Deputy Director of Public Works

Deputy Director of Public WorksThe City of Gaithersburg is seeking an experienced professional and collaborative team leader passionate about providing high-quality services to the community to assist in the administration, supervision, and overall direction of the Department of Public Works. The Deputy Director of Public Works is a highly responsible management role that assists in planning, organizing, and managing all Departmental operations, programs, and staff to ensure the delivery of safe, reliable, and efficient public infrastructure and services. The Deputy Director serves as second-in-command within the Department, coordinating projects and providing strategic and operational leadership and oversight across the four divisions within the Department (Engineering Services, Environmental Services, Facilities & Capital Projects, and Operations) and serves as a department liaison with other City departments, outside agencies, and the community.The successful candidate will have demonstrated expertise in day-to-day public works management and be an approachable and effective communicator, with experience building and managing positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The Deputy Director must have sound judgment and effective decision-making skills and be a creative and proactive problem-solver who is personable, responsive, and innovative and has strong strategic planning, organizational, and time management skills. They will have the ability to work well under pressure, dive into the details of a project while also considering the long-term strategic direction of the Department, and will multi-task with ease, shifting gears quickly to prioritize and balance workloads and resources to meet project demands. Candidates must be committed to cultivating a positive organizational culture, engaging with and gathering input from employees at all levels of the Department, managing performance in a constructive, accountability-oriented manner, and developing others through coaching and mentoring, assisting Department staff with finding their path and performing at their highest ability. They will model behavior expected throughout the organization, including mutual respect, accountability, commitment to high-quality work, and exemplary customer service.Starting salary for this position is negotiable within the anticipated target hiring range ($155,000 - $170,000) and will be offered at a level consistent with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. We provide comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, long-term care, life), paid time off, generous retirement contributions, health and wellness programs, tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans, training and professional growth opportunities, and excellent work/life balance. Residency within the City of Gaithersburg is not required.Job functions include:Assist the Director of Public Works in managing and overseeing all departmental divisions, programs, and personnel; serve as Acting Director in the absence of the Director.Assist in developing and implementing departmental goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and performance standards to ensure effective operations.Plan, organize, and direct activities related to engineering, environmental services, facilities maintenance, capital projects, and field operations.Monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommend, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels.Coordinate departmental activities with other City departments to ensure alignment with City-wide goals and initiatives.Oversee the preparation, administration, and monitoring of major project and division operating and capital budgets; assist in forecasting and resource planning.Provide leadership and guidance to division managers and staff regarding work priorities, training, performance, and discipline.Promote workforce development, training, and performance evaluation to maintain a skilled and motivated team.Participate and make recommendations in personnel matters.Review, provide technical oversight of, and recommend approval of plans, specifications, contracts, and cost estimates related to public works projects.Manage consultant and contractor selection, negotiations, and contract compliance for public works projects and professional services.Develop and oversee long-range capital improvement and asset management programs for City infrastructure.Ensure timely and professional response to resident service requests and complaints; maintain a customer-focused approach to service delivery.Participate in preparation and presentation of reports, proposals, and recommendations to the City Manager, Mayor and City Council, and advisory bodies.Serve as a member of the City's emergency management and snow operations teams; coordinate response and recovery activities as required.Represent the department at public meetings, community events, and intergovernmental forums.Foster an environment that embraces diversity, integrity, teamwork, trust, and respect.Provide outstanding service, pursue continuous improvement, and exceed expectations.Qualifications include:Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, public administration, or related field; master's degree preferred.At least 7 years of management experience in public works, engineering, infrastructure, or government services; with at least five (5) years in a supervisory/management capacity.Excellent leadership, interpersonal, analytical, problem-solving, presentation, and written and verbal communication skills and the demonstrated ability to effectively interact and collaborate with multiple internal and external stakeholders.Experience in budget development and administration.Multi-faceted organizational abilities with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects/programs and competing priorities concurrently.Professional certifications and licenses applicable to public works engineering and operations are highly desirable but no specific certifications or licenses are required.Proven ability to fully engage in day-to-day operations as well as to step outside the box and think about the big picture.Experience working in local government and working with elected officials desirable.Valid driver's license and safe driving record.Or any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform job duties.Interested applicants must submit the following to be considered:A complete online applicationCurrent resume (attached to the online application)Letter of interest (attached to the online application), including why you are interested in this position and highlighting the special skills/abilities that make you uniquely qualified to serve in this position.Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is strongly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are identified or all hiring decisions have been made. This is a full-time salaried "exempt" position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week (not eligible for overtime compensation under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the City's personnel regulations). Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees. The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post-accident and random testing. For more information about the position, please contact Director of Public Works Brian Fields at Brian.Fields@gaithersburgmd.gov or 240.805.1260. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at hr@gaithersburgmd.gov or 301.258.6327.