Public Works Director

Salary : $113,248.08 - $137,783.64 Annually
Location : Dallas, OR
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 18-00165
Department: Public Works
Opening Date: 04/07/2025
Closing Date: 4/27/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

General Statement of Duties

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Performs complex supervisory, administrative and professional work in planning, organizing, directing, budgeting and staffing the Public Works Department, including the water, wastewater, and stormwater systems; city streets, street lights and right-of-ways; city parks and open spaces; the aquatic center; fleet maintenance; facilities maintenance; engineering and public works capital improvement projects.

• Prepares and administers annual operating budget for the Public Works Departments, including water, wastewater, stormwater, streets, parks, aquatic center, fleet maintenance, facilities maintenance, and engineering. Assures the assigned areas of responsibility are performed within budget; performs cost control activities; monitors revenues and expenditures in assigned areas to assure sound fiscal control; prepares annual budget requests; assures effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, materials, facilities, and time. Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow. Studies and standardizes procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations.
• Plans, organizes, coordinates, supervises and evaluates programs, plans, services, staffing, equipment and infrastructure of the Public Works Department.
• Manages activities in maintenance of all city vehicles and equipment.
• Manages activities in maintenance of City buildings.
• Supervises division managers and department support staff, directly or through subordinates. Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, approves leaves and vacations, and makes at least annual performance appraisals.
• Assigns duties and examines work for accuracy, neatness, and conformance to policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively on a one-to-one basis orally and in writing with the public, council, boards, commissioners, and staff.
• Maintains harmony among departmental staff; mentors, coaches, and disciplines employees as needed.
• Prepares and presents progress reports on the department to the City Manager and City Council on public works activities, facilities, construction and maintenance programs.
• Evaluates public works needs and formulates short and long range plans to meet needs in all areas of responsibility, including water, wastewater, stormwater, streets, parks, aquatic center, fleet maintenance, facilities maintenance, and engineering.
• Oversees the maintenance of infrastructure and establishes programs in public works for the most efficient and economical organized system of maintenance and construction.
• Oversees the development or update of the City Transportation System Plan (TSP), Comprehensive Sewer Plan, Comprehensive Water Plan, Stormwater Plan, Parks Master Plan, and other plans involving the municipal infrastructure.
• Works closely with the engineering division and consulting engineers on project design and management for construction of municipal public works projects and review of sanitary sewer, storm drainage, water, and street system maps, databases, and comprehensive plans.
• Responds to public or other inquiries relative to department policies and procedures.
• Monitors inter-governmental actions affecting public works.
• Serves as a member of the City's Senior Management Team to address overall policy issues under guidelines established by the City Council and the City Manager. Participates in City planning and budgetary efforts.
• Provides planning and oversight of the Capital Improvement Plan projects.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of all phases of public works management, including utilities, capital projects, and transportation. Familiarity with Federal, State, and local regulatory requirements in these areas to ensure ongoing City compliance.
• Skill in operating the listed tools and equipment.
• Excellent supervisory skills; ability to hold employees and supervisors accountable for personal goals and contributions toward organizational objectives and values. Ability to motivate staff and to delegate, supervise, and review the work of staff.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, facilitation, negotiation, communication, and organizational skills, including the ability to speak effectively in public to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to maintain and promote effective working relationships with, and between, coworkers, the public, elected officials, and other agencies.
• Experience with group processes and ability to facilitate groups to accomplish tasks and resolve issues.
• Strong budget management and reporting skills.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering, or a closely related field; AND
• Minimum of ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in a municipal government with at least five (5) years in a supervisory role. Preference will be given to public works experience in water, wastewater, stormwater, and streets; OR
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience

Special Qualifications

• Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer issued by the State of Oregon is not required but is preferred; and
• Must possess or be able to obtain by time of employment a valid Oregon Driver License with an acceptable driving record

The City of Dallas offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including: health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, PERS, paid holiday, vacation, and sick leave, deferred compensation plans.

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