Why work for Visalia?
The City of Visalia is comprised of a diverse group of people who believe in a philosophy of public service built on a foundation of shared values. We are a team committed to being responsive to citizens and providing quality services through integrity, teamwork, professionalism, and innovation. We are people who work together to reach our goals by maximizing individual growth and focusing on results.
The City Organization
Visalia is a full-service Charter city that employs over 650 full-time employees and approximately 200 hourly employees in eight City departments. The City operates under the Council-Manager form of government with a five-member City Council elected by district. The Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor for a two-year term and the Council appoints the City Manager. The City’s executive team includes the Assistant City Manager, and department heads for Administration, Fire, Police, Finance and Technology, Community Development, Parks & Recreation, Administrative Services, and Public Works. The City Attorney function is contracted. Visalia owns and operates a convention center, a municipal airport, a solid waste enterprise, and owns a 27-hole golf course and the baseball stadium occupied by the Visalia Rawhide, a Minor League Single A franchise.
Visalia has enjoyed a strong financial history and the continued overall financial health is positive. In the past 10 years, the City has designed and constructed a state-of-the-art emergency operations/dispatch center, animal care facility, fire station, and a $140 million upgrade to its Wastewater Treatment Plant. Visalia has also been effective and efficient in its community planning, which has led to an active, vibrant, and heavily visited downtown, a strong retail/commercial corridor and a thriving industrial area.
The Community
If work-life balance is important to you, consider living in a thriving community that offers some of the most affordable housing in California and the typical commute time is less than 20 minutes. With a population of over 141,000, Visalia offers small town charm with big city amenities. Visalia has a world class health care system, a flourishing arts community, local theatre companies, a downtown convention center, and numerous fine dining establishments.
Visalia has a vibrant downtown district, safe neighborhoods, institutions for higher learning, and low cost of living. The City has many community parks, organized team sports including a minor league baseball team (Visalia Rawhide), a municipal golf course and private country club, a multi-sport family-oriented regional sports park, and numerous outdoor and recreational activities.
Located in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, Visalia offers the best location in CA to experience all the natural wonders of the state from an affordable and accessible central location. For the outdoor enthusiast, the nearby mountains, national parks, lakes and rivers provide year-round opportunities for sports and recreation within an hour to two hour’s drive. California’s beautiful Central Coast is just a two-hour drive away and the excitement of Los Angeles and San Francisco are just a few hours in either direction.
