PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

SUMMARY:

This position involves administrative and technical work in directing and supervising the Tupelo Public Works Department. Work involves the responsibility for directing all phases of municipal public works, including stormwater drainage, fleet maintenance, public municipal facilities and road and right-of-way maintenance.

The Public Works Director formulates interdepartmental policies and coordinates activities in accordance with general directives of the mayor and chief operations officer. The Director of Public Works exercises supervision over various unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and supervisory employees.

Responsibilities also include directing the activities of the City's equipment maintenance and building maintenance programs, solid waste disposal programs, and the Major Thoroughfare Program. The employee is responsible for the preparation and monitoring of the department budget; the preparation, implementation of and adherence to city procedures; and department personnel functions. Responsibilities also include establishing and maintaining appropriate work relationships with municipal officials, peers and subordinates, State and local organizations, and with the public. Work is performed under the supervision of the chief operations officer and the mayor; however, this employee must also exercise considerable independent judgment and technical expertise to meet department objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establish the division of teams and organize the departmental structure.
• Implement policies as directed by the Mayor and City Council.
• Initiate work strategies for proposed projects.
• Prepare and oversee departmental budget and activity plans for the Public Works Department and the Major Thoroughfare Program.
• Oversee and monitor staffing and work assignments.
• Oversee and monitor project feasibility, methods, and cost control.
• Works with contracted professional engineers and architects in designing and implementing projects, as assigned or requested by the Mayor and City Council.
• Performs related work as required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide supervision to all employees of the Public Works Department.
• Provide supervision for the direction, coordination, and evaluation of the entire department.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; evaluating employee job performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• High school graduate or equivalency required.
• Bachelor's degree in public administration, Engineering or a related field is preferred. Experience in a related field may be substituted for formal education on an equal basis.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in a management position.
• Extensive knowledge in construction methods, materials and equipment as applied in municipal public works.
• Considerable knowledge of the modern principles and practices of municipal public works administration.
• Working knowledge of finance, administration, and budgeting.
• Ability to organize, direct and coordinate the activities of the Public Works Department, including long term planning.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other city officials, and the public.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial reports and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from citizens, regulatory agencies or members of the business community.
• Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
• Ability to effectively present information to the Mayor and City Council and to public groups.
• Ability to plan, organize, and supervise the work of subordinates and to instruct personnel in proper work methods.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
• Ability to implement and understand work hazards and applicable safety measures.
• Ability to deal with nonverbal symbols.
• Ability to deal with abstract and concrete concepts.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Maintain a valid vehicle operator's license.
• Applicant must have a valid social security number.

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, which does not create undue hardship, will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the work may involve lifting, pulling, pushing, positioning or through the use of tools exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally (6-33% of the workday); and lifting, pulling, pushing, positioning or through the use of tools exerting up to 25 pounds of force frequently (34-66% of the workday).
• The work may involve overhead work occasionally.
• The work may involve standing, walking and bending at the waist frequently; and sitting, squatting, kneeling, crawling and climbing ladders, stairs or other means of equipment and building ingress and egress, and driving a standard motor vehicle.
• The work may involve use of the hands for simple grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation of objects, tools (including power tools), controls and equipment frequently, and repetitively occasionally.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee is regularly required to talk and hear.

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.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an inside office environment. The employee will be required to be outdoors when commuting between City Departments and job sites.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles and vibrations from equipment. The employee may be required to work in all weather conditions and all elements anytime day or night.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

IMPORTANT:

The position description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by the chief financial officer and/or the office of the mayor.

The city reserves the right to revise or change job duties as need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment and creates no contractual obligations on the city.