Description

The City of Napa is seeking our next Deputy Utilities Director!

Are you currently a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of California?  Do you have expertise in leading a wide range of Utilities projects related engineering, capital improvements, water supply, water treatment, water distribution, solid waste, and recycling? Are you passionate about mentoring and developing dynamic and skilled teams? 

Then APPLY TODAY and employ your vast engineering skills while bringing value to the community we serve!

THE COMMUNITY
The City of Napa, covering 18 square miles, is located in the heart of the Napa Valley wine region. Widely known for its high-quality wines and picturesque vineyards, the region is home to about 475 wineries, ranging from small family-owned wineries to large well-known wine producers. Napa is also renowned for its culinary vibe with numerous Michelin-starred restaurants and farm-to-table eateries. The area has stunning views, numerous outdoor activities like bicycling, golfing, hiking, and hot air balloon rides, and a vibrant arts scene with galleries, theatres, and music venues.

With an average summer temperature of 83 degrees, the City of Napa is home to nearly 80,000 residents with a median age of 41.4 years old. Boasting more than 800 acres of park land, the city has 54 public parks, a low crime rate, and a high standard of living.

THE ORGANIZATION
The City of Napa is a full-service Charter City with eleven departments, including Utilities, Public Works, Parks, Fire, and Police services. The City Council consists of five members, including one Mayor and four Councilmembers. The Mayor and each Councilmember are elected to four-year terms. The Mayor is elected at large, and the Councilmembers by district. The City Council and the City Manager are dedicated to the highest standards of integrity, public service, and innovative approaches to governing.

The Annual Budget for the two enterprise funds in FY2025/2026 is $56 million for the Solid Waste Recycling Enterprise and $59 million for the Water Enterprise with approximately 8 FTEs in the SWR division and 68 FTEs in the Water division. To learn more about the City’s budget, click here.

UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
Purpose Statement: We provide reliable, high quality, essential drinking water and solid waste/recycling services to protect public health and ensure quality of life.

Principles:

• Teamwork – Rowing in same direction towards a common goal, recognizing it takes all of us to be successful.
• Accountability – Taking ownership and holding yourself responsible to execute and follow through. 
• Adaptability – Pivoting to accomplish what needs to be done when experiencing challenges and changes to priorities.
• Professionalism – Being a step above, polished, and performing with competence using your knowledge and expertise.

The City of Napa's Utilities Department is comprised of the Water Division, and the Solid Waste and Recycling Division which are both responsible for delivering core services to residents, business and visitors throughout the City of Napa and County of Napa. The Deputy Utilities Director is an integral part of the Utilities Department leadership with direct oversight over the Engineering section that prioritizes and implements Capital Improvements, and supports daily operations while managing budgets, and defining rates through detailed cost of service studies. 

Both Water and Solid Waste/Recycling (SWR) are Enterprise Funds that rely primarily on customer rates and specific facility fees for funding instead of taxes. The Water Division ensures safe, clean, and reliable water is available at all times. Supply management, capital improvements, investment in infrastructure replacement, watershed management, treatment optimization, long term planning and excellent customer service are key deliverables. The SWR Division is responsible for managing the contract with Napa Recycling and Waste Services and managing the City-owned recycling and composting facility to meet or exceed the goal of 75% diversion from landfill disposal. Sustainability, food waste capture, advanced recycling processing to generate the highest return on material sales and excellent customer service are key deliverables.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The City of Napa is seeking an experienced Utilities professional with technical expertise and strong leadership skills to effectively manage and guide the Utilities Department towards achieving established goals. The Deputy Utilities Director is a senior management position that works under the general direction of the Utilities Director and may act as the Utilities Director in their absence. As the Deputy Utilities Director, you will plan, organize, manage and supervise all assigned activities of the Utilities Department including engineering, capital improvements, and water resources, support water treatment and water distribution operations, as well as solid waste, recycling, and related special projects as required.

The ideal candidate will be a strong leader and mentor that is comfortable engaging with internal and external stakeholders and prepared to develop recommendations and make decisions. The ideal candidate is emotionally intelligent, results oriented, and an excellent communicator with strong relationship-building skills. We are looking for a dedicated leader who will ensure fiscal responsibility, maximize efficiency, promote teamwork, and effectively anticipate future challenges and determine what course of action the City should take. 

The Deputy Utilities Director will ensure professional interaction with residents, counterparts and Department Heads. A technically competent manager will function well in this role and must effectively delegate and problem solve to ensure timely completion of projects. The City of Napa takes pride in excellent customer service and community engagement. As a key player in leading and implementing the services, activities, and operations within the Department, the Deputy Utilities Director must have the ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally, and in writing.

This is an exciting time for the City of Napa! With the extent of ongoing and upcoming projects, we are searching for an experienced and motivated team-player that is up to the task of carrying forward City priorities and visions through development and implementation of capital improvement projects including a major renovation and upgrade to our Lake Hennessey water treatment plant, retrofitting pump stations, rehabilitating storage tanks, upgrading pipe networks,  and developing the next generation of solid waste facilities for the Utilities Department.

QUALIFICATIONS
A typical way of gaining the requisite knowledge and abilities is: at least six (6) years of progressively responsible professional utilities operations or civil engineering experience to include at least three (3) years of administrative and supervisory responsibility coupled with the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, environmental science, civil engineering or a closely related field. Experience in a municipal or public setting and a master's degree in business or public administration are desirable.
 
Special Requirements: Registration as a Professional Civil or Mechanical Engineer in the State of California is required.

Please click here to view a full, detail job description of Deputy Utilities Director.

In addition to qualifications, the ideal candidate will have experience demonstrating the following competencies:

• Technical/Professional Knowledge & Skills - Having achieved a satisfactory level of technical, functional, and/or professional skill or knowledge in system operations and project construction-related areas; keeping up with current regulations and trends in areas of expertise; using knowledge to accomplish results.
• Strategic Planning - Obtaining information and identifying key issues and relationships relevant to achieving a long-range goal; committing to a course of action to accomplish a long-range goal after developing alternatives based on logical assumptions, facts, available resources, constraints, and organizational values.
• Leading Teams - Using appropriate methods and interpersonal styles to develop, empower, and guide the team to attain successful outcomes and objectives.
• Quality Orientation - Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how detailed; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks; being watchful over operations and project design and construction.
• Emotional Intelligence - Establishing and sustaining trusting relationships by accurately perceiving and interpreting own and others' emotions and behavior; using insights to effectively select own responses so that one's behavior matches one's values and delivers intended results.
• Project Management - Designs, implements and runs ongoing projects and directs the related resources, personnel and activities to successful completion.
  Coaching and Developing Others - Providing feedback, instruction, and development mentorship to help others excel in their current or future job responsibilities; planning and supporting the development of individual skills and abilities.
• Decision Making - Identifying and understanding system data by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative information to prioritize investments; choosing the best course of action by establishing clear decision criteria, generating and evaluating alternatives, and making timely decisions; taking action that is consistent with available facts and constraints and optimizing probable consequences.
• Resolving Conflict - Helping others deal effectively with an antagonistic situation to minimize damage to relationships and promote shared goals; using appropriate interpersonal methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people and facilitate agreement.
• Influencing - Using effective involvement and persuasion strategies to gain acceptance of ideas and commitment to actions that support specific work outcomes.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The salary range for this outstanding opportunity is very competitive at $179,380.39 – $ 216,711.62. Placement within this range is dependent upon qualifications. Upcoming scheduled salary increases will take place in January 2026 (2%) and July 2026 (2%). 

A career with the Utilities Department offers many rewards including excellent benefits and opportunities to make a significant positive impact on the community. In addition to the competitive salary listed above, the City of Napa offers an attractive benefits package including:

• Vacation - New employees can accrue up to 120 hours annually.
• Paid Holidays - 15 paid days per year.
• Extra Paid Time Off - 104 hours (13 days) of Management Leave per year.
• Sick Leave - Employees can accrue up to 96 hours annually.
• Dental and Medical Insurance Plans - The City provides significant contributions to dental and medical plans.
• Health In-Lieu Option - Employees may waive City coverage and opt for health in-lieu at $500 monthly; annual proof of alternative coverage is required.
• Retirement - The City participates in the CalPERS retirement pension system.
• Retiree Health Insurance - City contributes $274 per month for retired employees with at least 10 years of service at retirement.
• Deferred Compensation Program - Employees are eligible to enroll in a 457 Plan and the City contributes $142 per month to 401(A) plan.
• Life Insurance and AD&D - $100,000 of coverage paid for by the City.
• Phone Stipend - Up to $100 per year for equipment and up to $110 per month for usage.
• Tuition & Professional Development Reimbursement - Up to $2,500 per fiscal year.
• Prior Years of Service Vacation Accrual Credit - Full-time service in a City, County, State, Federal Agency, or Special District may be counted towards vacation accrual tiers at the City of Napa.  

The City offers the flexibility of a 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off.)

For a full list of benefits, please visit our Employee Benefits webpage.

IMPORTANT DATES
The deadline for submitting applications is no later than 11:59 PM on Sunday, December 14, 2025. To be considered for this opportunity, please submit your application via City of Napa’s website by using the “Apply Now” feature. 

Phone Interviews may be held during the week of December 29, 2025. 

Candidates deemed to be the best qualified will be invited to an in-person interview in Napa on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

Finalists will be invited to an in-person interview with the Utilities Director on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

These dates have been confirmed, and it is recommended that you plan your calendar accordingly.

QUESTIONS? 
Please contact the City of Napa’s Human Resources Department via email or (707) 257-9505. 

This recruitment and examination is being conducted to fill one (1) vacancy and may be used to fill future similar vacancies as they occur during the active status of the employment list. The active status of this employment list will be for six (6) months unless abolished sooner or extended beyond that date in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.

SELECTION PROCESS
The City of Napa utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad outreach efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to take part in a process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, an eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments and eligible lists may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

Candidates who have participated in a testing process for a recruitment are not eligible to re-take the same test within six (6) months. 

What happens next?
-We will review your application and all supplemental materials to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the selection process. Application appraisal includes a review of qualifications, education, training, and experience related to the job, as well as supplemental questions if applicable.
-Applicants moving forward in the selection process may be asked to participate in any combination of the following (at any phase of the selection process): online assessment, written examination, job-related exercise, phone interview, and panel interview. These testing steps may be conducted on a pass/fail basis, and/or percentage-based scoring methodology. 
-Based on the City Charter, the final phase of the selection process is the Probationary Period, which in most cases is six (6) months but may be twelve (12) months depending on the classification.  
-When three or fewer candidates are available, the testing procedures outlined in the Job Announcement may be waived by the Human Resources Department.

Language Equity

If you need assistance with the recruitment and selection process in Spanish, contact us at 707-257-9505. These requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 
Si necesita ayuda con el proceso de reclutamiento y selección en español, contáctenos al 707-257-9505. Estas solicitudes se evaluarán caso por caso.

Reasonable Accommodations
The City of Napa Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate qualified disabled applicants. Individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation in the testing process must inform the HR Department in writing by the final filing date. A Reasonable Accommodation Request Form is available from HR and may be obtained by calling 707-257-9505, or dial 7-1-1 for the California Relay Service, offering free text-to-speech, speech-to-speech, and Spanish-language services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The City of Napa is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace will maximize our talents to benefit the residents we serve.

Requirements

A typical way of gaining the requisite knowledge and abilities is: at least six (6) years of progressively responsible professional utilities operations or civil engineering experience to include at least three (3) years of administrative and supervisory responsibility coupled with the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, environmental science, civil engineering or a closely related field. Experience in a municipal or public setting and a master's degree in business or public administration are desirable.
 
Special Requirements: Registration as a Professional Civil or Mechanical Engineer in the State of California is required.