Public Works Director

City of Bowie•Bowie, MD

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Bowie is seeking a proven and experienced professional to serve as its next Public Works Director. The ideal candidate will have a broad background in all aspects of public works operations. This individual will be a skilled problem solver with the ability to communicate effectively with employees at all levels of the organization, as well as City residents. Additionally, a manager with the ability to foster an environment where employees feel motivated to perform at their highest level is a highly desirable quality.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related field.
Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in public works management in a municipal government or similar environment.
Knowledge of civil engineering, construction, infrastructure maintenance, utility operations, and public works management, and construction principles, practices, and methods.
Demonstrated skill in resolving public works issues involving contractors, City residents, developers, utility providers, regulatory agencies, and other governmental partners.
Ability to provide strong and effective leadership to division managers, mid-level supervisors, field personnel, technical staff, administrative staff, and varied operations.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with the City Manager, City Council, department heads, employees, contractors, regional partners, and residents.
Ability to identify, recommend, and implement efficient organizational processes, service standards, operating procedures, and protocols.
Experience managing operating and capital budgets, contracts, procurement processes, equipment needs, and major capital improvement projects.
Commitment to workplace safety, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, environmental stewardship, and high-quality resident service.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical, operational, financial, and infrastructure issues to non-technical audiences.

Nice To Haves

Related private sector or military experience.
Possession of a professional engineer’s license (PE).
Master’s degree in engineering, public administration, Project Management or a related field.

Responsibilities

Planning, directing, and overseeing the activities of the Public Works Department’s eight operating divisions and major service areas.
Providing leadership and coordination for street maintenance, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, streetlights, snow and ice control, stormwater management, solid waste and recycling collection, fleet and equipment maintenance, engineering review and permitting, capital projects, water treatment and distribution, and wastewater collection and treatment.
Preparing, prioritizing, and administering annual department budget for presentation and review by the City Manager and City Council.
Recommending staffing, equipment, vehicle, facility, technology, infrastructure, rate, fee, contract, and capital improvement needs based on service levels, regulatory requirements, asset condition, and available resources.
Providing prompt, practical, and professional responses and resolution to resident concerns and inquiries.
Serving as a key participant in the negotiation, implementation and oversight of matters related to the City’s AFSCME collective bargaining unit.
Developing, reviewing, and implementing departmental policies, practices, standard operating procedures, service standards, and safety protocols.
Providing capital improvements planning and recommending options for public works projects and capital improvement programs.
Overseeing public works capital projects from planning and design through procurement, construction, inspection, closeout, and warranty.
Taking an active role in the hiring, training, supervision, succession planning, and ongoing evaluation of key departmental staff.
Ensuring the proper execution, administration, and inspection of agreements, contracts, permits, and work performed by City contractors, consultants, developers, and vendors.
Conducting and/or coordinating engineering studies and technical reviews in response to requests from the City Manager, City Council, residents, or operational needs.
Ensuring that the City’s water and wastewater operations are conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements and permit conditions.
Coordinating Public Works emergency response and recovery activities during snow events, severe storms, flooding, debris events, utility failures, infrastructure failures, and other emergencies.
Representing the City in meetings with residents, civic associations, contractors, developers, utilities, professional organizations, and county, state, regional, and federal agencies.
Promoting a culture of safety, accountability, ethical public service, employee development, continuous improvement, and responsiveness to the Bowie community.