Administrative Supervisor - Public Works

Lafayette•Lafayette, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Works Administrative Supervisor manages administrative and financial functions of the Public Works Department. This position is responsible for developing strategies for the division and management of a professional and accountable workgroup focused on continuous improvement and efficient service to the public and internal customers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Finance, or a related field, plus five years of relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience with financial management including budget, purchasing, and customer billing.
Customer service experience including working effectively with both internal and external customers.
Excellent communication skills including the ability to prepare technical reports and effectively communicate technical information to non-technical audience.
Demonstrated ability to work under pressure including managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
Demonstrated attention to detail, including the ability to perform complex financial analysis.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
Experience in local government, Public Works, or a related field.
Demonstrated knowledge of Public Works services and practices.
Bilingual in English and Spanish.
Experience with utility enterprises including rates and fees, revenue projections, and financial management.
Experience supervising employees.
Experience with utility billing software and automated metering systems.
Experience with government accounting principles.
Certified Public Finance Officer through Government Finance Officers Association.

Responsibilities

Leads and supervises Public Works Administration staff, work programs, and operational goals.
Fosters a department culture focused on continuous process improvement and monitors the long-term impact of these efforts.
Develops, implements, and enforces division-specific policies while recommending organizational adjustments to the Deputy Director.
Partners with leadership across the City and Public Works department to align and achieve shared strategic objectives.
Escalates emerging issues, project progress, and critical resource constraints to the deputy director.
Directs division workflows through internal staff, external consultants, and specialized contractors.
Establishes clear work plans, communicates expectations, monitors output quality, and determines staffing resource needs.
Mentors, supports, and evaluates employee performance while actively involving staff in collaborative decision-making.
Oversees the entire talent lifecycle for the division, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, and employee retention.
Manages policy compliance, conducts performance reviews, and administers corrective actions or discipline when necessary.
Coordinates and standardizes the Employee Onboarding Program across all Public Works divisions.
Oversees Core Utility Billing operations, driving policy revisions, analyzing trend data, and resolving escalated customer issues.
Manages specialized department functions including operational vehicle licensing, license plates, and CORA (Colorado Open Records Act) requests.
Directs Public Works website management, ensuring digital accessibility, legal compliance, and updated content.
Supervises Public Works permitting programs, with a focus on Right-of-Way permitting workflows.
Identifies and implements automation opportunities to improve overall Public Works efficiency and service delivery.
Partners with the Senior Financial Analyst to develop, monitor, and manage the comprehensive divisional budget.
Assist in establishing departmental budget guidelines and schedules that align directly with the City’s central budget process.
Reviews monthly financial variance reporting and develops strategic recommendations to optimize departmental spending.
Collaborates with other City departments to identify financial efficiencies and joint funding opportunities.
Serves as the primary department liaison to the central Communications Department to establish messaging standards.
Collaborates with staff to design communication strategies for the Capital Improvement Program and external partners (e.g., Keep It Clean Partnership).
Supervises administrative personnel handling direct customer inquiries, serving as the final escalation point and providing backup coverage.
Monitors the quality, clarity, and timeliness of outbound public communications and informational updates.
Tracks work order tracking systems and follows up with division managers to ensure customer service metrics are met.
Recommends, establishes, and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs), goals, and divisional and departmental metrics.
Maintains analytical systems to capture accurate operational and performance data.
Analyzes tracking system reports to deliver data-driven recommendations to department leadership.
Coordinates the administrative infrastructure during local and regional emergency response efforts.
Ensures strict documentation, resource tracking, and record-keeping compliance throughout emergency incidents.
Serves as an active member of the Incident Management Team (IMT) as required.
Collaborates with the Finance Department to prepare and submit emergency grants and FEMA/state reimbursement applications.