Description

To view a recruitment brochure for the Public Works Assistant Director (Storm Water) position for the City of San Antonio please visit:

https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Initiatives/Join-Our-Team/Career-Opportunities/Executive-Opportunities

The first application review will take place on April 10th, 2026. For consideration, please apply before this review date by sending your resume and cover letter to: saexecsearch@sanantonio.gov

To be considered for this position candidates must apply by sending a resume and over letter to saexecsearch@sanantonio.gov before April 10th, 2026.  

About San Antonio

The City of San Antonio is the nation’s 7th largest city and is home to more than 1.5 million residents. Located in South Central Texas, approximately 140 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, San Antonio offers its residents one of the most attractive and affordable lifestyles in the country. Residents enjoy one of the lowest tax rates in the state as well as a plentiful supply of high-quality housing and low utility rates. The economy of San Antonio is an excellent mix of business services, manufacturing, health care, communications, corporate and regional offices, government, and the convention and tourism industry. San Antonio is also home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the United States. One of the nation's fastest growing cities, San Antonio is rich in recreational and cultural opportunities with over 15,000 acres of public parks and 150 miles of trails, over 50 museums and galleries, and home to the 5-time champion San Antonio Spurs. The Historic San Antonio Missions are Texas’ only UNESCO World Heritage site and is a UNESCO designated Creative City of Gastronomy.

City Government 

San Antonio has a Council-Manager form of government with an eleven-member City Council. Councilmembers are elected by District, while the mayor is elected at-large. The term of office for the mayor and all members of the City are four-year terms, for not more than two (2) full terms of office. The City Council appoints the City Manager, who appoints all officials in executive positions with the exception of the City Clerk, City Auditor, Presiding Judge, and Municipal Judges.

The City of San Antonio has been recognized for its high level of professional management by the ICMA and National Civic League, amongst others. For ten consecutive years, the City has maintained a AAA bond rating. The Fiscal Year 2026 adopted budget is $4.06 billion with close to 14,000 employees across approximately 40 departments.

The Public Works Department 

The Public Works Department is committed to meeting the needs of residents by building and maintaining the infrastructure that is vital to our City and is comprised of several divisions that include the Director’s Office, Storm Water, Streets, and Traffic. The department has 698 authorized position and a total budget of $314.2 million for FY 26 and provides services such as pothole repairs, neighborhood street reconstruction, traffic signal operations and maintenance, storm water management programs, street markings, and signage.

Public Works has also developed a five-year rolling Infrastructure Management Program (IMP) to identify and recommend infrastructure priorities to the City Council. Through the IMP, the Public Works Department identifies and plans the roads, traffic signal improvements, sidewalks, drainage, and alleys that need to be repaired over the course of the next five years. As progress is made each year, the plan is adjusted to ensure the planning is always five years out.

The Position 

The Assistant Director will support the Director in providing leadership, planning, directing, and overseeing the activities and operations of the Public Works Department, including the oversight of the Storm Water Division. The Storm Water Division is responsible for maintaining all City owned drainage infrastructure (open channels, storm drains, and drainage outlets) and ensuring compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. This includes oversight of other responsibilities consisting of implementing the Storm water Management Plan (SWMP), channel maintenance and repair, structural control and repair, storm sewer drain maintenance and repair, street sweeping and managing the Storm water Utility Rate and Storm Water drainage capital improvement projects. Provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the Director of Public Works. This Assistant Director will coordinate assigned activities with other City departments and outside agencies, providing highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager's Office. They will also directly supervise assigned staff.

Essential Job Functions 

• Assists in assuming full management responsibility for all department services and activities of the Public Works Department Strom Water Division; assists with delivering programs and capital projects.
• Assist in the management of department services and activities, including the oversight of Division Heads and their functions related to project delivery.
• Assists in managing the development and implementation of department goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for each assigned service area; establishes, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; and allocates resources accordingly.
• Assists in monitoring and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; and assists in directing the implementation of changes.
• Assists in acting as official departmental representative to other City departments, City Manager's Office, elected officials, and outside agencies; explains, justifies, and defends department programs, policies, and activities; and negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant, and controversial issues.
• Assists in selecting, motivating, and evaluating department staff; provides or coordinates training and works with employees to correct deficiencies; and assists in implementing and administering disciplinary and termination procedures.
• Assists in planning, directing, and coordinating, through subordinate-level staff, the department work plan; meets with management staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; and reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures.
• Assists in managing and participating in the development and administration of the department budget; estimates funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; assists in directing the monitoring and approval of expenditures; and directs the preparation and implementation of budgetary adjustments as necessary.
• Assists in coordinating departmental activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations; provides staff assistance to the City Manager, Assistant City Managers, and City Council; and assists in preparing and presenting staff reports and other necessary communications.
• Assists in responding to and resolving sensitive inquiries and complaints from both internal and external sources.
• Assists in reviewing and signing all higher-level department communication, including ordinances and contracts.

Education & Experience 

Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university, preferably by an engineering school approved by the Texas State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. Candidates will also need a minimum of (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public works, capital projects and/or operations, civil engineering, or a related field including (3) years of administrative or supervisory responsibility.

The most highly qualified candidates for consideration will be selected based on a combination of education, career experience, and accomplishments that best fits the needs of the City of San Antonio.

Ideal Candidate 

The ideal candidate is a professional engineer (PE) with at least eight (8) years of proven experience leading technical staff in completing storm water public works and capital improvement projects. The selected candidate must possess exceptionally strong leadership capabilities and have the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment while effectively balancing technical expertise with high-level leadership responsibilities. Having a solutions-oriented mindset, a commitment to continuously improving project management processes and integrating industry best practices are essential for success in this position.

The person selected for this position will have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, enabling them to build positive relationships and effectively communicate messages clearly and concisely to stakeholders, elected officials, employees, and staff. It will be essential for this individual to foster a culture of accountability, innovation, camaraderie, and professional growth within the department.  This will include ensuring that projects are delivered efficiently and effectively, inspiring and developing talent, maintaining strong succession planning and promoting a team-oriented approach to project delivery.  The selected candidate will enjoy working in a sophisticated public sector environment alongside a high-energy executive management team.

Salary 

The City of San Antonio is offering a competitive salary commensurate with experience. The City offers generous benefits and retirement including annual and personal leave, monthly car allowance, deferred compensation plans, relocation/moving expenses and participation in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS).

How to Apply 

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send a cover letter, resume, references and salary requirements to:

saexecsearch@sanantonio.gov

The first resume review date will take place on April 10th, 2026. To ensure you are considered for this role please apply prior to the resume review date and submit your application as soon as possible. This position is open until filled. Upon receipt, resumes will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted by the City of San Antonio’s Executive Recruiter.