Port Director

THE POSITION

The Port Executive Director is the chief executive of the San Francisco Port Commission. The position is responsible for the overall management development and long-term success of the Port of San Francisco an enterprise agency of the City and County of San Francisco which is held as a public trust for the citizens of California. Under policy oversight of the Port Commission the Port Executive Director manages all administrative and operations activities of the Port.

The Port Executive Director is appointed by the Mayor based upon nomination by the Port Commission. The Port Executive Director is exempt from the civil service provisions of the San Francisco Charter and serves at the pleasure of the Port Commission.

The Executive Director is responsible for leading planning directing coordinating controlling and evaluating activities of Port staff engaged in administrative functions; fiscal activities; governmental relations and public relations; economic development and planning; port security and safety; environmental compliance and regulation; engineering; inspection of Port properties; contracting for goods and services; business development and marketing; promotion development rental and leasing of Port property; repair and maintenance of Port facilities and substructures; and staffing and personnel operations.

THE PORT COMMISSION

The Port of San Francisco is governed by a five member Board of Commissioners each of whom is appointed by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by the Citys Board of Supervisors. Each commissioner is appointed to a four-year term. The Port Commission is responsible for the seven and one-half miles of San Francisco Waterfront adjacent to San Francisco Bay which the Port develops markets leases administers manages and maintains.

Qualifications :

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Port is entering a period of profound physical transformation and a generational shift into the economy of tomorrow. The ideal candidate for its Director will possess the following:

• Enterprise-level experience within a multifaceted organization: Experience successfully navigating complex business environments large-scale development placemaking or real estate portfolio management.
• Transformational Organizational Leadership: Capable of building a high-functioning mission-driven workforce; strengthening communication; cultivating belonging; creating career ladders; and fostering a healthy workplace culture.
• Mega-project delivery capacity and cross-agency orchestration: With the Seawall Program major federal partnerships and multi-billion-dollar capital and resilience initiatives underway the Director must align engineering planning development federal partners and city departments into a unified accountable delivery system.
• Strong Financial Stewardship: The Port requires a leader who can manage structural deficits secure external funding structure public-private partnerships and make disciplined investments that advance long-term public benefit.
• Equity: Equity must be embedded as a driver of performance and trustshaping internal culture and strengthening transparency access fairness and accountability for staff and communities.
• Vision: The next Director must bring a fresh generative vision for the future of the waterfront one that emerges from the candidates own imagination and experiencepaired with the discipline to deliver results through detailed planning alignment and consistent follow-through.
• Communication & Collaboration: The Port has a wide variety of stakeholders including community members Port tenants regulatory partners department staff elected officials cross-departmental leadership and more. The Port Director must successfully represent the Port on a local national and international level.

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION

• At a minimum the candidate must hold a baccalaureate degree; a masters degree is preferred.
• Qualified candidates will bring at least seven years of senior executive leadership experience including demonstrated responsibility for leading complex multi-layered departments and cross-functional divisions
• Ideal candidates will have a proven record of managing large multifaceted organizations navigating enterprise-level complexity and delivering results within environments (private or public sector) that require strong stakeholder engagement operational discipline and strategic leadership.

Additional Information :

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

$314626 - $401518 Annually (A Range)

The salary for this position is within an established annual range and will be dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. Appointment above the maximum of the normal range may be considered based on documented and substantiated recruitment and retention issues or exceptional skills. A special approval process is necessary for appointment above the normal salary range.

In addition benefits are provided which include:

• Medical and Dental insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Social Security
• Long-Term Disability Plan
• Life Insurance
• Paid Management Training Program
• 11 paid holidays per year
• 10 to 20 vacation days per year depending on years of service
• 5 days of paid executive leave per year

For a complete list of benefits please visit the Citys website.

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates are encouraged to express interest early in the process. This recruitment is considered open until filled. For first consideration submit your application by February 20 2026.

Click HERE to apply.

For additional information please contact:
Julia Morse VP Healthcare & Public Sector:
-or-
Phong Trieu VP Fulfillment Strategies: 

Additional information regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco: 

• Information about the Hiring Process 

• Conviction History 

• Employee Benefits Overview 

• Equal Employment Opportunity 

• Disaster Service Workers

• Reasonable Accommodation

• Right to Work

• Copies of Application Documents

• Diversity Statement

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex race age religion color national origin ancestry physical disability mental disability medical condition (associated with cancer a history of cancer or genetic characteristics) HIV/AIDS status genetic information marital status sexual orientation gender gender identity gender expression military and veteran status or other protected category under the law.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time