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Job Description
Description
This recruitment is being managed by Teri Black & Co
Closes on Monday February 17, 2025
Apply through TB & Co
To view the complete job announcement and to apply click HERE.
The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) is incredibly unique in offering a full array of services to its residents and businesses: electricity, water, wastewater, natural gas, and fiber optics. CPAU is an award-winning utility recognized nationally as innovative and a leader in reliability, safety, environmental sustainability, workforce development, and system improvement. Palo Alto has a tradition of over 125 years of successful public utility operations. It is a tradition that continues to provide customers with safe and reliable utility service, local decision-making over policies, utility ratemaking, environmental programs, and customized services. CPAU focuses on customer service, infrastructure reliability, regulatory compliance, and cost containment. It also supports the City’s sustainability goals by building a low-carbon energy supply through renewable energy, carbon emission offsets, and programs to help customers use energy and water more efficiently, reduce their carbon footprint, and integrate new technologies. The Director of Utilities oversees CPAU with an FY 2025 operating budget of $476.4 million,supported by 279.18 FTEs.
The Ideal Candidate
The City seeks a highly strategic visionary leader with strong executive leadership skills to serve as the next Director of Utilities. The ideal candidate will exhibit the sophisticated leadership style required to effectively manage a complex award-winning utility in an environment where excellence and creativity are considered the norm. They will join a team committed to shaping the community’s future by transforming innovative ideas into reality and driving positive change. An energetic leader who can interject expert knowledge, new concepts and ideas, and assess and leverage the department’s strengths is preferred. The Director plays a pivotal role in ensuring the department and community’s long-term success, including providing strategic guidance to ensure that staff have enriching careers and future generations inherit a more sustainable community.
The candidate selected will bring a strong business mindset coupled with an entrepreneurial approach to managing large operations and projects. This long-term thinker will have their fingers on the pulse of the profession and bring a history of introducing pioneering ideas and bringing them to the forefront of a very dynamic industry. With demonstrated success in energizing others around compelling possibilities, they will explore opportunities and resources unique to Silicon Valley and potentially collaborate with world-class partners and an engaged community to design the future of utilities in Palo Alto and likely beyond. To that end, a history of effectively developing and managing productive partnerships will be expected.
Having developed a reputation for being an even-keeled, fair, and consistent manager, the new Director will cultivate a culture that encourages open communication and prioritizes strong relationships between leadership and staff. This capable professional will engage in strategic thinking with the City’s executive team, earn staff respect, exhibit an exceptional team. To learn more about the CPAU, visit cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Utilities orientation, be a supportive and respectful mentor and coach, and display the ability to identify and realize the potential in people. Proven accomplishments in recruiting and managing diverse groups of employees and developing strong managers and future leaders are strongly preferred. The candidate selected will be an articulate, credible, proactive communicator who is comfortable being a visible ambassador and representative of the agency. Sensitive to the importance of internal and external information needs, this respected professional will embrace contemporary tools and approaches to inform and engage the public. Understanding the importance of building community engagement, the new Director will partner with others to ensure progress toward a shared vision, utility reliability into the future, and the City’s climate action and environmental goals. Regarded as a trusted partner with deep political acumen, the Director will be adept at serving as a liaison between their department, the City organization, leadership, and the wider community. This experienced executive will foster confidence and quickly build trust among various stakeholders. As an inspiring leader, they will engage effectively with diverse, knowledgeable audiences and champion a collaborative decision-making process, understanding that the best solutions often emerge from thoughtful analysis and creativity.
A typical way to show readiness for this position would include a bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, public administration, or a field directly relevant to the management of a utility, and ten (10) years of related experience including five (5) years of management level experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position. A master’s degree is preferred. Experience working with the challenges and complexities of similar-sized organizations and municipal utility operations is desirable.
Please check the Job Brochure for more detailed information!
For additional information please contact:
Supplemental Information
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both perspective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
For more details visit our Careers Page, by clicking HERE.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.
Closing Date/Time: 2/17/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Palo Alto
Show morePalo Alto is located about 35 miles south of San Francisco; and 14 miles north of San Jose. Palo Alto, known as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley” and global center of technology and innovation, is the corporate headquarters for many world-class companies and research facilities such as VMWare, Hewlett-Packard, IDEO, Tesla, and Skype. Home to Stanford University and a top-ranked public school system, Palo Alto also features beautiful and historic residential neighborhoods, vibrant shopping and retail districts.
Palo Alto has a highly educated and culturally sophisticated citizenry that is actively engaged in making a difference both locally and globally. Unique among city organizations, Palo Alto operates a full-array of services including its own gas, electric, water, sewer, refuse and storm drainage provided at very competitive rates for its customers.
The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. Many world-class businesses maintained or started offices here, including Amazon, Tesla, Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Rivian, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, SAP Ariba, Houzz, Varian Medical Systems, and VMware. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the startup capital of the world.
Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community’s dedication to life-long learning. Stanford’s cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City’s exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation.
Home to picturesque tree-lined streets, bike lanes, and historic buildings that reflect its California heritage, Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy with premium shopping and dining options. Excellent health care facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are just some of this incredibly desirable community’s cherished amenities.
Join an Award Winning Team
Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government.
We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.
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