Director of Public Service

International City Management•Tallmadge, OH

53d

About The Position

Under general direction, the Director of Public Service plans, organizes, and directs the programs, operations, and staff of the City's Service Department. The Director provides leadership for the construction, operation, maintenance, and improvement of City infrastructure, facilities, and public places, including streets and roadways, water distribution and sanitary sewer systems, the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), cemeteries, parks and recreation facilities, public buildings and grounds, and solid waste collection and disposal, as well as fleet and related support services. The Director also oversees or coordinates City aggregation programs for electric and natural gas supply and the contracted residential trash and recycling service. The Director works closely with the Mayor to align public service operations with the City's Strategic Plan, and annual capital and operating budget. The Director ensures effective and efficient service delivery, sound asset management, and compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations, and fosters a culture of safety, accountability, and high-quality customer service throughout the Service Department.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Public Administration, Business Administration, Construction Management, Facilities Management, Engineering or related discipline and ten (10) years recent documented work experience in public service or public works, of which at least five (5) years in a supervisory capacity
Must possess a valid State of Ohio driver's license.
Must remain insurable under the City's vehicle insurance policy.
Must be certified in or become certified within 18 months of hire National Management Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800, Ohio Ethics Training, Ohio Sunshine Law Training, Drug-free workplace training.
Must possess a Commercial Applicators License in Category for Industrial Vegetation Control issued by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Nice To Haves

(3) years of service in cemetery (preferred), or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Responsibilities

Oversees the day to day operation and efficient functioning of the Service Department; develops, seeks approval and grant funding where appropriate, and implements long-range strategic infrastructure plans that meet the community needs; provides organizational leadership, insight, and direction; formulates and directs the goals, objectives, and priorities; plan, promotes, organizes, and supervises a comprehensive and diversified programs and facilities plan in the best interest of the entire community; develops, approves, and implements policies and procedures for the department and its facilities; evaluates effectiveness of the department facilities, programs, and services.
Leads, manages, and supervises Department Heads of the Service Department and the divisions of Cemetery, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Zoning, Street, Utility, and Vehicle Maintenance; schedules and allocates work; coaches employees to improve performance and conduct; handles and investigates employee complaints, disputes, and grievances, and takes appropriate action; approves employees' time cards and requests for time off; and approves the hiring, termination, advancement, disciplinary action, and other changes in personnel status of assigned staff. Coordinates assignments and projects, monitors progress to ensure completion according to project deadlines and travels to worksites to observe performance as needed; reviews various reports of department activities and productivity levels to ensure that work is performed according to established policies and project deadlines. Develops and implements department policy; participates in meetings in which policy questions are reviewed or discussed; approves policy changes; participates in personnel activities; conducts training and team-building activities; and monitors department staff, programs, and facilities to ensure compliance with all laws, policies, and procedures. Creates a positive workplace culture that supports employee engagement, professional growth, and teamwork across divisions. Collaborates with Human Resources and the Director of Administration on recruitment, retention, succession planning, and training initiatives. Evaluates employee performance in coordination with Human Resources. Participates in labor relations and employee representation matters such as collective bargaining, grievance administration, and investigation; assists in the development and negotiation of labor contracts; handles and responds to grievances; and provides contract, policy, and procedure interpretation and administration consultation to managers and supervisors.
Oversees and approves all contracts for the erection or repair of City buildings and improvements, and for the purchase of all supplies and equipment; reviews private real estate and construction developments as they relate and connect to the City's infrastructure; directs, coordinates, and evaluates the functions and activities related to the construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of streets, water, sewer, and the primary Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4); acts as the City's Cemetery Sexton, creating policy and recommending pricing; oversees waste collection and disposal, traffic control, and other related public service functions; and promulgates bid specifications and manages all bidding for all Public Service projects for the City. Coordinates efforts with other City departments to maintain and repair City buildings and facilities and coordinate complex public works projects. Develops and maintains a calendar outlining the business cycle for all department-managed services, projects, and programs, identifying key actions and deadlines necessary for effective planning, budgeting, operations, and reporting. Ensures compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations including Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Transportation, PERRP safety standards, and other public works related requirements.
Represents the City in dealings with other governmental jurisdictions for public service matters; works closely with City officials, other City departments, to develop programs and implement projects that address service needs and resolve service-related problems; collaborates with departments on emergency operations plans and serves as a member of the "EOC". Prepares and presents agenda items and reports for the Mayor, and coordinates the preparation of a wide variety of reports and presentations for the Mayor; and serves as a primary spokesperson on public service matters, providing clear, timely information to the community regarding projects, service changes, and emergency events.
Establishes and monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) for service delivery, infrastructure condition, and project delivery, and reports results to the Mayor; composes and prepares correspondence, memos, letters, reports, and other type documents; identifies programs, services, capital, and equipment needs and recommends capital and equipment plans; maintains inventory, obtains, orders, maintains, and stores equipment, supplies and materials; receives and verifies accuracy of deliveries; processes invoices and submits for payment as needed; directs the preparation and administration of the annual budget for the service departments; reviews budget requests for service and approves or modifies them; ensures five year capital budget projects are kept updated; manages or administers large capital improvement projects; monitors expenditures to ensure that expenses do not exceed amounts appropriated; directs the forecasting of additional funds needed to ensure adequate services, programs, activities, and related tools, supplies and equipment; prepares and recommends long-range plans for city service programs; develops specific proposals for action on current and future city needs.
Develops and maintains open and effective communications with staff and other administrative personnel, developers, and contractors to ensure proper coordination and communication of departmental tasks, programs, and activities; coordinates the work of the department with other city departments, engineering firms, other groups and agencies and various vendors; supervises acquisition, planning, design, construction, and maintenance.
Research and prepare reports and make recommendations for long-term strategic plans.
Attends meetings and serves on committees, as required; attends various meetings, seminars, and workshops to maintain current job knowledge and abilities, or as needed or directed.
Meets all job safety requirements and all applicable Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP) safety standards that pertain to essential functions.
Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance; may be required to work extra hours, evening hours, weekends and/or holidays as required.
Performs duties of subordinates as needed.
Maintains current awareness of public works issues, trends, and practices.