Assistant Director, Public Works Agency

City of Oakland•Oakland, CA

About The Position

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees. Oakland Public Works (OPW) strives to maintain, improve, and preserve Oakland's infrastructure and environment for residents, businesses, visitors, and future generations of every neighborhood in our diverse City. The Bureau of Administration provides HR, IT, business Analysis, and other support to OPW. The Bureau serves three bureaus: Environment, Maintenance, and Internal Systems that help us deliver well-maintained public infrastructure. We are seeking a dynamic leader who sets a great course for the bureau. We are looking for someone who is: A proven leader who brings people together. You know how to set a clear direction, build trust, motivate staff, and lead teams through competing priorities while keeping them focused on shared goals. A relationship builder, collaborator, and champion of employee engagement. You build productive relationships across organizational boundaries, bring people together to achieve shared goals, and foster a workplace where employees feel supported, engaged, and motivated to do their best work. A strategic thinker and creative problem solver. You see the big picture while understanding the details needed to move work forward, navigate complex issues, evaluate options, weigh risks, and find practical solutions. Results-oriented and accountable. You set clear goals, follow through, use data and sound judgment to track progress, and deliver high-quality services while balancing competing demands, complex budgets, limited resources, and organizational priorities. An effective communicator. You explain complex operational, financial, and policy issues clearly to different audiences and communicate with confidence when presenting to the City Council, City Administrator's staff, bureau employees, community stakeholders, and other public bodies. Someone who understands and can navigate complex public-sector systems. You understand organizational processes, know how to move work forward through hiring, procurement, contracting, and other City systems, and help others navigate these processes effectively.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in civil engineering, public administration or a closely related field.
Five (5) years of experience comparable to a division manager position in the City of Oakland.
Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure or employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.
Possession of a Certificate of Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California may be required for certain positions.

Nice To Haves

American Public Works Association (APWA) and/or Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) certifications

Responsibilities

Setting and tracking clear goals for the bureau and troubleshooting where the bureau is not meeting goals.
Reporting to Council and its Committees on OPW's budget development and monitoring.
Translating complex topics and reporting to colleagues and policy makers in plain, easy to understand language.
Building staff morale and improving employee engagement.
Improving intra-Bureau and inter-Bureau communication and collaboration.

Benefits

15 paid holidays
Vacation - 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
Retirement - CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and % @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages.
The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
Health - The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
Dental - The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Vision - The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Sick leave - Employees accrue 12 days per year
Deferred Compensation - 457 (b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401 (k) plan
Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & Telecommuting