Salary: $171,768.00 - $214,514.00 Annually
Location : 110 E. La Habra Blvd., La Habra, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 00464
Department: Public Works
Division: Engineering
Opening Date: 07/30/2026
Closing Date: 8/20/2026 6:00 PM Pacific

Description
Applications submitted without the required documents will be considered incomplete. Please be sure to scan and attach the required documents to your online application.

The City of La Habra invites your interest for the position of Deputy Director of Public Works/City Engineer in the Public Works Department. This position is an exempt Executive Management at-will position which reports to the Director of Public Works.

Examples of Duties
DEFINITION:

Under administrative direction, plans, organizes, manages, and provides administrative direction and oversight for the Engineering Division within the Public Works Department, including Capital Improvement Program (CIP) planning, design, and construction, permitting and land development services, traffic and transportation engineering programs, construction inspection, and real property management; assists in coordinating assigned activities with other City departments, divisions, outside agencies, and the public; fosters cooperative working relationships among City departments, divisions, and with intergovernmental and regulatory agencies and various public and private groups; provides highly responsible and complex professional assistance to the Director of Public Works in areas of expertise; and performs related work as required. Provides direct supervision to management, professional, technical and administrative support staff.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (Duties may include, but are not limited to the following):

• Supervises and performs professional engineering work on streets, storm drains, traffic systems, and various public work projects; ensures engineering functions and activities adhere to federal, state, and local guidelines, laws, and codes; compiles estimates, contract provisions, and specifications to ensure the securing or receipt of appropriate grant funding.
• Organizes, directs and coordinates the engineering functions of the City.
• Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees on performance issues; responds to staff questions and concerns; makes discipline recommendations to the Director.
• Performs professional engineering work in design, construction and maintenance of public works, including the approval of designs by consulting engineers, right of way documents, street surveying and mapping and traffic engineering.
• Supervises City property management including right of way acquisition, easement and property acquisition, abandonment and sale.
• Manage and participate in the selection of consultant professional engineers; supervise and evaluate the work of consultant professional engineers.
• Reviews work in progress and approves final designs, specifications, estimates and contract documents for public work projects such as streets, sewers, storm drains and bridges.
• Directs the preparation and maintenance of records, assessment roles, field notes, reports, maps, plots, deeds, benchmarks, monuments and other survey and engineering information.
• Reviews and recommends approval of final subdivision maps and improvement plans.
• Meets and confers with contractors, engineers, developers, architects, a variety of outside agencies, and the general public in acquiring information and coordinating engineering matters; provides information regarding City development requirements.
• Responds to difficult and sensitive public inquiries and complaints and assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations.
• Prepares the Capital Improvement Plan for streets, water, sewer, storm drains, parks, traffic and transportation projects.
• Prepares annual department budget for capital projects, personnel, traffic and maintenance and operations.
• Prepares grant applications for public works projects and County of Orange Programs, as well as state and federal transportation programs and applications.
• Directs the implementation of the GIS and AutoCAD programs to City records and uses.
• Attends Council and Planning commission meetings and represents the department in townhall meetings and other meetings as necessary.
• Assumes responsibilities of the department in the absence of the Director.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications
QUALIFYING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Operations, services and activities of a civil engineering program.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of civil engineering.
• Procedures, methods and techniques of civil engineering.
• Contract administration principles; principles and practices of civil engineering and design.
• Practices, methods and terminology of surveying.
• Construction standards.
• Principles and practices of hydrology and hydraulics.
• City engineering policies and procedures.
• Pertinent Federal, State, County and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Computer applications in civil engineering.
• Principles and procedures of financial record-keeping and reporting.

SKILL AND ABILITY TO:

• Interpret and explain City civil engineering policies and procedures.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Prepare engineering computations.
• Prepare and review engineering plans, specifications and estimates of public works projects.
• Administer contracts.
• Use and care for engineering instruments and equipment.
• Perform technical research and solve engineering problems.
• Conduct comprehensive engineering studies and prepare reports and recommendations.
• Prepare and manage funding applications.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with the general public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Supplemental Information
EDUCATION/TRAINING/EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related field is required. A Master's degree is preferred.

EXPERIENCE: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in public works, utilities, and engineering including two (2) years of management or supervisory experience. Related municipal government experience is desirable.
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS:

Must be a registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California. Position also requires a valid California Class C driver's license.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Satisfactory results from a background investigation, physical examination and administrative screening.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS: The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms above and below shoulder level. The employee uses finger dexterity in order to operate computer hardware for extended periods of time. The employee is required to constantly sit and occasionally walk and stand to access counters, work areas and files; stoop, kneel, or crouch to access or place records or files; lift and carry records and documents, typically weighing less than 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
MENTAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this class, the incumbent is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines, on multiple concurrent tasks; work with constant interruptions; and interact with staff, management, developers, contractors, consultants, and the general public.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The employee typically works in both office and field settings. Within the office, the noise level is frequently quiet or moderately quiet. In the field, the employee is occasionally exposed to loud construction machinery noise at job sites. Frequent driving is required to perform field inspections of land use development, construction sites, and public facilities and the employee is subject to variable traffic and variable weather conditions.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISASTER SERVICE WORKER: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all La Habra city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a City application online through the Human Resources Department webpage at Completed applications and resume will be accepted until 6:00 PM, Thursday, August 20, 2026. Applications will be screened and those applicants deemed best qualified will be invited for an oral interview, written and performance test. Candidates must successfully pass all three components of the examination process in order to be placed on the eligibility list. The final candidate must successfully complete a medical exam, drug screening, employment history verification, DMV check and will also be fingerprinted.

If any accommodation is needed during the interview, please notify the Human Resources Department at least five days in advance of your scheduled appointment so that we may be able to provide a reasonable accommodation.
This bulletin is not a contract, neither expressed nor implied.

Any provision herein may be modified or revoked.
Retirement:
Classic members of California Public Employees' retirement System (CalPERS) will be under the 2% @ 60 defined benefit plan. As part of this benefit members pay eight percent (8%) towards contribution. Additional benefits include: Three Year Final Compensation, Service Credit for Unused Sick Leave and the 1959 Survivor Benefit Level IV. EPMC: 7% employee contribution is reported as special compensation to PERS for classic members only.

PEPRA Members: California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) under the 2% @ 62 defined benefit plan. As part of this benefit members pay the statutorily mandated 50% of the normal cost plus an additional 1%. Additional benefits include: Three Year Final Compensation, Service Credit for Unused Sick Leave and the 1959 Survivor Benefit Level IV.

Deferred Compensation: The City contracts with MissionSquare Retirement for deferred compensation program. The City provides a $75 matching contribution per pay period. Enrollment is voluntary.

Executive Management Benefits: The offers a Cafeteria Plan and pays 90% for insurance premiums for employee and dependent(s).
• Health Insurance-CalPERS Health Plans
• Dental - Delta Dental
• Vision -VSP
• Life Insurance, Special Life Insurance and LTD- Standard Insurance

Sick Leave: Sick leave accrual rate of 96 hours per year.

Vacation Accrual: Vacation leave from 120 hours per year to 200 hours per year based on years of service with the City. Vacation buy-back is available of up to 80 hours per fiscal year.

Administrative Leave: 50 hours of administrative leave per fiscal year on a use or lose basis.

Holidays: Eleven (11) paid holidays per year.

Flexible Spending Account: A flexible spending account program is available to employees on a pre-tax basis to pay for eligible health and dependent care costs.

Retirement Health Savings Plan: Executive Management employees contribute one hundred ($100) per month to a Retirement Health Savings Plan.

Other Benefits: Access to City Hall Gym.
01

Do you possess a Bachelor's Degree in civil engineering from an accredited college or university? Please attach.

• Yes
• No

02

Do you possess two (2) years of management or supervisory experience?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you possess a valid California Class C Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

04

Are you registered Professional Civil Engineer with the State of California? Please attach.

• Yes
• No

05

Do you possess five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in public works,