be revised after submission. Resumes may be attached but applications with "see resume" will be considered incomplete. The answers to the questions below will be evaluated along with the information provided in your employment application. Therefore, your answers must be consistent with your employment application information (especially in the "education" and "work experience" sections), must be unambiguous, and must contain sufficient but concise detail and organization to facilitate the screening process.All statements made on the application are subject to investigation and verification, including the use of copying and pasting answers verbatim from Artificial Intelligence (A/I) programs such as Chat GPT or Google Gemini. False statements may be cause for disqualification, or discharge from employment.By checking "yes," I certify that I understand and have followed the application instructions.
  • Yes
  • No

02

Can you share your experience in managing capital improvement projects, including planning, design, development, and construction or experience managing projects where the skillset is transferable to this position? How have you ensured the successful execution of such projects in your previous roles?
03

In your previous supervisory roles, how have you effectively led and trained professional, technical, and contracted staff? Provide specific examples of your leadership style and its impact on project teams.
04

The Capital Improvement Manager plays a key role in developing the City's Capital Improvement Program and budget. Can you discuss your experience in this area, including your approach to strategic planning and goal setting?
05

Can you provide examples of your experience in reviewing and evaluating work products (including reports), methods, and procedures to ensure quality and efficiency? How do you make data-driven decisions to improve project outcomes?
06

I certify that the statements made in this Supplemental Questionnaire are true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge and are made in good faith by me. I understand that any misrepresentation and/or falsification of my answers may result in my application being ineligible for this recruitment process.
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at City of West Sacramento, CA

  • Capital Improvement Manager
    $141K — $171K *
    Sacramento, CA 95823 (Sacramento County)
    Real Estate & Construction
    In-Person
  • Capital Improvement Manager
    $141K — $171K *
    West Sacramento, CA 95691 (Yolo County)
    Education, Government & Non-Profit
    In-Person
  • Lead Sewer Maintenance Worker
    $74K — $91K *
    West Sacramento, CA 95691 (Yolo County)
    Energy & Utilities
    In-Person
  • Police Lieutenant
    $161K — $244K *
    Sacramento, CA 95823 (Sacramento County)
    Education, Government & Non-Profit
    In-Person
  • Police Lieutenant
    $161K — $244K *
    West Sacramento, CA 95691 (Yolo County)
    Education, Government & Non-Profit
    In-Person

More Real Estate & Construction Jobs

Find similar Capital Improvement Manager jobs: