Director of Public Works - Unalaska Alaska
Director of Public Works - Unalaska Alaska
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$ 169121 - 186025
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Job Description
First review of applications will occur on May 12 2025.
Unalaska Alaska (est. fulltime pop. 4195 plus seasonal influxes) is strategically located in the heart of the North Pacific and Bering Sea fisheries and is home of the number one commercial fishing port in the United States the International Port of Dutch Harbor. The community is 50 miles from the North Pacific Great Circle Shipping Route and 800 miles southwest of Anchorage. This coastal community in the Eastern Aleutian Islands seamlessly blends industry and history connected by a 40mile network of roads that link the bustling port harbors private docks local businesses and residential areas on Unalaska and Amaknak Islands.
Unalaskas economy thrives on commercial fishing seafood processing fleet services and marine transportation with the Port of Dutch Harbor serving as a vital yearround icefree deepdraft port designated as a Potential Port of Refuge for distressed or disabled vessels. Dutch Harbor is the #1 Commercial Fishing Port in the United States based on the volume of the catch handling 763 million pounds of seafood valued at $190 million. The Eastern Bering Sea Pollock fishery the nations largest sets the stage for various fishing activities.
The Director of Public Works ensures the delivery of highquality services to city departments residents and businesses by leading the daytoday operations of the Department of Public Works. The department is comprised of several divisions: Engineering and Administration Streets & Roads Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance Facilities Maintenance and Receiving & Supply. Direct reports include the Project Manager Office Manager and Supervisors of each division. The department employs 38 people. The Director oversees department personnel and develops both short and longterm goals as well as managing and administering capital projects. This role involves supervising the planning operation engineering and maintenance of the Citys public works facilities and systems. The Director provides the City Council with planning and budgetary information for capital and maintenance projects through the City Manager.
In addition the Director of Public Works is responsible for budget management performance evaluations and ensuring alignment with the Citys strategic plan mission and goals. Duties include managing capital improvement plans negotiating contracts and presenting policies and progress reports to the City Manager and Council.
The next Director of Public Works has a transformational opportunity to enhance collaboration modernize operations and amplify a positive workplace culture. By strengthening teamwork and prioritizing accountability this leader will drive longterm success for both the department and the community. Key leadership opportunities include:
Unified and Collaborative Culture. The next Director of Public Works will have the exciting opportunity to
cocreate a unified and collaborative culture between Public Works and Public Utilities. Together both directors will foster an integrated approach to strengthen teamwork and encourage shared problemsolving. A focus on effective joint administration with leadership contributions from both department directors will enhance communication and ensure smooth coordination across teams leading to greater efficiency and success.
Construction Oversight and Policy Alignment. This role provides the chance to enhance the construction process and ensure that it meets the highest standards. By establishing a wellstructured inspection process to follow up on issued permits the Director will help ensure compliance quality and longterm sustainability in all projects. Updating policies and codes to reflect Unalaskas unique infrastructure and community needs will help create a more effective forwardthinking Public Works department that is in tune with the evolving needs of the community.
Staff Development and Succession Planning. The Director will be instrumental in cultivating a workforce that is skilled motivated and ready for the future. By providing training mentorship and clear career growth opportunities the Director will empower employees to thrive in their roles and advance within the organization. A culture that encourages learning and leadership development will ensure that the department remains strong adaptable and prepared for longterm success with clear paths for internal growth and leadership succession.
Citywide Coordination and Operational Effectiveness. With a collaborative mindset the Director will work closely with the City Manager and other department directors to align Public Works initiatives with broader city goals. By enhancing coordination the Director will help streamline processes improve resource allocation and drive positive outcomes across the city. Strengthening budgeting and organizational strategies will help improve operational efficiency and ensure that Public Works is delivering highquality services while remaining financially sustainable.
Confidence Integrity and Accountability. The Director will be a trusted leader who fosters a positive culture of transparency integrity and continuous improvement. By making confident datadriven decisions and encouraging innovation the Director will inspire the team to excel. A balance of approachability and strong decisionmaking will ensure that the department remains focused on its goals while creating a work environment where everyone feels valued accountable and empowered to succeed.Compensation and Benefits
The hiring salary range for this position is $169121 $186025. The City of Unalaska offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes 100 employerpaid medical premiums for both employees and their dependents as well as 100 employerpaid basic life/AD&D insurance and medevac insurance for employees.
In addition to competitive salary and benefits the City provides up to $10000 in hiring bonuses and relocation assistance each. An annual travel allowance of $2000 is available after the first year of employment.
Employees will accrue personal leave beginning at 16 hours per month and culminating at 32 hours per month in the ninth year of employment. Employees also enjoy 9 paid holidays 4 floating holidays and 7 days of bereavement leave annually. Longevity bonuses begin after three years of service.
The benefits package also includes eligibility for the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) 457 Plans through MissionSquare and Mutual of America and Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care. Employees may be provided with a cityowned vehicle for both work and personal use and cityowned employee housing may be available for rent.Desired Qualifications
This position requires a bachelors degree in engineering or a related field of study and eight 8 years of increasingly responsible and related professional experience with at least five 5 years in a management or supervisory role. Masters degree and prior experience as a municipal public works director is preferred. A strong background in project management fiscal management and adhering to local state and federal regulations is essential. The successful candidate must have or be able to obtain an Alaska drivers license within 90 days of hire possess the ability to pass all required preemployment testing (i.e. criminal background employment history credit check and drug testing) and must be eligible to work in the U.S.
The ideal candidate for the Director of Public Works position will possess a comprehensive understanding of local government operations public administration municipal finance budgeting and community relations. They will be skilled in analyzing organizational issues applying sound judgment and utilizing strong problemsolving and analytical abilities to implement effective solutions.
The Director of Public Works should possess excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adjust communication styles for diverse audiences as well as superior interpersonal and negotiation abilities. The Director must embrace a collaborative teamoriented approach fostering respectful relationships across the organization and implementing best practices to meet Unalaskas unique needs. They should be solutiondriven positive and capable of mentoring and training staff ensuring that everyone is prepared for success and succession planning is in place. With confidence and the ability to lead effectively the Director will maintain a focus on organizational unity while ensuring that all team members can thrive.Special Instructions
This position is open until filled; however interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply no later than Monday May 12 2025. For more information please contact Yolanda Howze at or.
For more information about Unalaska visit: and CITY OF UNALASKA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
