Director of Public Works

DESCRIPTION

Complex supervisory, administrative, technical, and professional management work in planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing the Department of Public Works, including highway and snow removal operations, motor equipment maintenance, engineering and construction management, wastewater collection and treatment, public water supply treatment and distribution, parks, cemeteries, public trees, grounds maintenance, stormwater, management of curbside collection and transfer station and all other related work as required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type 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.

• Supervises, plans, directs, and administers all aspects of the Department of Public Works, including design and construction, operation and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, bridges, parks, cemeteries, and playgrounds, water and wastewater treatment, pumping and distribution, stormwater, snow removal, rubbish removal via transfer station and curbside collection and the repair of all DPW equipment.
• Foster a culture of safety, professionalism, and respect within the Department.
• Engage with the Community and stakeholders to understand and proactively address public works concerns.
• Develops and maintains the Department’s planned operational response to emergency storm events such as snow and ice storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and other weather-related events. Manages the effective application of resources during both emergencies and routine operations.
• Oversees the supervision, guidance, and training for regular and seasonal department personnel. Assists in recruitment and hiring of employees; prepares and conducts performance evaluations in a critical comprehensive format that encourages personal initiative, develops their critical job skills and recommends other personnel actions.
• Maintains control and integrity of the town’s fuel supply, including monitoring of access and usage of the Town’s fuel depot.
• Inspects field operations and job sites and assists supervisors in resolving issues requiring additional technical or managerial assistance.
• Develops, implements, and monitors Department operating standards, performance measures, policies and procedures.
• Prepares the Department’s operating and capital budgets; makes budget presentations to various Boards and Town Meeting, implements various programs and projects according to authorized budget appropriations.
• Assists the Town Administrator with public policy recommendations and engineering input to policy level decision-making.
• Prepares information, responses, warrant articles, and bylaws for consideration by the Board of Selectmen, Town Meeting, and other meetings as deemed necessary.
• Oversees management of Department budget and personnel administration; administers departmental expenditures, including contracts for outside services; administers all short-term and long-term planning.
• Reviews, approves, and coordinates projects with consulting and in-house engineers; monitors and evaluates contractual services for compliance with specifications and applicable conditions; develops and maintains effective working relationships with municipal, county, state, and federal officials and agencies to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations affecting the work of the Department.
• Ensures proper reading and billing of water meters for collection of revenue for water and sewer enterprise funds.
• Participates as a member of the management team in collective bargaining.
• Participates in public hearings on Department projects; responds to requests for information and complaints from citizens. Develops and implements departmental policies and procedures.
• Assists the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals with review of plans for private development.
• Represents the Department at a variety of different meetings both within and outside of the town.
• Performs any and all other duties relative to the proper administration and operation of the Public Works Department as may be assigned and shall be available for recall at any time in case of emergency or other urgent need.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor’s degree with specialization in engineering, technical/science, program management or related field with 7-10 years of progressively responsible work experience
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience in a Public Works role or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Knowledge of Federal, State and Local laws relating to public works, water, wastewater and stormwater operations.
• Experience in negotiation of collective bargaining agreements.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates and other Town employees.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of modern public administration and financial management.
• Understanding of the methods, materials, tools and equipment utilized in public works facilities.
• Capable of managing numerous large-scale priorities simultaneously in a collaborative work environment.
• Experience with Massachusetts procurement laws.
• Excellent public relations skills.
• Proficiency in software applications customarily used in municipalities and public works for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, drafting, and mapping.
• Valid Massachusetts Class D driver’s license.

Preferred / Desirable

• Licensed Registered Professional Engineer
• Experience and/or certification as an Associate Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO)
• OSHA 10 certification

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under the administrative direction of the Town Administrator, the employee works from policies, goals, and objectives; establishes short-range plans and objectives, departmental performance standards and assumes direct accountability for Department results; consults with the supervisor only where clarification, interpretation, or exception to policy may be required or as requested by the supervisor. The employee is expected to exercise whatever means are necessary to resolve conflict that cannot be addressed at the Division level.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

The employee is accountable for the direction and success of programs accomplished through others.  Responsible for analyzing program objectives, determining the various departmental work operations needed to achieve them, estimating the financial and staff resources required, allocating the available funds and staff, reporting periodically on the achievement and status of the program objective; and recommending new goals. The employee typically formulates or recommends program goals and develops plans for achieving short and long-range objectives; determines organizational structure, operating guidelines and work operations.

JUDGMENT

Guidelines only provide limited guidance for performing the work which may be in the form of administrative or organizational policies, general principles, legislation or directives that pertain to a specific Department or functional area. Extensive judgment and ingenuity are required to develop new or adapt existing methods and approaches for accomplishing objectives or to deal with new or unusual requirements within the limits of the guidelines or policies. The employee is recognized as the authority in interpreting the guidelines, in determining how they should be applied, and in developing operating policies for a major functional section of the organization. The employee accepts responsibility while exercising authority for planning, operating and oversight.

COMPLEXITY

The work consists of managerial functions and processes such as planning, organizing, controlling, coordinating, evaluating, and integrating activities and programs for a major Department of the Town.

NATURE AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

Relationships are constant with co-workers, the public and with groups and/or individuals who have conflicting opinions or objectives, diverse points of view or differences where skillful negotiating and achieving compromise is required to secure support, concurrence and acceptance or compliance. The Director will routinely represent the Department to the public on matters of procedures or policy where perceptiveness is required to analyze circumstances to act appropriately.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Employee has regular access at the Department wide confidential information, including personnel records, medical records, lawsuits, resident records and random drug and alcohol testing results.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work is performed in an office setting as well as off-site locations. Working conditions involve occasional exposure to elements found in the field, such as work sites, walking property to inspect, construction sites, etc. May be exposed to elements, but work can typically be rescheduled to avoid harsh elements.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Full-time, 40-hour benefited position. This is an exempt, non-union position covered under the employment policies of the Town. Salary is $135,000 +/- commensurate with the successful candidate’s overall qualifications, education and experience.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested individuals should submit a cover letter and resume to the Town Administrator, 2 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738 or by email to dhemphill@marionma.gov.  Submissions will be accepted until position is filled with priority given to those applications received by October 30, 2024.

Posting Date: 10/11/24

The Town of Marion is an Equal Opportunity Employer