Public Works Director

The City of Newberg is seeking its next Public Works Director to take our community focused operations and maintenance divisions to the next level. Newberg has won several awards in recent years and is a center for innovation willing to trying new things! Situated in the heart of wine country with a growing community of 26000 this is your opportunity to join and lead one of its most important departments. Newberg is fiscally conservative and a best-in-class place to work and grow.

The ideal candidate (as well as matching the required qualifications) will have a thirst to try new technologies and approaches. They will be an energetic and innovative servant leader with a commitment to thoughtful change and high-quality customer service. The ideal candidate will also be a collaborator able to work closely with other departments and especially with Community Development Capital Engineering and Code Enforcement. Please do feel free to ask questions of a general nature to the City Manager but please do not send any resumes or other attachments as they will not be considered as part of the application.

GENERAL STATEMENT

As a member of the Executive Management team with oversight over Public Works Maintenance and Public Works Operations this position has direct input into City policies and procedures and advises the City Manager on related issues. The Public Works Director performs a variety of supervisory administrative skilled and technical work in the long-range planning construction operations maintenance and replacement of City facilities fleet water wastewater street and storm drainage systems throughout the City. The Director exercises budget responsibility for Public Works Maintenance and Public Works Operations and is responsible for supervising all operations and personnel within the department. The Director has significant control over the planning and performance of public works functions.

The Director has frequent contact with staff vendors the public members of other government entities and elected officials; communications are often very technical and complex.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the broad policy guidance and direction of the City Manager. Work is performed highly independently with little direction. This classification determines practices and procedures by contributing to the development of new concepts and dealing with problems which are quite difficult and require quick decision making -where precedent is occasionally unavailable.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Exercises direct supervision over Public Works Maintenance and the Operations Division.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversees the budgeting maintenance operation planning and construction activities designed to provide quality fleet water wastewater street and storm drainage services to the City.
• Establishes and enforces office policies procedures protocols professional standards schedules and timelines. Identifies resource needs and ensures their availability.
• Coordinates with other City departments for long-range planning such as growth management related planning.
• Determines work procedures oversees the work schedules and expedites workflow; promotes cooperative and respectful workplace interactions and resolves grievances. Recruits selects disciplines and manages staff; provides guidance training and coaching.
• Responsible for sustainable operating and capital budgets; ensures financial and accounting controls; sets up annual programs and program projections to best utilize grants and financial resources.
• Fosters effective communication within the City and with interest groups on Council and/or legislative subcommittees concerning proposed issues and works to build relationships with other agencies with common interests and concerns.
• Advises the City Manager City Attorney and other City officials in matters relating to department activities; provides information to various civic school and public groups and individuals regarding street water wastewater and drainage problems and services.
• Coordinates and assists with the execution of the City Transportation System Program (T.S.P.) Wastewater Master Plan Water Master Plan Drainage Master Plan Capital Improvement Program and other plans involving the municipal infrastructure.
• Responds rapidly to requests from the City Manager for specific maintenance improvements for the benefit of the community.
• Determines applicable codes regulations and requirements for assigned projects.
• Coordinates with department heads in the planning budgeting design and construction of municipal public works projects assists the Capital Engineering department with maintaining/updating the City subdivision and Public Works standards. Assures the development of as-built records of projects necessary for the operation and maintenance of City facilities.
• Evaluates issues and options regarding municipal public works projects and makes recommendations.
• Maintains regular contact with City County State and Federal agencies professional and technical groups utility companies and the general public regarding department activities and services.
• Represents the department to public bodies such as the City Council Budget Committee Rate Review Committee outside agencies etc.
• Monitors the internal and external governmental actions affecting the department. Advocates for public works programs projects and necessary funding.
• Promotes effective records management in a paperless environment.
• Serves on employee committees and on various professional regional and state committees as assigned.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar related or a logical assignment to the position.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

An advanced degree in Civil Engineering Public Works or Public Administration is required. A Professional Engineer qualification is strongly preferred.

A P.E. stamp with a bachelors degree in an engineering field is deemed to meet these criteria.

Minimum of ten (10) years of increasingly responsible public works or engineering job experience including a minimum of five (5) years of responsible management experience and five (5) years of supervisory experience.

Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Oregon or ability to obtain within three (3) months of hire/appointment is highly preferred.

Preferably the work experience should include a background in construction obtained by hands on experience.

SPECIALREQUIREMENTS:

Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid state drivers license with a clean driving record by time of hire or appointment.

Must successfully pass a criminal history background check and have the ability to become CJIS-certified.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Advanced knowledge of the principles practices theories and techniques of public works administration.
• A strong background in applied leadership and the ability to carry out organizational re-design and reform.

• Thorough knowledge of equipment facilities materials methods and procedures used in the design operations and maintenance of public water wastewater and stormwater treatment storage and distribution systems.
• Thorough knowledge of equipment facilities materials methods and procedures used in the design operations and maintenance of transportation systems including pavement curbing sidewalks ADA facilities street lighting signalization signage striping signage and street trees.
• Thorough knowledge of federal and regional transportation funding processes.
• Thorough knowledge of fiscal management including budget preparation purchasing protocols expenditure control and recordkeeping and grant writing.
• Working knowledge of the operations of the subordinate functions of public works operations.
• Working knowledge of management and supervisory practices and principles.
• Skill to effectively supervise and motivate an integrated team of professionals to meet the City mission STRIVE values and department goals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Skilled in computer operation in a virtual desktop environment namely proficiency with word processing; spreadsheets databases electronic communications and other Microsoft and/or CAD/Bluebeam applications.
• Ability to learn and adapt to new AI technologies and changing solutions for public works teams and processes.

• Ability to lead the City in regional activities related to public works.

• Ability to analyze and evaluate departmental operations and develop and implement plans to increase or improve departmental efficiency to develop goals and manage long range planning for the department.
• Ability to develop and oversee a large budget.
• Ability to manage multiple projects often within tight timeframes.
• Ability to work with various interest groups; define evaluate recommend and implement alternative solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to determine priorities and make critical decisions.
• Ability to provide public testimony give effective presentations and facilitate meetings.
• Ability to prepare and analyze comprehensive and technical reports. Ability to work as a team member and to cultivate a team climate manage and evaluate the work of department staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and cooperative effective working relationships with staff public officials boards and committees outside agencies and the l public.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Personal computer and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure environment including word processing spreadsheet scheduling e-mail project management and database software; computer-aided-design software standard drafting tools standard office equipment and communication devices; City vehicle.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to meet the needs of qualified individuals with limitations who can perform the essential functions of the job.

Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate drafting instruments computers and various pieces of office equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger handle feel or operate objects tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop kneel crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and smell. Must be physically capable of moving about or on construction work sites under adverse field conditions and wearing personal protective equipment suitable for the job task. However work is performed mostly in office settings. Some outdoor work is required in the inspection of various land use developments construction sites or public works facilities.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work will regularly be performed performing the duties of this job the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions fumes or airborne particles toxic or caustic chemicals risk of electrical shock and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet in office settings and occasionally loud in outdoor/ field settings.

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.