Highway Director

POSITION DESCRIPTION
COUNTY OF WHITLEY, INDIANA

POSITION: Highway Director
DEPARTMENT: Highway
WORK SCHEDULE: 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., M-F
JOB CATEGORY: SO (Special Occupations)

DATE WRITTEN: March 2002 STATUS: Full-time
DATE REVISED: February 2019, November 2021 FLSA STATUS: Exempt

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function of the position satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Whitley County provides reasonable accommodation to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job, unless those accommodations would present an undue hardship.

Incumbent serves as Highway Director for the Whitley County Highway Department, responsible for supervising personnel, administering Department operations, providing and maintaining infrastructure and capital improvements within Whitley County, and planning, designing, coordinating and monitoring construction/ repair of county roads, bridges and related structures.

DUTIES:

Supervises assigned staff, including analyzing workload and human resource needs, reviewing position documentation, interviewing candidates, making hiring decisions, orienting new subordinates, planning, delegating, and controlling work assignments, establishing specific work goals, training/developing/motivating assigned staff, and determining significant change in responsibilities of assigned staff.

Evaluates performance of assigned staff, reviews salaries, recommends personnel actions, keeps supervisor and staff informed of organizational changes, maintain discipline and recommends corrective action as warranted, and communicates and administers personnel programs and policies for area.

Provides technical assistance to Whitley County Commissioners, including writing reports, applying for permits, giving presentations, answering technical questions, reviewing construction plans and proposals, subdivision plats and various applications, inspecting sites for compliance with codes and engineering standards, verifying measurements and calculations, printing watershed data, monitoring street bridge, and drainage construction, and meeting with engineers and developers to discuss problems.

Oversees Department daily operations, including developing, writing, and implementing
Department policy and performs duties in accordance with Indiana Codes. Oversees preparation and processing of payroll, calculating time cards, entering on computer, preparing forms, printing reports, and forwarding to Auditor.

Highway/ Director

Ensures proper maintenance and repair of county roads, bridges, culverts and rights of way, including resolving road problems and regularly driving throughout the County, assesses needs, determines appropriate projects, writes specifications for roads, coordinates project/work assignments, and monitors construction activities. Reviews, approves, or denies payment claims for contracted or assigned work on Highway projects.

Performs complex mathematical calculations, analyzes data, and reads and interprets prints, maps, and specifications. Takes action based on data analysis.

Receives, resolves, and responds to a variety of inquiries and/or complaints, including, but not limited to, County roads, rights-of- way, services, public utility, highway, legal descriptions, easement, and/or parcel splits. Includes making on-site inspections, identifying problems and solutions, ensuring proper safety precautions, and discussing with callers both in person and by telephone.

Reviews and updates Highway Specifications.

Prepares, coordinates, and maintains annual budgets for the Highway Department, including providing information and defending budget request, receiving approval from County Council, and requesting additional funding, as needed.

Attends a variety of public meetings in performance of Highway Director duties, including recommending policies, priorities, and procedures to Board of County Commissioners, preparing and submitting related reports, making recommendations for approval/denial of actions, and reviewing and inspecting economic development sites as they pertain to drainage and highways.

Ensures compliance with OSHA regulations for Highway Department is current and properly maintained, including assisting and monitoring Safety Continuing Education Program.

Writes and/or prepares, with or without the guidance of an attorney, legal agreements, contracts, and advertisements for media publications.

Provides information and support for Town, City, Township, County, State, and Federal officials, including researching and evaluating surveys, plats, maps, and disputes over documents.

Regularly works extended hours, and occasionally works weekends and evening hours.

Regularly travels out of town for meetings and training, sometimes overnight.

Regularly serves on call, and occasionally responds to emergencies on 24 hour basis.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Performs duties of other staff in their absence, or as needed.

Highway/ Director

I. JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Baccalaureate Degree in a related field or equivalent training/experience. Must be at least 21 years of age.

Ability to meet all Departmental and employer hiring requirements, including passage of a drug test.

Thorough knowledge of and ability to make practical application of standard principles and practices of engineering and state and local regulations regarding road and bridge construction and maintenance, subdivision control, drainage, and traffic control, and ability to assess County needs and effectively plan, design, coordinate and complete appropriate, cost-effective projects.

Working knowledge of bookkeeping principles, and ability to process payroll and claims/vouchers, billing vendors, and balancing and depositing receipts.

Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and ability to prepare required reports in timely manner..

Knowledge of principles involved in planning and development of budgetary requests, grants, and federal aid, and ability to administer Department budget.

Knowledge of State Government, State Board of Accounts, IDEM, FEMA, DNR, OSHA, local, state, and federal laws, rules and regulations, inspections, and permits.

Ability to supervise assigned staff, including analyzing workload and human resource needs, reviewing position documentation, interviewing candidates, making hiring decisions, orienting new subordinates, planning, delegating, and controlling work assignments, establishing specific work goals, training/developing/motivating assigned staff, and determining significant change in responsibilities of assigned staff.

Ability to evaluate performance of assigned staff, reviews salaries, recommends personnel actions, keeps supervisor and staff informed of organizational changes, maintain discipline and performs corrective action as warranted, and communicates and administers personnel programs and policies for area.

Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information/records according to state requirements.

Ability to comply with all employer/department personnel policies and work rules including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with irate/hostile persons.

Highway/ Director

Ability to operate a variety of equipment, including computer, printer, calculator, vehicle, surveying equipment, copy and fax machine, digital voice recorder and camera.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, law enforcement agencies, personnel from various cities and towns, Indiana
Department of Transportation, various contractors, various material and equipment suppliers, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to make complex mathematical calculations, analyze survey and other data, read and interpret detailed prints, maps, and specifications, and prepare detailed documents and reports as required.

Ability to plan and layout assigned work projects.

Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences between data, people, or things.

Ability to compile, classify, analyze, and evaluate data, and make determinations based on data analysis.

Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment.

Ability to work on several tasks at the same time, and work rapidly for long periods often amidst frequent distractions and interruptions, occasionally under time pressure.

Ability to complete assignments effectively and on time.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.

Ability to regularly work extended hours, and occasionally work weekends and evening hours, travel out of town for meetings and training, sometimes overnight, serve on call, and respond to emergencies on 24 hour basis.

Possession of a valid Indiana driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

II. DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

Incumbent performs a wide range of complex duties which are frequently unique in the circumstances in which they arise and are not susceptible to standard guidelines or rules.
Extensive analysis of the impact of decisions is required, and incumbent must frequently interpret precedents and facts to derive new methods and approaches for addressing the problems or circumstances.

Highway/ Director

III. RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent receives administrative direction from County Board of Commissioners, with general objectives indicated. Incumbent makes an extensive contribution to development and implementation of Department objectives, policies and procedures, discussing unprecedented situations with supervisors as needed. Work is reviewed primarily for appropriate supervision or direction of assigned operations, soundness of judgment, attainment of objectives, compliance with legal requirements, and effect on Department goals/objectives. Incumbent regularly makes decisions in absence of policy, subject only to guidance from Board of Commissioners.

IV. PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains frequent communication with co-workers, other County departments, law enforcement agencies, personnel from various cities and towns, Indiana Department of
Transportation, various contractors, various material and equipment suppliers, and the public, for purposes of supervising assigned staff, exchanging information, explaining/interpreting policies, coordinating projects, and resolving problems through mediation/negotiation.

Incumbent reports directly to the County Commissioners.

V. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs duties in several environments, including a standard office, in a garage, outdoors in the field, and in a vehicle. Duties may involve sitting/standing/walking for long periods, walking on uneven terrain, working with or near chemicals, lifting/carrying equipment weighing more than 50 pounds, close/far vision, color/depth perception, keyboarding, handling/grasping/fingering objects, bending/reaching, crouching/kneeling, hearing sounds/communication, speaking clearly, exposure to violent/irate individuals, varying weather conditions and physical hazards normally associated with construction sites, and supervising garage work.

Incumbent regularly works extended hours, and occasionally works weekends and evening hours, travels out of town for meetings and training, sometimes overnight, serves on call, and responds to emergencies on 24 hour basis.

Highway/ Director

APPLICANT/EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The job description for the position of Highway Director in the Engineering/Highway
Department describes the duties and responsibilities for employment in this position. I acknowledge that I have received this job description, and understand that it is not a contract of employment. I am responsible for reading this job description and complying with all job duties, requirements and responsibilities contained herein, and any subsequent revisions.

Is there anything that would keep you from meeting the job duties and requirements as outlined?

Yes No

Applicant/Employee signature Date

Print/Type name

Highway/ Director

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $67,675.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Columbia City, IN 46725: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

• Supervising: 4 years (Required)
• Road maintenance/construction: 4 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $67,675