City Manager - City of South San Francisco, California
The City of South San Francisco is located in northern San Mateo County on the western shore of San Francisco Bay, just ten miles south of San Francisco. The City is home to 66,105 residents over its 30 square miles and is centrally located to many of the Bay Area’s transportation systems, including Highway 101, I-280, Caltrain, San Francisco International Airport, the Bay Area Rapid Transit District Commuter Rail System (BART), and the San Francisco Bay Ferry. South San Francisco’s resident population is composed of very diverse communities of color, with the largest percentage multi-ethnic Asian and Latinx. The City’s strategic location attracts many businesses, academia, and a highly skilled workforce, boasting a strong, diverse economy, with more than 3,200 firms and businesses, a business-friendly atmosphere, and championing innovation and growth. South San Francisco is home to more than 230 life science companies and is recognized as the “Birthplace of Biotechnology” and the “Biotech Capital of the World” with 12.5 million square feet of biotech labs and another 13.3 million square feet in the current development pipeline. The City has exciting new public and private development projects, such as a new $56 million Police Headquarters, a $103 million civic campus, a multi-billion-dollar remake of its shoreline along the San Francisco Bay, and a new community pre-school to be located in Westborough Park. To learn more about this industrious City, please visit www.ssf.net.
The City Council seeks a strategic, service-driven, community-oriented municipal executive with a passion for public service to serve as its next City Manager. This is a premier leadership opportunity for a results-oriented professional with a demonstrated commitment to good governance, fiscal stewardship, and inclusive community engagement. The ideal candidate is a collaborative and politically astute leader who values equity, transparency, and inclusion. This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic professional who will be a visible, trusted partner to the City Council, staff, and community—and who will lead with integrity, innovation, and heart.
The next City Manager will serve as a trusted advisor to the Council, a visible and responsive community leader, and a collaborative partner dedicated to advancing South San Francisco’s dynamic future. This role requires a leader who listens carefully, communicates openly, and is willing to provide candid, unbiased counsel to the City Council—even when that means delivering difficult truths. Experience serving as a City Manager or Assistant/Deputy City Manager in a jurisdiction of similar size and complexity is strongly preferred. A history of fostering high-performing teams and delivering exceptional internal and external customer service is essential.
The salary is currently under review. The current incumbent salary is $374,920.
Filing Deadline: August 15, 2025
Resumes are acknowledged within 2 business days.
