Assistant Community Development Director- Building (20760163)

Job Description:

Assistant Community Development Director- Building (20760163)

Description

THE COMMUNITY

The City of Menlo Park is a thriving community with tree-lined neighborhoods, active commercial areas, spaces to enjoy the outdoors, and opportunities to engage in local activities. Located conveniently between the major metropolitan areas of San Francisco and San Jose, Menlo Park is home to just under 34,000 residents in its 19 square miles. The stunning natural surroundings of the city afford views of the San Francisco Bay to the east and the Pacific Coastal Range to the west. Menlo Park’s climate is moderate to warm, with an average of 265 sunny days a year.

Menlo Park’s residents reflect a range of backgrounds and interests, with a tendency toward being actively engaged in community life. The City’s close proximity to Stanford University and Menlo College provide a multitude of academic, cultural and athletic event opportunities. The City regularly hosts musical performances and cultural experiences at both the Burgess campus and the newly opened Belle Haven Community Campus. The Downtown, with its many eateries and unique shops, attracts locals and visitors alike. The Menlo Park Caltrain station also provides a convenient connection to the numerous arts and leisure activities in the San Francisco and San Jose areas.

Known worldwide as the “Capital of Venture Capital,” Menlo Park hosts many venture capital firms and is well situated to benefit from and help shape new technologies and markets originating from the Silicon Valley. Additionally, Menlo Park is host to numerous technology and healthcare related companies, including such major employers as Meta (formerly Facebook), SRI International, Pacific Biosciences, Exponent, Grail, CSBio, and Robinhood. For additional information, visit the City's website at:
menlopark.gov
.

THE ORGANIZATION

Incorporated in 1927, Menlo Park is a General Law city operating under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is the City’s five-member governing body whose members are elected by district for four-year overlapping terms in general municipal elections. The Mayor and Vice Mayor each serve one-year terms and are selected annually by the City Council.

The City Council appoints the City Manager and City Attorney as well as members of the Planning Commission and numerous advisory boards. The City Manager appoints all executive and management level positions. City staff report to one of six departments: City Manager’s Office, Administrative Services, Community Development, Library and Community Services, Police, and Public Works, which includes water and solid waste enterprises. Fire protection and sanitary services are provided by separate special districts.

The City is supported by 297 full-time equivalents (FTEs) and a General Fund budget of nearly $90 million for fiscal year 2026-27. As evidence of the City’s sound financial stewardship and solid financial standing, Menlo Park consistently maintains an AAA bond rating, in large part due to its healthy reserves and diverse revenue base.

In addition to its many attributes, Menlo Park has one of the most beautiful civic center campuses in the Bay Area. Heritage trees, a running fountain and a duck pond surround City Hall. The campus also includes a nine-acre park, recreation facilities and the Menlo Park Library. These civic amenities make the campus a noted destination for residents, local employees and visitors. Conveniently located, the campus is a short walk to the Menlo Park Caltrain Station and the downtown district with numerous restaurants and shops.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Community Development Department is responsible for ensuring a sustainable and vibrant community that supports a high quality of life for residents, businesses and visitors. It is comprised of 34 FTE who operate as an effective and cohesive team across multiple functional areas and lead a number of City initiatives to support the City Council goals. The Department includes the Building, Planning and Housing Divisions, and core services include building permits, plan check, inspections, affordable housing administration and housing initiatives, as well as long-range planning and development review.

The Building Division, which is the division this position will be responsible for overseeing, includes managing building permit, plan check and inspection processes for compliance with all applicable State laws, local municipal codes and related policies involving building construction. These functions require a high level of customer service with the public and coordination within and across various departments and agencies. For additional budget information, visit
menlopark.gov/budget
.

THE POSITION

This position serves as the City’s Building Official and plans, organizes, manages, and provides administrative direction and oversight for major functions, activities, and staff of the Building Division. The incumbent will assist with department initiatives, including annual budgeting and monitoring and the development and administration of departmental policies, procedures and services, as well as day-to-day operations, including reviewing plans, interpreting applicable code, and meeting with stakeholders to explain processes. Areas of responsibility include building and safety, permit processing and issuance, inspection and compliance with the California Building Standards Code and relevant parts of the City’s Municipal Code, and building plan check review.

Job Description URL:

https://menlopark.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/administrative-services/documents/human-resources/job-classifications/unrepresented-management/assistant-community-development-director-building-classification.pdf

Job PDF:

https://www.calopps.org/sites/default/files/Assistant%20Community%20Development%20Director-%20Building%20Brochure.pdf

Ideal Candidate

The City of Menlo Park is seeking an experienced management professional who is able to exercise independent judgment and initiative, while always keeping the best interests of the City as a priority. The ideal candidate will be an engaged, working manager who imparts a service orientation to staff, inspires teamwork, builds relationships, maintains a positive and productive work environment, that emphasizes cooperation, accountability and responsiveness in order to achieve the goals and objectives of the Department.

A combination of excellent technical and communication skills, as well as a keen awareness of the broader organizational context, is essential to this position. The ideal candidate will exhibit an ability to effectively oversee employees, serving as both a guide and a coach, as well as contribute as an effective member of the City's Management Team. The ability to make sound decisions, demonstrate a strong grasp of operations-management, clearly and effectively communicate with others, manage and prioritize multiple tasks, and thrive in a fastpaced environment will be key to a successful candidate.

This position plays a key role in collaborating and coordinating assigned activities with other City departments, teams, and outside agencies and fostering cooperative working relationships. The person in this role is also expected to have excellent rapport with the general public, with the ability to respond to, and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.

The successful candidate will also be well versed in how to utilize data to analyze the department's level of service and make recommendations for improvements, as needed. Experience administering policies and procedures, budgets, contracts, and invoicing will also be essential.

The body of work encompassed in the Community Development Department has been described as "big city work in a small town" in that responsibilities can range from working on large scale development projects to assisting residents or small businesses with permitting requirements. The ideal candidate will have the ability to successfully navigate both ends of the spectrum, and everything in between, while leveraging the talents of a small but experienced team.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires the equivalent of:

• A degree in urban planning, engineering, public administration, business administration or a related field;
• Five (5) years of professional building services plans review and/or inspection experience, three (3) years of which should include building program management or supervision; and
• Certification as a Building Official from the International Code Council (I.C.C.).
• Possession of a valid California driver license and a satisfactory driving record is also required.

* Emerging leaders are encouraged to apply. The City is open to initially filling this position at the Building Official level and the ICC Building Official certification may be obtained within one year of hire. Please see the Building Official job description for additional information.

Benefits

Salary Range:

Assistant Community Development Director: $170,271 - $229,866 annually

* If filled at the Building Official level, the annual salary range is $159,629 to $215,500.

The City provides a generous benefits package designed to achieve total compensation above the market median among comparable agencies and promote employee health, wellness, and work-life balance, including:

• CalPERS Retirement - Classic members 2% at 60 and 2% at 62 for PEPRA members. Employees pay the full member contribution. The City does not participate in Social Security, except for the 1.45% Medicare contribution by both the City and employee.
• Medical Plans - City pays 100% medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee and eligible dependents.
• Educational Reimbursement - City reimburses up to $3,600 per year for tuition expenses.
• Life Insurance - City provided policy equal to 1.5 times the employee’s annual salary up to $350,000.
• Deferred Compensation - City matches employee contribution up to 4% of salary or to the IRS maximum, whichever is less.
• Paid Time Off - Includes 338 hours of General Leave, 80 hours of Management Leave, and 11 official paid holidays per year. Up to 120 hours may be cashed out annually. Accrued General Leave is fully paid out upon separation from the City.
• Health Reimbursement - City contribution of $2,500 per year for health reimbursement arrangement.
• Auto Allowance - Employees who are not assigned a City vehicle shall receive an allowance of $7,410 per year ($285 per pay period).
• City is also enrolled in Caltrain GoPass and BayPass pilot program for free access to all bus, rail, and ferry services in the nine-county Bay Area. The Menlo Park Caltrain station is a five-minute walk from City Hall.
• Annual Bonus - City Manager may award a bonus of up to $20,000 per fiscal year.
• Additional Benefits - City paid long-term disability and AD&D insurance. Counseling and referral services provided through the Employee Assistance Program. Access to on-site gym.
• We offer hybrid and flexible work arrangements, including a 9/80 schedule with the option to work remotely up to one day per week.

For more detailed benefit information, visit
www.menlopark.gov
and review the City of Menlo Park Management Compensation Plan for Unrepresented Appointees.

Special Instructions

This recruitment is conducted by Peckham & McKenney. Interested and qualified individuals are invited to submit a resume and cover letter of interest in PDF format electronically to
Peckham & McKenney
by Sunday, August 16, 2026. Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures.

Preliminary Interviews (telephonic):...........................August 25 & 26, 2026
Meeting to Review all Candidates:....................................September 4, 2026
Panel Interviews (In-Person): ............................................September 16, 2026
Finalist Interviews (In-Person):..........................................September 17, 2026

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

Confidential inquires are welcomed and should be directed to:

• Roberta Greathouse: 831.998.3194 or
  [email protected]
  

Closing Date/Time: 8/16/2026 at 11:59pm

Salary:

$170,271.00-$229,866.00 Annually