Utilities Planning Manager

Salary : $135,492.00 - $203,232.00 Annually
Location : 123 Main Street, P.O. Box 520, Pleasanton, CA
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Job Number: 202600028
Department: Public Works Department
Opening Date: 05/18/2026
Closing Date: 6/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: 5000

The City of Pleasanton is excited to announce an opportunity for a dedicated individual to join our team as a Utilities Planning Manager in the Public Works Department. In this role, you will help guide the long-range planning, development, and implementation of programs and infrastructure projects that support the City's potable water, recycled water, sanitary sewer collection, and storm water systems. You will lead and support utility infrastructure and water supply master planning efforts, assist with capital improvement planning and annual utility project budgeting, help inform rate and connection fee studies, and serve as a key liaison on planning-related matters with other City departments and outside agencies. This position offers a unique opportunity to combine technical expertise, strategic planning, policy support, and leadership in a role that directly shapes the reliability, sustainability, and future of Pleasanton's utility systems.

We're Looking for Someone Who Is

• Strategic and forward-thinking, with a strong interest in long-range utility planning and sustainable public infrastructure.
• Team-oriented and motivated by meaningful public service that supports essential community services.
• Skilled in balancing technical, administrative, financial, and regulatory responsibilities.
• Analytical and detail-oriented, with the ability to evaluate system performance data, asset needs, and infrastructure priorities.
• An effective communicator who can work well with technical and non-technical audiences, including City staff, consultants, agencies, committees, and the public.
• Adaptable and resourceful, with sound judgment and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Comfortable serving in a leadership role that coordinates multidisciplinary efforts and supports major planning and policy decisions.

In This Role, You Will

• Oversee the development and maintenance of the City's utility infrastructure master planning program, including system capacity studies, operational performance evaluations, and asset management efforts.
• Serve as custodian of the City's utility hydraulic models.
• Lead preparation of the City's Urban Water Management Planand support other water supply technical efforts.
• Assist in preparing Capital Improvement Programs in the area of utilities, including project scoping, budgeting, and schedule prioritization.
• Assist with annual planning and budgeting for Utilities Division-led projects focused on repair and replacement of deteriorating assets.
• Help prioritize asset replacement needs, define project scopes, and develop budgets for short- and long-term infrastructure improvements.
• Assist with utility rate studies and connection fee studies by providing expenditure projections related to infrastructure improvements.
• Provide technical assistance to the Utilities Division in areas such as operational planning and troubleshooting, regulatory reporting and programs, purchasing and contracting, design and construction, quality standards, records management, and asset management.
• Coordinate regulatory compliance efforts and support strategic utility initiatives that help ensure reliable and sustainable service delivery.
• Act as the Utilities Division's liaison for planning-related work with Community Development, Engineering, regional water and sewer agencies, committees, citizen groups, and other outside partners.
• Perform administrative and analytical assignments in support of the Director and Assistant Director of Operations Services.
• May occasionally direct and/or supervise staff, consultants, or related support work as needed.

A Few Reasons You'll Love Working With Us

• You will find meaningful public service in this role-your work will help shape the future of the City's water, sewer, recycled water, and storm water systems.
• You will have the opportunity to make a long-term impact on community sustainability and essential utility services.
• You will work on high-visibility initiatives, including major planning efforts such as the Water System Management Plan, Sanitary Sewer Management Plan, Storm Water Management Plan, and 20-year CIP planning.
• You will collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across City departments, regional agencies, committees, and the community.
• You will enjoy a role that blends technical problem-solving, planning, policy development, and leadership.
• You will play a critical role in helping guide infrastructure strategy and organizational decision-making for years to come.

A Few Challenges You Might Face

• Balancing competing priorities across long-range planning, capital needs, regulatory requirements, and day-to-day operational support.
• Navigating complex and evolving federal, state, and local utility regulations.
• Addressing aging infrastructure and future service demands with limited resources.
• Coordinating across multiple stakeholders who may have different priorities, expectations, or timelines.
• Adapting to emerging technologies, environmental considerations, and changing utility planning needs.

The Ideal Candidate Will Be

• Experienced in utilities planning, utilities design, utilities project management, or a closely related field, ideally in a public sector environment.
• Knowledgeable in utility infrastructure and water supply master planning, asset management, hydraulic principles, and capital improvement planning.
• Familiar with utility rate studies, connection fee studies, and budgeting for short- and long-term infrastructure improvements.
• Well versed in the principles and practices of water and wastewater engineering as applied to planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and system economics.
• Familiar with pertinent federal, state, and local regulations governing utilities.
• Skilled in analyzing data, preparing clear and comprehensive reports, and developing policy or service recommendations.
• Effective at communicating clearly in writing and verbally, including preparing staff reports and making presentations in public forums.
• Comfortable using technology and utility-related software systems such as CADD, GIS, hydraulic modeling applications, computerized maintenance management systems, SCADA systems, and Microsoft Office tools.
• Able to build strong working relationships with City staff, contractors, consultants, agencies, elected officials, committees, and the public.
• A strong problem-solver with sound judgment, political awareness, leadership ability, and a customer service mindset.

For more information about the position, please refer to the job description by visiting the following link Utilities Planning Manager

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in utilities planning, utilities design, utilities project management, or closely related field. Public sector experience is highly desirable.

License/Certification:

• Possession of a valid Class C California driver's license.
• Possession of a valid registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in California by the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists is desirable.

Knowledge of :

• Principles, practices, and techniques for program development, administration, and evaluation.
• Management principles and practices including planning and organizing work, establishing goals and objectives, budgeting, and cost control.
• General principles, practices, and techniques utilized to conduct utility infrastructure and water supply master planning studies.
• General principles and practices of asset management.
• General principles of hydraulics including open channel conveyance and pressurized systems.
• General principles and practices used to develop capital improvement and asset replacement programs including prioritization, scoping, and budgeting.
• General principles and practices of utility rate and connection fee studies.
• General principle and practices of water/wastewater engineering as applied to the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and economics of water distribution systems and sewer/storm collection and conveyance systems.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local regulations governing utilities.
• Computerized software systems used in day to day utility operations such as CAD, hydraulic modeling applications, computerized maintenance management systems, geographical information systems, supervisory control and data acquisition, etc.

Skill and Ability to :

• Establish effective working relationships with a wide variety of City staff, project contractors, representatives of other governmental agencies, professional contacts, City officials, and the public by demonstrating good judgment, initiative and resourcefulness.
• Assemble and analyze data, preparing comprehensive and accurate reports, and formulating policy and service recommendations.
• Critically assess situations, solve problems, work effectively under stress, within deadlines, and demonstrates political astuteness.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concepts orally and in writing, write staff reports, communicate clearly with management staff, and make effective presentations in public forums.
• Use office equipment and technology, including computers and related software, and master new technologies. Ability to use computer software programs such as CADD, GIS, hydraulic modeling applications, Microsoft Office suite programs, specifically Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access and other similar programs.
• Read, and interpret design plans.
• Learn to effectively manage consultants and contractors.
• Effectively communicate policies, procedures, city codes and operations to other city staff and the general public.
• Evaluate and recommend changes to operations as needed.
• Provide outstanding customer service.

Recruitment Process

Application: To be considered for this position, please submit your application through our online application process at Click on "Job Opportunities".

SELECTION PLAN
Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the need of the Agency:
TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN
Application Filing Deadline:
11:59 p.m. Monday, June 1, 2026
Review of Minimum Qualifications:
Week of June 1, 2026
Panel Interview:
June 10, 2026
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

• Management Pay and Performance Plan - This plan provides an opportunity for individuals to earn up to 20% above their control point for continued exceptional performance over time.
• Medical Insurance - Choice of one of four comprehensive health plans (available only in specific geographic areas of Northern California).
• Dental Insurance - City paid, including $2,000 maximum orthodontic benefit.
• Life Insurance - Twice annual salary to maximum $100,000.
• Long-Term/Short-Term Disability - 60% of salary to maximum benefit of $10,000 monthly for LTD. (employee paid)
• PERS Retirement
• Deferred Compensation Program - Two deferred compensation programs are available from which to choose, allowing employees to maximize contributions to their retirement accounts on a pre-tax basis. Management employees are eligible to participate in both programs concurrently.
• Vacation Leave - First through fourth year accrued at 6.667 hours per month; fifth through ninth year accrues at 10 hours per month; and progressing with years of service.
• Administrative Leave - Seven days per year, paid if not taken. City Manager may authorize an additional three days per year based on performance.
• Tuition Reimbursement - Job related courses from accredited college or universities reimbursed at California State University East Bay current tuition rate.
• Holidays - Eleven fixed holidays per year plus seven floating holidays.
• Paid Sick Leave -Twelve days per year.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Section 125 Flexible Benefit Program

01


Which best describes your highest level of education?

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Some college
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering
• Bachelor's degree in another engineering or closely related field
• Master's degree or higher in civil engineering or a closely related field

02


Do you possess a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from an accredited college or university?

• Yes
• No

03


How many years of progressively responsible experience do you have in utilities planning, utilities design, utilities project management, or a closely related field?

• Less than 5 years
• 5 years to less than 7 years
• 7 years to less than 10 years
• 10 or more years

04


Which best describes your current professional registration status?

• I possess a valid California Professional Civil Engineer registration
• I possess a Professional Engineer license in another state
• I do not currently possess Professional Civil Engineer registration, but I am pursuing it
• I do not possess Professional Civil Engineer registration

05


In which of the following areas do you have direct professional experience?

• Potable water system planning
• Recycled water system planning
• Sanitary sewer collection system planning
• Storm water system planning
• Utility infrastructure master planning
• Water supply planning
• System capacity studies
• Operational performance evaluations
• Asset management planning
• None of the above

Required Question