Deputy Director of Public Works

The Job

The San Bernardino County Department of Public Works is seeking a visionary and strategic Deputy Director to provide executive leadership for the Transportation and Flood Control Divisions. This is a unique opportunity to lead the planning, delivery, maintenance, and long-term stewardship of critical infrastructure that supports public safety, mobility, and flood protection throughout one of the nation's largest counties.

Under general direction, the Deputy Director plans, organizes, and directs the operations of the Transportation and Flood Control Divisions. The position provides executive leadership to managers, engineers, technical staff, and field operations teams, overseeing transportation programs, flood control operations, capital improvement projects, roadway maintenance, and emergency response activities. Responsibilities include establishing strategic priorities, developing and administering division budgets, overseeing contracts and regulatory compliance, implementing policies and operational improvements, and ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in alignment with County goals.

The Deputy Director also serves as a key advisor to executive leadership and represents the Department with elected officials, partner agencies, developers, consultants, contractors, and community stakeholders.

Official

Title:

Chief Public Works Engineer. For more information, please review the Chief Public Works Engineer job description.

About the Transportation and Flood Control Divisions

The Transportation Division maintains and improves approximately 2,573 miles of County roadways, providing roadway maintenance, grading, pavement preservation, traffic operations, environmental coordination, and delivery of major capital improvement projects through a network of strategically located maintenance yards. The Flood Control Division operates and maintains an extensive system of dams, channels, conservation basins, and storm drains to protect communities from flooding, support water conservation and water quality, and coordinate regional flood control improvements throughout San Bernardino County.

Together, these divisions provide essential infrastructure and services that enhance public safety, economic vitality, and quality of life for residents and businesses across the County.

Excellent Benefits

To review job-specific benefits, refer to:
Summary of Benefits and the Exempt Compensation Ordinance

The County also offers an alternative Modified Benefits Option (MBO) that provides a wage differential.

Candidates must possess all of the following requirements:

License:
Must be a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of California. Indicate registration number in the Certificate/License section of the application.

Education:

A Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or a closely-related field.

Experience:

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the management and supervision of professional and technical personnel involved in public works projects, including planning, design, construction, and maintenance of public works facilities. Candidates must have at least one (1) year of qualifying management level experience as above.

Education Substitution:
Applications may be accepted from candidates who possess a Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field if they are Registered Civil Engineers in the State of California and have eight (8) years of qualifying experience. Degree/Coursework

Note:

Any qualifying degree/coursework obtained outside the United States must be accompanied by an equivalency report from an accredited credential evaluation service.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic and collaborative leader with experience managing complex public works or civil infrastructure programs. They will have a strong background in engineering, project management, budgeting, and regulatory compliance, along with the ability to lead diverse teams and build effective partnerships. Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills are essential, as is a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and delivering high-quality public services.

Interested candidates must submit:

• Compelling cover letter;
• Comprehensive resume;
• Three (3) professional references.

An electronic version of all submittals are required to be sent to:
Exec Recruitounty.gov or candidates may complete the online application and upload the required documents.

Questions should be addressed to:
Kristen Rojas (kristen.rojasounty.gov)

Priority Application Review:
Applications received by Friday, September 4, 2026 will be included in the first review/processing of applications; subsequent reviews may be conducted as needed to meet business needs. Recruitment may close at anytime once sufficient qualified applications are received.

All communications regarding the selection process will be via email. Applications are encouraged to check their emails frequently to obtain any…