Deputy Director, Engineering Division - Port of San Francisco (0953)

Job Description

The Port of San Francisco is recruiting for a dedicated and innovative leader to guide its Engineering Division as the Deputy Director. Many of the Port’s facilities have endured years of underfunding and require significant investment, but with new funding opportunities on the horizon, the Port is positioned to make impactful progress. Your leadership will play a critical role in revitalizing the waterfront and addressing the needs of our community.

As part of the Port's leadership team, you will join an organization committed to fostering a workplace rooted in inclusion, transparency, and respect. We are dedicated to being an anti-racist organization where equity and diversity are integral to our success. With the support of robust resources and a talented team, you will have the chance to lead meaningful change and help the Port overcome its most pressing challenges.

Key Responsibilities

The Deputy Director of Engineering will lead a multidisciplinary division that provides essential services to Port client divisions. This role requires strategic direction and leadership to ensure the division operates cohesively as a team, achieves performance goals, and meets the needs of the Port and its tenants. The Deputy Director will actively support the Port’s mission, which includes public safety and health, public waterfront use, maritime activities, and maximizing revenue in collaboration with key departments such as Real Estate, Maritime, Planning, and Maintenance.

The Engineering Division is responsible for the following core functions :

• Project and construction management for Port capital projects, funded by the Harbor Fund and grants.
• Chief Building Official for permit services and inspections for Port property and tenant projects.
• A facilities team for design, review and facility inspections which include :

Architectural design and ADA compliance review

The Port’s Waterfront Resilience Program (WRP) manages City bond funds, grants, and a small Harbor Fund allocation to support master planning and near-term project delivery focused on enhancing the Port’s seismic and flood resilience over the coming decades. A key component of this effort is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete a comprehensive coastal flood study for the Port’s 7.5 miles of waterfront. Securing congressional approval for the adaptation plan outlined in the study is a critical milestone, as it will unlock significant federal matching funds to support the master planning, design, and construction of this multibillion-dollar, multidecade project.

Although the WRP does not report directly to the Deputy Director of Engineering, the program plays a critical role in fostering collaboration between Engineering and WRP staff. This collaboration ensures alignment of engineering standards, procedures, design objectives, and delivery strategies across Port capital projects, portfolio management strategies, and WRP resilience initiatives. The Deputy Director of Engineering will serve as a key reviewer and strategic partner in advancing the Port’s resilience strategy and will work closely with senior staff to guide the agency’s efforts in balancing the WRP’s near- and long-term goals with the Port’s overarching mission to manage its existing portfolio effectively.

About this Role

As a key leader, you will :

Qualifications

Education

Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Engineering or closely related field.

Experience

Six (6) years of senior level management experience directing large scale port or marine facilities and engineering projects. Experience must include managing complex infrastructure projects, with a focus on waterfront, environmental, or urban infrastructure.

Please note :  At least two years of the experience mentioned above should include the direction and evaluation of subordinate staff.

License

Possession of a valid California driver’s license (to be presented at time of appointment). Employees must be insurable under the Port’s automobile liability insurance.  Insurability must be maintained throughout employment.

Substitution

Education Substitution :  Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of two (2) years). One (1) year is equivalent to thirty (30) semester units / forty-five (45) quarter units.

Experience Substitution :  Possession of a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or master's degree may substitute for one (1) year of the required professional experience.

The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking an inspiring leader with a strong background in engineering, particularly in the context of real estate portfolio management and the redevelopment of aging facilities. This role requires not only the ability to lead discussions across diverse technical engineering areas, but also the capacity to communicate effectively, build high-performing teams, and develop and implement strategies to achieve the Port’s business and policy objectives.

The ideal candidate will possess :

The ideal candidate will be a champion of the Port’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, working to empower Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) in Port operations and opportunities through equitable policies and practices.

Verification

Please make sure it is clear in your application exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications.  Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on  Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications  and  Verification of Experience and / or Education  for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

Additional Information

Benefits : The City and County of San Francisco offers a comprehensive benefit program. For complete details, please visit : https : / / careers.sf.gov / benefits .

Selection Procedures :  Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will be screened for relevant qualifying experience and education. Additional mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidate’s qualifications.  Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Port will be invited to continue in the selection process.  Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are  only  accepted through an online process. Visit  https : / / careers.sf.gov /  and begin the application process.

Recruitment Analyst Information :  If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please send your inquires to Sadia Afandi, at  Sadia.afandi@sfport.com .

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco :

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV / AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.