Assistant DPW Director

City of Westfield•Westfield, MA

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Public Works assists the Director with the administration, management, coordination, and oversight of the Public Works Department. The role provides leadership and direction to department personnel, coordinates work across divisions, monitors programs and projects, supports budget and procurement activities, and helps ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, City policies, and safety requirements. The Assistant Director assists in planning and implementing departmental goals and priorities and serves as Acting Director when designated or authorized by the Director. The position reports directly to the Director of Public Works and exercises department-wide administrative and operational authority as delegated. It provides direct and indirect supervision through departmental supervisory personnel and coordinates division activities to promote efficient use of resources. Work is performed primarily in an office but requires frequent travel to municipal facilities, construction sites, roads, utility and treatment facilities, and other Public Works locations. The position may involve exposure to traffic, construction activities, heavy equipment, wastewater facilities, weather, noise, dust, odors, and other potentially hazardous conditions. The Assistant Director must be available to respond to emergencies outside normal working hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, public administration, business administration, construction management, environmental science, engineering technology, or a related field; a combination of education, training, and progressively responsible related experience may be considered in lieu of the degree.
At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in public works, municipal operations, construction, engineering, utilities, transportation, facilities management, or a related field, including supervisory or management experience.
Knowledge of general business practices and personnel management.
Ability to work with appropriate governmental agencies and knowledge of administrative and management practices and federal, state, and municipal regulations.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws related to Public Works and water and wastewater treatment operations, including administration, supervision, promotion, and emergency operating procedures.
Familiarity with environmental protection issues related to Public Works and water and wastewater operations, including wildlife and vegetation protection, water-resource protection, and noise-pollution regulations.
Ability to interpret and use technical sketches and plans; familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Ability to assess and monitor infrastructure to provide adequate public service for existing systems and networks and for extensions and developments.
Knowledge of construction techniques involving wastewater facilities, water systems, streets and roads, drainage systems, flood control, and sanitary sewers.
Ability to assess workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement; and direct and implement changes.
Background in motivating and evaluating Public Works personnel and coordinating staff training.
Experience developing and administering a Public Works Department budget.
History of interaction with the public regarding service needs related to Public Works projects.
Ability to use a personal computer to access and use spreadsheets and databases.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department and interact with the public courteously and professionally.
Possession of a valid driver's license.
Ability to carry out the functions and duties and work in the environmental conditions required for the position.
Motor skills for keyboarding, filing, moving objects, operating office equipment, and handling and manipulating small items.
Ability to routinely read documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Responsibilities

Assist the Director with the overall administration and operation of the Public Works Department.
Coordinate activities among Public Works divisions to promote efficient use of personnel, equipment, facilities, and financial resources.
Assist in developing short- and long-term work plans, operational priorities, capital improvement programs, departmental goals, performance measures, and service standards.
Monitor workload, staffing levels, schedules, and operational performance; identify deficiencies and recommend improvements.
Supervise Public Works personnel directly or indirectly; assign and coordinate work; monitor performance; and assist with hiring, promotion, discipline, evaluations, training, and other personnel actions.
Work with division Superintendents to address personnel issues, identify training needs, promote accountability, and support staffing and succession planning.
Assist in preparing and administering annual operating and capital budgets; monitor expenditures and commitments; and review purchase requests, invoices, contracts, and expenditures for compliance.
Assist with procurement of vehicles, equipment, materials, professional services, and construction services; prepare or review specifications, bid documents, scopes of work, proposals, and vendor qualifications; and verify compliance with specifications and contracts.
Oversee contractors and consultants and monitor contract specifications, schedules, budgets, safety requirements, and legal and regulatory compliance.
Assist with asset management for infrastructure, facilities, vehicles, and equipment; assess condition, useful life, maintenance and replacement needs; and help prioritize capital improvements.
Plan for and respond to emergencies affecting Public Works operations, coordinating resources with Police, Fire, Emergency Management, and other City departments as needed.
Serve as departmental liaison to the City's Local Emergency Planning Committee and participate in related training events and meetings.
Oversee implementation of safety policies and procedures, promote workplace safety, assist with safety training, review accidents and injuries, and recommend corrective measures.
Oversee effective use and maintenance of departmental technology and communications systems, including SCADA, radio communications, GPS/vehicle tracking, work-order systems, GIS, and asset management systems.
Assist with plans, specifications, estimates, scopes of work, and schedules for construction, maintenance, and repair projects.
Respond to and help resolve inquiries, complaints, and service requests from residents, businesses, elected officials, and other stakeholders; communicate policies professionally; and assist with public presentations and community outreach.
Monitor operations for compliance with laws, regulations, permits, policies, and standards concerning environmental protection, public health, workplace safety, water and wastewater operations, stormwater, solid waste, and public infrastructure.
Perform other duties as assigned.