Salary: $152,963.20 - $198,848.00 Annually
Location : Paso Robles, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2026-19
Department: Community Development
Opening Date: 07/16/2026
Closing Date: 8/24/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: MGMT

The Opportunity
The City of Paso Robles is conducting a statewide search for an innovative and collaborative Deputy Community Development Director/City Engineer to help shape the future of one of California's premier Central Coast communities. This leadership opportunity offers the chance to guide critical infrastructure, support thoughtful development, and make a lasting impact on a city poised for transformational growth. With the recent promotion of the incumbent, the City is looking for an energetic leader who enjoys solving complex challenges, mentoring staff, and turning ambitious development plans into reality.

Over the next decade, Paso Robles is expected to grow more than it has during the past century, with more than 5,000 new homes and significant retail and industrial development planned. This unprecedented level of growth presents a rare opportunity to deliver the infrastructure and engineering solutions that will shape the community for generations to come.

Exciting Community Development Projects
Paso Robles is entering one of the most significant periods of development in its history. The Deputy Community Development Director/City Engineer will play a key leadership role in guiding a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, lodging, and industrial projects from planning through construction.

Current major initiatives include:

• Olsen South Chandler Specific Plan - 1,293 planned housing units
• Beechwood Specific Plan - 911 planned housing units
• River Oaks 2 - 271 planned housing units
• Gateway Resort Development - 425 lodging units and 97 residential units
• Hunter Ranch Resort - 400 lodging units
• Sensorio Resort - 280 lodging units
• The Landing Industrial Development - Approximately 1.7 million square feet of industrial space

Together, these projects illustrate the scale and diversity of development opportunities that make this an exceptional time to join the City of Paso Robles.
Typical Duties
Reporting to the Community Development Director, this position provides strategic leadership for the Engineering Division and serves as the City's principal engineering advisor on development, transportation, traffic, and public infrastructure. The position oversees development engineering, construction inspection, mapping and right-of-way, traffic engineering, and performs the full range of duties as the City Engineer while fostering collaboration across departments, partner agencies, and the development community.
Key responsibilities include:

• Planning, coordinating, and overseeing the daily operations and activities of the Engineering Division, including traffic engineering, storm drainage engineering, water distribution engineering, and wastewater engineering;
• Managing the public improvement plans review and approval process to ensure timely, high-quality project delivery;
• Overseeing all engineering plan checks and conditions of approval for planning entitlement projects;
• Administering Subdivision Map Act processes, including tentative tract maps, final maps, lot line adjustment, certificates of compliance, and subdivision improvement agreements;
• Supervising and participating in the entitlement process;
• Determining the scope of engineering projects and reviewing plans prepared by private contractors;
• Serving as technical advisor on public works, traffic, engineering, land development, and capital improvement matters;
• Serving as a liaison in engineering activities between other municipalities, and county, state, and federal agencies;
• Establishes engineering standards and makes complex technical engineering decisions;
• Partners closely with the Utilities Department to ensure development plans are consistent with all City utility requirements;
• Collaborates closely with the Public Works and Police Departments on traffic management and safety programs, including a City-wide traffic signal optimalization project.
• Develops and implements immediate and long-range plans and establishes division goals and strategic priorities;
• Reviews and implements private sector infrastructure financing programs, including multiple community facilities districts.
• Provides leadership and works effectively with staff and other stakeholders to cultivate a productive, collaborative, customer-service oriented work environment reflecting the City's mission, plans, objectives, and values;
• Attends Planning Commission and City Council meetings.
• Supports the Community Development Department Director on departmental leadership, organizational development, and strategic initiatives.

Employment Standards & Special Requirements
Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced engineering leader who combines technical excellence with practical problem-solving, sound judgment, and exceptional interpersonal skills. They thrive in a fast-paced environment, inspire confidence, and understand how thoughtful engineering decisions support responsible community growth.

Success in this position requires significant hands-on experience guiding large residential communities, commercial developments, and business parks from entitlement through construction. The successful candidate possesses broad expertise across civil engineering disciplines and the ability to navigate complex technical issues, competing priorities, and high-profile projects with confidence and professionalism.

The successful candidate enjoys being in the field, working alongside staff, meeting with developers and contractors, and seeing projects through from concept to completion. They are a visible leader who mentors employees, empowers others to succeed, and maintains high technical standards while delivering practical, solutions-oriented results.

The City is committed to strengthening a culture of collaboration, responsiveness, and exceptional customer service, and the successful candidate will play a key leadership role in advancing that vision. They will lead with integrity, communicate openly, and build strong relationships with staff, developers, partner agencies, and the community. Both diplomatic and decisive, the successful candidate will foster accountability, encourage continuous improvement, and create an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to deliver outstanding public service.

Qualifications
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying, although licensure is a strict requirement. A typical way to obtain the required education and experience is:

• Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in a related field.
• Experience: Seven years of increasingly responsible experience in a related field, including a minimum of three years in a managerial role.
• Licensure: Must possess a California Professional Civil Engineer license.

Selection Procedure & Application Process
This is a confidential recruitment and will be handled accordingly throughout the various stages of the process. Interested candidates should submit a resume and compelling cover letter by email to no later than Monday, August 24, 2026. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established. Candidates are encouraged to apply early in the process for optimum consideration.

Candidates will be advised of the status of the recruitment following selection of the Deputy Community Development Director/City Engineer. Confidential inquiries welcomed to Mr. Fred Wilson at (916) 630-4900 or by email to

The city offers a hiring incentive program which includes moving allowance, housing loan assistance, vacation accrual enhancement, and additional vacation leave. More details are available by contacting Ralph Andersen & Associates.
Leave Benefits:

• Vacation: Accrual of 80-200 hours per year based on years of City service
• Sick: Accrual of 96 hours per year
• Holidays: 14 days per year
• Administrative Leave: 80 hours per year

Health and Wellness:

• Medical: The City contributes up to $956.28 per month for employee-only coverage, $1,721.30 for employee plus one, and $2,113.38 for family coverage. Under the lowest-cost PPO plan, current employee monthly premiums are $0 (employee only), $191.26 (employee + one), and $372.95 (family). Employees who waive coverage may be eligible for a $300 monthly cash-in-lieu payment.
• Dental: The City pays 100% of employee coverage and partial family coverage
• Vision: The City pays 100% of employee and family coverage
• Life Insurance: $200,000 employee-only coverage paid by the City
• Long Term Disability Insurance: City pays the full premium for coverage of 66.67% of the employee's monthly salary up to a limit of $12,000
• Flexible Spending Account: Allows you to pay for dependent care and unreimbursed medical expenses on a pre-tax basis.
• Employee Assistance Program: $200,000 employee-only coverage paid by the City

Retirement:

• CalPERS:
  • Tier 1: 2.5% at 55; employee contribution of 10% (8% member contribution plus 2% cost sharing)
  • Tier 2: 2% at 60; employee contribution of 10% (7% member contribution plus 3% cost sharing)
  • PEPRA: 2% at 62; current employee contribution of 10.75% (one-half of the normal cost, currently 7.75%, plus 3% cost sharing)
• 457 Deferred Compensation: The City contributes $192.31 per pay period. Employees may contribute pre-tax, Roth (post-tax), or both to maximize retirement savings.
• Social Security<