City of San Luis Obispo, CA

The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking an Assistant City Manager for Community Services to oversee operations of the City’s Community Services Group, which includes four key departments: Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and Utilities. The deadline to apply is May 5, 2023.

Assistant City Manager for Community Services Shelly Stanwyck recently announced her intention to retire from City service, effective this August. The Assistant City Manager serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Community Services Group; a trusted advisor, confidant of the City Manager; and an assistant to support the City Manager of operational matters.

The ideal candidate has experience in and a passion for public service and the municipal government profession and is a collaborative, innovative and adaptable leader, who is people centric, values diversity, equity and inclusion and is a leader to advise and help solve complex issues. The candidate will preferably have a master’s degree and experience as a department director in a similarly complex public agency. Download the candidate profile. To apply for this key position and exciting career opportunity, please visit www.slocity.org/Jobs.

“Shelly’s consistent and innovative leadership has helped shape San Luis Obispo into the place we all know and love today,” said City Manager Derek Johnson. We’re looking for a candidate with a similar dedication to public service who will continue San Luis Obispo’s culture of excellence in management and orientation towards public service.”

Stanwyck started her public service at the City in 2000, taking on many leadership positions throughout the years. As Economic Development Manager, she managed both economic development and tourism for the City. While she was Assistant City Manager starting in 2005, the City acquired countless acres of open space, began a Seismic Retrofit Program, and addressed many lean budget years with her creative solutions.

She stepped into leading the Parks and Recreation Department in 2011 and in 2019, returned as the Assistant City Manager to lead the newly created Community Services Group. This included hiring and managing four Department Heads and many other talented employees. The collaborative group has navigated multiple emergencies and fiscal challenges all while finding time to provide quality core services to the community in more efficient and effective ways. Stanwyck looks forward to retiring with her husband and in her new role in as an Attorney and Advisor for a San Luis Obispo law firm.