Community Development Director - San Pablo, CA

The City of San Pablo is a dynamic, diverse West Contra Costa County community located along Interstate 80, minutes from Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. With a population of 32,389 across just 2.6 square miles, San Pablo offers a highly connected, business-friendly environment with a wide range of housing options and access to Contra Costa College, serving over 9,000 students each semester. The City’s multi-ethnic richness—where more than 70% of residents speak a language other than English at home—creates a vibrant, culturally grounded community that values inclusivity, affordability, and opportunity.  For more information on the region please visit Contra Costa County’s website at www.contracosta.ca.gov.

San Pablo is preparing for its next era of reinvestment and growth, supported by declining crime rates, an emerging branding initiative, and strong regional positioning. The City now seeks a collaborative, forward-thinking Community Development Director to lead the department following the upcoming retirement of Libby Tyler, a highly respected planning professional.

This is a unique opportunity to build upon a strong foundation while shaping the City’s next phase of growth. The ideal candidate is an experienced, team-oriented leader who understands the roles of the City Council, Planning Commission, and City Manager, and who provides clear, objective, and well-reasoned guidance to support policy decisions.

With declining crime rates, reinvestment potential, and a new branding effort underway, San Pablo is poised for transformation. The next Director will play a key role in advancing housing, mixed-use development, and economic development priorities; navigating RHNA requirements; and reinforcing collaborative partnerships across departments. Deep knowledge of California land-use law, CEQA, and housing financing strategies is essential.

The City seeks a leader who embraces innovation, inspires professional growth, and elevates expectations within a multi-generational department. The ideal candidate will cultivate a culture centered on facilitation, customer service, and partnership while maintaining trust with applicants, community members, and regional stakeholders.

The annual salary range for this outstanding opportunity is $205,860 to $250,224, with a Council approved 2% COLA adjustment on July 1, 2026. Placement within this range is dependent upon qualifications.

Filing Deadline: February 9, 2026
Resumes are acknowledged within 2 business days.

By submitting an application and clicking “submit application” for this position, I agree to the terms of conditions here of the recruitment process facilitated by Peckham & McKenney Executive Search.