Director of Public Works

Please review the City of Middletown's Application Instructions as your application constitutes as part of the examination process. 

The purpose of this position is to direct, manage, and organize the operations and activities of all divisions of the Public Works Department.  The work is performed under the direction of the Mayor.

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Plans and coordinates the activities of all department divisions according to established policies and procedures; establishes priorities and conducts strategic planning to determine goals and objectives. prepares budget recommendations and administers adopted budget.
• Administers the operations of the department  in the functional areas of management and staff operations, finance operations, maintenance, sanitation, building inspecting, building, grounds, and parks maintenance; oversees regular maintenance and improvement programs and projects for roads, bridges, street lighting systems, and  other City assets.
• Manages and supervises department personnel; oversees training and development; plans, coordinates, assigns, and reviews work; allocates personnel; maintains standards and evaluates performance.  Administers personnel regulations and collective bargaining agreements.  Reviews worker’s compensation claims.
• Supervises professional engineering services in the investigation, design, and construction of public works projects and facilities.
• Participates in the technical review of subdivision and commercial development planning and the preparation of Board assessment and inspection.
• Oversees the preparation cost estimates for projects and road maintenance programs.   Approves all estimates for projects.
• Oversees property and equipment maintenance, ice and snow removal from City roads and public areas, and supervises refuse removal, transfer station, and recycling center.
• Performs professional engineering services in the investigation, design, and construction of Public Works projects and facilities. 
• Provides engineering consulting services to City departments, boards and commissions. Performs professional engineering services in the investigation, design, and construction of Public Works projects and facilities.
• Meets and negotiates agreements with attorneys, contractors, and state and federal officials in matters regarding public works.  Addresses public and private groups. Attends Common Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, Sanitation Commission, and building committee meetings, and other advisory boards, committees, and commissions as required.  Responds to inquiries and complaints from the public and other departments.
• Develops and supervises training and development programs, including safety programs for department employees.
• Prepares a variety of reports, documents, and correspondence.
• Responds to inquiries, questions, and concerns from the public and other departments.
• Performs other related functions as assigned or required.

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, public administration, or related field and eight years of progressively responsible public works administrative experience or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.  Position requires the possession of a professional engineering license. Position also requires a valid Connecticut driver’s license within 60 days of appointment.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

• Requires the ability to perform upper-level data analysis, including the ability to hypothesize, theorize and assimilate, to modify or adapt existing policies/methods to meet unusual conditions within the context of existing theories and management principles.
• Ability to manage and direct a group of workers, including the ability to provide counseling and mediation. Ability to persuade, convince and train others. Ability to advise and interpret regarding the application of policies, procedures and standards to specific situations. Requires the ability to provide formal instruction in a classroom or other structured setting.
• Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information such as draft ordinances, reports, plans, investigations, contracts, codes, maps, specifications, manuals, procedures and non-routine correspondence.
• Requires the ability to communicate orally and in writing with the Mayor and City boards and commissions, all department personnel, other City departments, contractors, union representatives, residents, the media and the public.

Mathematical Ability

• Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals; may require the ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions, algebra, geometry and trigonometry. 

Physical Requirements

• Requires the ability to operate, calibrate, tune and synchronize, and perform complex rapid adjustment on equipment, machinery and tools such as a computer and other office machines, a vehicle and/or related materials used in performing essential functions.
• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing skilled movements such as rapid keyboard use.
• Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling of objects weighing five to ten pounds. 
• Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks. 

Environmental Adaptability

• Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors may cause discomfort and poses a limited risk of injury. 

The City of Middletown is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Salary : $107,515 - $159,099