What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Public Works position at The City of Middleton?
General Description
The City of Middleton, Wisconsin, is seeking an innovative, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Director of Public Works. The ideal candidate has deep and broad experience in all facets of Public Works operations and strategic planning, with some experience and exposure to civil engineering work and concepts. They will work closely with their committees, the other dpeartments, and the public, to provide conprehensive public infrastructure support and improvements. The Director is a key leader in the City's efforts to both deliver public works in real time and through fact based strategic planning for the future. You will be part of large and high performing teams both internal and external to the Public Works Department. If you are looking for a role where you can make a difference every day and grow personnally and professionaly we can't wait to meet you!.
The Director of Public Works oversees the planning, development, and administration of the City's public works programs and services. This role ensures the effective management and supervision of the Engineering Division, Water Utility Department, Storm Water Management, Streets Maintenance, and Administrative Staff. The Director is responsible for strategic planning, resource allocation, and coordination with the other City Departments, City Council, the Public Works Commission, and many other stakeholders to achieve the City's infrastructure goals. The Director of Public Works is a pivotal and cirtical member of the City's senior leadership team.
As a key member of the City's leadership team, the Director works under the long-range administrative direction of the City Administrator. The Director provides direct, personal, meanigful leadership and gudiance to engineering, water utility operations, stormwater utility management, street maintenance, and administrative staff to deliver high-quality services to the community. As the senior leader of the depertment, they serve as the direct supervisor and primary professional develoment mentor for the City Engineer/Storm Wter Utility Manager, Water Utility Manager, Operations Manager, and Public Works Office Manager.
This role includes supervising departmental managers and staff, providing guidance on complex technical and operational matters, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. The Director is also responsible for aligning departmental activities with the City's strategic goals, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and maintaining strong relationships with the community, City officials, and other departments.
- FLSA: Exempt
- Position Status: Regular, permanent full time
- Salary Grade: 18
- Schedule: Fulltime, 40 hours M-F, will require evening and weekend work to attend meetings and other requirements.
- Supervisory
- Non-represented
Job Functions
Essential Functions
- Advises the Mayor, Common Council, City Administrator, Public Works Committee, and occasionally the Plan Commission.
- Develops and implements long-term strategic plans for public works projects and services, aligning with the City's growth and development objectives.
- Coordinates the activities of the Public Works Department with all other city departments and applicable government agencies.
- Oversees the execution of public works projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and in compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
- Ensures efficient utilization of resources to maintain and improve the City's infrastructure.
- Manages the allocation of resources, including budgeting, staffing, and equipment, to effectively support public works operations.
- Establishes and maintains a close, collaborative and synergistic relationship between Public Works, the Inspection Department, and the Department of Planning and Community Development. Acts as the lead coodinator between these departments.
- Ensures all public works activities comply with federal, state, and local regulations, including environmental and safety standards.
- Promotes a culture of safety within the department, implementing and enforcing safety protocols and training.
- Attends Common Council, Finance & Personnel Committee and Public Works Committee meetings, and other meetings as assigned. Provides staff support to the Public Works Committee.
- Represents the City as a board member of the Metropolitan Refuse District.
- Represents the City as a member of the Technical Coordinating Committee of the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
- Prepares the annual department operating and capital budgets, with assistance from the Operations Manager, City Engineer/Stormwater Utility Manager, and Water & Sewer Utility Manager.
- Meets with and coordinates activities of subordinate employees.
- Keeps current on developments in the public works field by attending seminars, meetings, and reviewing appropriate technical journals.
- Keeps current with the City's emergency response planning efforts overseen by the Police Chief, including participation in mutual aid agreements and emergency responses and drills.
- Meets with citizens and reviews situations brought to the attention of the department.
- Follows-up on departmental activities through periodic reports of subordinates and on-site inspections.
- Supervises the preparation and archiving of records associated with department activities.
- Ensure the public works projects meet the City’s goals for environmental sustainability, including compliance with the City’s Sustainable City Plan, the Sustainable Purchasing Policy, and the City of Middleton’s Resolution to transition to clean energy usage.
- Project management for street construction projects that maximize the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians in compliance with the City of Middleton’s Complete Street Policy.
- Maintain exceptional work attendance and timeliness.
Marginal Functions
- Performs other related job duties as required.
- May serve as the City Engineer in their absence.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge
- Thorough knowledge of public works operations, including engineering principles, water and wastewater systems, stormwater management, street maintenance, and infrastructure planning.
- Considerable knowledge of and proficiency in budgeting, resource allocation, and project management.
- Considerable knowledge of public works information systems and software to include CAD, GIS, and other relevant systems.
Skills
- Initiative and resourcefulness in handling general public works problems.
- Professional judgment, tact, and courtesy.
- Effective and skilled writer and public speaker.
Abilities
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, city officials, and the general public.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize, direct and supervise public works activities in a coordinated manner.
- Ability to convey a professional and positive image of the department.
Education, Training and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, or a related field required; a Master's degree is preferred.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license and registration in the State of Wisconsin is highly preferred.
- Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in public works or municipal engineering, with at least three years in a supervisory or managerial role.
- Minimum of three years experience in public works in the local government sector required, experience in muncipality level operations highly preferred.
- Operational experience as a staff enginneer and/or public works operations manager preferred.
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Documentation Submission:
Please note that this application requires the submission of supporting documents. Failure to submit the required documentation will disqualify your application from consideration.
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City of Middleton Veterans' Preference Program
(Applicable to Regular Full and Part Time Positions Only)
The City of Middleton honors and recognizes the sacrifice and dedication made by veterans of the United States Armed Services, and the unique skills, experiences, and abilities they bring to the workplace. The City’s Veterans' Preference Program is designed and implemented to encourage and enable the recruitment, review and potential hire of qualified veterans. This program does not guarantee the selection of any veteran or eliminate the need for such veterans to otherwise meet all basic qualifications for the position(s) for which they apply.
Please see the Veterans' Preference Program link on the Job Opportunities page menu for the details and requirements of the program.
The City of Middleton is an Equal Opportunity Employer
seeking a diverse and talented workforce.
