Public Works Director

Mcfarland City•City of McFarland, CA

8h•$135,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

The City of McFarland is seeking a hands-on, collaborative public works leader who can strengthen day-to-day operations, develop staff, deliver complex capital projects, and communicate effectively with the City Council, regulatory agencies, contractors, and the community. The next Director will lead significant water, wastewater, street, transit, refuse, and grant-funded infrastructure work while maintaining reliable essential services. Under general direction of the City Manager, the Public Works Director plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the programs and operations of the Public Works Department, including streets, fleet and facility maintenance, refuse and solid waste compliance, water, wastewater, transit, graffiti removal, and oversight of civil engineering and capital projects. The Director develops departmental policies, goals, work plans, and budgets; provides expert professional assistance to City management; supervises division leaders and staff; and serves as a key advisor to the City Manager on infrastructure, utilities, emergency response, and other matters affecting City operations.

Requirements

Five years of increasingly responsible professional, administrative, engineering, utility, capital project, or public works experience, including program planning, development, and administration.
At least two years of management or supervisory responsibility.
Knowledge of principles, practices, and programs of municipal public works administration, including streets, water and wastewater utilities, transit, refuse and solid waste, fleet and facilities, capital improvement planning and delivery, asset management, and emergency response.
Knowledge of general civil engineering standards and legal requirements applicable to public works projects.
Knowledge of municipal budgeting, public administration, organizational management, public procurement, contract administration, grant compliance, and applicable prevailing wage requirements.
Knowledge of supervisory and employee-relations practices in the public sector.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, permits, and codes.
Knowledge of principles of workplace safety and risk management.
Knowledge of effective written and oral communication, financial and operational analysis, and current office and project-management technology.
Skilled in planning, organizing, administering, and coordinating public works operations, utility services, maintenance programs, and capital projects.
Skilled in assigning, directing, developing, and evaluating staff.
Skilled in providing analytical and management support to the City Manager.
Skilled in conducting complex studies, evaluating alternatives, and making effective recommendations.
Skilled in reading, interpreting, and applying complex plans, specifications, procedures, policies, rules, and regulations.
Skilled in negotiating and representing City interests.
Skilled in prioritizing work and managing multiple projects and deadlines.
Skilled in preparing clear, accurate, and concise reports, correspondence, budgets, and presentations.
Skilled in maintaining confidentiality and establishing effective working relationships with employees, employee representatives, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, community members, and professional colleagues.
Ability to plan, organize, and direct public works activities, programs, and services.
Ability to read and understand blueprints, engineering plans, specifications, contracts, and regulatory documents.
Ability to maintain accurate records and effective internal controls.
Ability to develop and administer complex operating and capital improvement budgets.
Ability to organize, assign, direct, review, and evaluate staff.
Ability to assess difficult situations, manage risk, and make sound recommendations and timely independent judgments within established authority.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in oral and written English.
Ability to effectively represent the City in meetings with public agencies, private organizations, contractors, and community members.
Ability to use computers and related business and project-management applications.
Possession of a valid California driver’s license by time of appointment.
Must file an annual Statement of Economic Interests, Form 700, as required by the City’s conflict-of-interest code.

Nice To Haves

Registration as a Civil Engineer in the State of California is highly desirable.
Municipal or other public-agency experience is highly desirable.
Experience with water and wastewater systems, operations, and regulatory compliance.
Experience planning and managing capital improvement projects.
Experience developing and administering budgets, grants, contracts, and public procurement.
Experience presenting technical or policy information to elected officials, regulatory agencies, community groups, or the public.
Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish is desirable.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, direct, supervise, and evaluate all departmental programs and services for efficiency, effectiveness, safety, regulatory compliance, and alignment with the City’s goals, objectives, and priorities.
Develop and implement Public Works Department goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work plans consistent with City Council and City Manager priorities.
Participate in the development and administration of the City’s operating and capital budgets.
Select, assign, supervise, train, and evaluate department employees in accordance with City policy.
Recognize strong performance, address performance concerns, and recommend disciplinary action when appropriate.
Ensure employees receive training in safe work practices, emergency procedures, and the proper handling of hazardous materials.
Resolve personnel matters and ensure workplace accidents are promptly reported and investigated.
Establish performance measures, monitoring systems, internal controls, maintenance practices, and reporting procedures to ensure the quality, timeliness, efficiency, and regulatory compliance of department operations.
Prepare clear and accurate City Council staff reports, resolutions, contracts, presentations, and other agenda materials for review by the City Manager.
Attend management and City meetings as the department representative.
Make presentations before boards, commissions, community groups, and the City Council as requested by the City Manager.
Represent the City on regional, community, and professional boards, committees, and commissions as requested by the City Manager.
Maintain effective working relationships with neighboring agencies and local, state, and federal partners.
Provide technical assistance to the City Manager and other department heads.
Respond to public inquiries, monitor programs for compliance with regulations and City priorities, conduct special studies and fact-finding assignments, and present clear oral and written analyses to the City Manager and City Council.
Resolve the department’s most difficult, complex, and sensitive customer service matters and maintain appropriate records.
Keep the City Manager informed of significant problems, risks, and community concerns, and recommend appropriate changes to programs and policies.
Evaluate department service levels and operational needs, recommend program changes, and direct the development and presentation of the Public Works operating and capital budgets.
Forecast department revenues and expenditures, including grant and contract activity; administer division budgets; and ensure compliance with funding agreements and applicable financial controls.
Direct the planning, design, permitting, construction, closeout, and long-term asset management of public works projects.
Oversee preparation and technical review of plans, specifications, and estimates, coordinating required engineering approvals through the City Engineer or qualified consultants.
Review bids and recommend contract awards.
Participate in negotiations with outside entities and administer professional services, construction, franchise, and operating contracts within delegated authority.
Prepare recommendations for City Council action and monitor contractor performance and compliance.
Authorize purchases of departmental materials and equipment within established authority and budget limits, consistent with City purchasing policies and applicable public contracting requirements.
Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate Public Works functions, including streets and traffic control devices; fleet, equipment, and facility maintenance; refuse, recycling, solid waste compliance, and graffiti removal; wastewater collection and treatment; water production, treatment, and distribution; transit; and oversight of civil engineering and capital improvement services.
Plan for facility expansion, storage needs, fleet and equipment replacement, and other long-term operational requirements.
Ensure the safe storage and handling of hazardous or volatile materials in compliance with Cal/OSHA and other applicable requirements.
Prepare or oversee specifications for projects and equipment and implement federal and state mandates.
Prepare or supervise the timely preparation of required reports for federal, state, regional, and other regulatory agencies, and provide periodic operational and project reports to the City Manager and City Council.
Serve as a key member of the City’s emergency response organization and remain available, as required, to respond to water, wastewater, street, facility, weather, and other public works emergencies outside regular business hours.

Benefits

Comprehensive City paid medical including buy up option
City paid dental
Vision benefits for the employee and Dependents
Life insurance $50,000 (Employee Only)
Deferred Compensation 401(k) -The City of McFarland contributes an additional 10% of an employee's pay each pay period into a 401K plan, at no cost to the employee.
Supplemental life insurance (Optional)
Deferred Compensation 457 Plan (Optional)
Section 125 plan participation
12 Days' vacation
12 Days sick pay accrued annually
12 Days Holiday Pay
1 Personal Day Pay