Assistant Director of Public Works - Engineering

The City of Pittsburg, CA is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Assistant Director of Public Works – Engineering to assist in managing and directing the Engineering Division. This leadership role will oversee division operations, establish policies and procedures, and ensure that engineering projects align with the City's mission and goals. The position provides highly responsible and complex professional support to the Director of Public Works/City Engineer and may act in their absence.  A person appointed to this classification is an “at-will” employee.

The ideal candidate is an experienced engineering professional and leader with a strong background in municipal engineering, project management, and policy development. They should have excellent problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills, with the ability to oversee a wide range of engineering functions while fostering a collaborative team environment.

Other Key Attributes and Characteristics include: 

• Extensive experience in municipal engineering, capital improvement projects, and public infrastructure development; experience with assessment districts, regulatory compliance, and policy implementation.
• Possess exceptional management and organizational abilities to manage the Division's budget, goals, objectives, and priorities while ensuring quality assurance. 
• Great interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with other City Departments/Divisions and other public/private entities.
• A supportive and transparent leader who creates a cohesive structure and team-oriented working environment; competence in coordinating the selection, training, and evaluating staff while ensuring compliance. 
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in preparing and coordinating reports and presentations. 
• Able to provide clear goals and expectations, while remaining agile and can adapt to changing priorities.
• Stay informed on current trends, legislative changes, and best practices in municipal engineering to recommend policy updates.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist the Director of Public Works/City Engineer in managing and directing the Public Works Department, Engineering Division.
• Assist in developing department goals and objectives; assist in the development of and implementation of policies and procedures related to the Engineering Division.
• Plan, manage and oversee activities and services including activities, operations and services within the Engineering Division including land development, design/CIP, traffic, construction inspection, master plans, impact fee analysis, utility rate studies, NPDES, and records management; plan, coordinate and review the work plan for assigned projects and responsibilities; provide administrative and technical direction to divisional staff; coordinate activities with other divisions, City departments, outside agencies and organizations.
• Plan, manage, and coordinate the formation and administration of special assessment district financing programs.
• Supervise and participate in the development, implementation and maintenance of department goals, objectives, policies and procedures; review and evaluate work methods and procedures for improving organizational performance and meeting division goals; ensure that goals are achieved.
• Coordinate the selection, orientation, training and evaluation programs for Engineering Division personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; identify and resolves staff deficiencies; responsible for discipline procedures; assign design jobs, review work in progress and submit finished products to Director.
• Oversee and review subdivision condition of approval, agreements, plan checks, field changes/problems; review and may sign subdivision final maps as applicable; prepare, manage, update, and monitor five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP); review and may sign CIP construction plans and specifications as authorized, lot line adjustments and parcel map waivers.
• Oversee and participate in the development of the Engineering Division budget; participate in the forecast of necessary funds for staffing, materials and supplies; discuss and resolve budget issues with appropriate staff; implement adjustments as necessary.
• Provide technical and professional advice; prepare and coordinate reports and presentations on engineering issues for City Council, Planning Commission, community groups and regulatory agencies; review and monitor traffic complaints, accident reports and Traffic Team activities; analyze and update traffic signal priorities.
• Monitor and keep informed of current trends in the field of municipal engineering, including legislation, court rulings and professional practices and techniques; evaluate their impact and recommend policy and procedural modifications accordingly.
• Respond to the most complex and difficult inquiries and requests for information, provide information and resolve service issues or complaints; represent the department with other City departments, other agencies, civic groups and the public.
• Establish positive working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies, City management and staff, and the public.
• Perform related duties as required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of policy development and implementation.
• Principles and practices of civil engineering; municipal public works administration, planning and design.
• Processing of right-of-way acquisitions; methods and techniques for record keeping.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, leadership, motivation, team building and conflict resolution.
• State Subdivision Map Act and legal aspects of municipal engineering, pertinent local, state and federal rules, codes, regulations and laws.
• Principles and practices of organizational analysis and management.
• Budgeting procedures and techniques including development, administration and evaluation.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training and personnel management.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment including relevant software programs.
• Oral and written communication skills; business English including vocabulary, spelling, and correct grammatical usage and punctuation.
• Safe work practices.
• Principles and practices of excellent customer service.

Ability to:

• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Read and interpret complex plans and specifications; analyze complex engineering issues, evaluate alternatives and reach sound conclusions; make adjustments to operating procedures as necessary to improve organizational effectiveness; interpret and apply applicable laws, codes and regulations.
• Gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
• Interpret and apply City and department policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Supervise, train and evaluate personnel; plan, organize, direct and evaluate the work of subordinate staff.
• Read, write and comprehend the English language at a level necessary for effective job performance exercising correct English usage, vocabulary, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Communicate effectively, tactfully and positively in both oral and written form.
• Operate and use modern office equipment and technology, including computers and applicable software.
• Maintain regular attendance and adhere to prescribed work schedule to conduct job responsibilities. 
• Utilize appropriate safety procedures and practices for assigned duties.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.  
• Contribute effectively, supervise, participate and establish division goals, objectives and methods for evaluating achievement, and performance levels accomplishments of City goals, objectives and activities.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education, experience, and training that would provide the best qualified candidates. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:  Possession of the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering, or another field of study applicable to the responsibilities and requirements of this job class. Possession of a master’s degree in civil engineering, public administration, or business administration is desirable.  

Experience:  Five years of progressively responsible civil engineering experience, including a minimum of three years of experience in a supervisory responsibility.

Special Requirement:  Possession of at the time of hire and continued maintenance of a valid California Class C driver’s license is required.  Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Civil and Professional Engineers.  Possession of a Land Surveyor’s License is desirable.

Other Requirements:  Physically and mentally capable of performing the functions of the job, including but not limited to those summarized in Example of Duties.To be considered for this exceptional career opportunity, please submit an abbreviated online application with a cover letter and resume at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pittsburg.   Resumes should reflect years and months of employment, positions held, as well as size of staff and projects you have managed. 

The City of Pittsburg utilizes a merit-based selection system. Such a system is competitive and based on broad outreach efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to take part in a process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. You will be notified of the next steps in the process via email! In the meantime, Let’s stay in touch through social media. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.   

What Happens Next? 

• We will review your application and all supplemental materials to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process. Screening will include a review of qualifications, application appraisal rating of education, training and experience and relevance of background qualifications related to the target job as well as supplemental questions if applicable.
• Applicants selected to move forward in the process may be asked to participate in any combination of the following (at any phase of the selection process): a written examination, job related exercise, physical test or job simulation, phone interview, in-person or video interview(s), and/or web-based testing.
• All offers of employment are conditional and new hires are subject to complete a pre-employment background screening that will consist of reference checks, livescan/fingerprint check and a civil check.  Some positions require a medical examination, psychological examination, credit check, polygraph, drug testing, and full background investigation depending on the job characteristics.  All new hires are required to show that they are eligible to work in the United States.   All of these processes must be successfully completed before employment begins.
• The final phase of the selection process is the probationary period.

Reasonable Accommodations:
The City of Pittsburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws in its employment actions, decisions, policies and practices.
 
The City of Pittsburg Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the selection process to accommodate disabled applicants. Individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation in the process must inform the Human Resources Department by the final filing date.  

Salary : $165,528 - $201,048