Ana Alvarez appointed Hayward City Manager

HAYWARD, Calif., Dec. 18, 2024—The Hayward City Council has appointed Dr. Ana Alvarez, a 30-year public sector professional, as the next City Manager of the City of Hayward, the City Council announced on Tuesday. 

Alvarez, who will begin in her new position on Jan. 9, most recently served as Deputy General Manager for East Bay Regional Park District, the largest urban park district in the country with its own police and fire departments and 73 parks spanning nearly 127,000 acres in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. 

As City Manager, Alvarez will serve as the City of Hayward’s chief executive with primary responsibility for overall administration of Hayward’s 900-employee municipal government, oversight of the City’s departmental leadership, and implementation of City Council priorities, policy direction and legislation. 

“I am beyond excited to introduce Dr. Ana Alvarez as our new City Manager,” said Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas. “Dr. Alvarez is a seasoned and highly skilled municipal administrator known for setting the bar high when it comes to delivering the very best public services. 

“But what makes Dr. Alvarez truly special,” Mayor Salinas added, “is that she doesn’t just understand our city. She embodies the dreams and aspirations of Hayward families, with a remarkable journey of her own that began with humble immigrant roots. She came to the United States, earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and has amassed nearly 30 years of experience in municipal government and special district administration. She has the confidence and leadership skills to take our city to new heights and to work together with our City Council to make Hayward the best possible place for all of us.” 

The City Council selected Alvarez following a six-month executive recruitment and evaluation process that included public and employee surveys as well as multiple rounds of interviews with panels of Hayward City Council members, City executives and Hayward community members.

“I am truly grateful for, humbled by and excited about the opportunity to join the City of Hayward,” Alvarez said. “I am a public servant to my core and believe in the capacity of municipal government to improve lives and support the aspirations of all residents and community members. It is clear to me that City of Hayward employees and its City Council not only share these values but are recognized for doing so by the community they serve.”  

Alvarez is best known for leading organizations across California through transformational improvements in the public realm at the intersection of a broad spectrum of policy issues and place-making that contribute to resident quality-of-life. Earlier in her career, Alvarez served as Deputy Director of Parks and Open Space for the City and County of San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Previously, she served as Director of the City of Santa Fe Springs Community Services Department, Director of the City of Oceanside Parks and Recreation Department, Manager of the City of Burbank Cultural Arts Program and Teen Programs Supervisor for the City of Santa Barbara. 

As the 14th City Manager of the City of Hayward, Alvarez will succeed Kelly McAdoo, who left the post in May to become City Administrator for the City of Santa Barbara. 

Alvarez holds a Doctor of Policy, Planning and Development degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Northridge. She was born in Mexico City and is bicultural and bilingual.