What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Works Director position at City of Wasilla?
This is a confidential/manager at-will position with the City of Wasilla. This position oversees the planning, direction, and evaluation of a comprehensive Public Works program, encompassing roads, buildings, parks, water supply, sewer treatment facilities, and municipal airport operations. The role ensures the delivery of essential services to maintain public infrastructure and safeguard public safety, health, and welfare. Additionally, the position is responsible for ensuring the effective operation and coordination of all Public Works divisions.
The following duties are essential for this position. However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all–inclusive. To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may also be required or assigned.
- Defines and implements departmental goals and objectives, developing work plans and strategies to meet short- and long-term needs while ensuring compliance with legal requirements and City policies.
- Oversees and manages departmental operations, ensuring services are delivered efficiently and effectively.
- Administers and ensures compliance with ordinances, engineering standards, City codes and policies, keeping them aligned with City goals.
- Responds to emergency situations outside of business hours as needed, coordinating departmental resources to address urgent issues.
- Monitors department projects and initiatives, ensuring deadlines and objectives are met. Regularly updates City Council and leadership on progress.
- Develops and updates the department's GIS services and ensures compliance with FAA, state, and federal reporting requirements.
- Oversees Emergency Management planning as one of the City’s Emergency Management Coordinators, participating in drills, preparedness activities, and emergency response operations.
- Maintains communication and collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies, including organizations like the DOT&PF, MSB, MPO, FAA, DEC, DNR, AKOSH and fire marshal’s office.
- Directs and manages departmental staff, including hiring, training, performance evaluations, coaching, and disciplinary actions.
- Identifies training needs and provides development opportunities for staff to enhance performance and operational effectiveness.
- Assigns tasks, monitors progress, and ensures performance aligns with department goals.
- Participates in hiring panels for Public Works and other City positions and ensures annual performance reviews for staff are completed on schedule.
- Coordinates with division supervisors to ensure timely and accurate completion of subordinate performance reviews.
- Manages capital projects, including design, bidding, construction, and budget oversight, ensuring timely and cost-effective implementation.
- Prepares and presents short- and long-term Capital Improvement Plans (CIP), prioritizing projects for rehabilitation or replacement.
- Coordinates the development review process, including annexations, zoning, construction plans, and permitting.
- Conducts infrastructure inspections to ensure compliance with regulations and ordinances.
- Oversees services provided by external engineering consultants and vendors, ensuring quality and compliance with contracts.
- Reviews and approves permits, invoices, procurement documents, and legal agreements, including property, water rights, easements, and right-of-way (ROW) encroachments.
- Responds to citizen complaints, inquiries, and concerns regarding public works projects and department matters.
- Researches, develops, recommends, and implements policies and procedures to improve operational efficiency, sustainability, and safety.
- Monitors adherence to departmental standards and ensures effective application of policies and procedures.
- Identifies opportunities for process improvement and innovation within departmental operations.
- Evaluates and implements new technologies, systems, and procedures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Produces annual department budgets, updates to the 5-year CIP, and reports on department goals and initiatives for City Council.
- Develops strategies to address future operational needs, including funding forecasts, capital improvement planning, and departmental growth.
- Coordinates with the Mayor, Deputy Administrator, and Finance Director to align departmental initiatives with City goals and secure funding or grants.
- Represents the department in meetings with internal and external stakeholders, public agencies, and private organizations.
- Regularly attends City Council meetings to provide updates, secure approvals, and present reports or project updates.
- Coordinates Airport Advisory Commission meetings to provide updates, secure approvals, and present reports or project updates.
- Leads trainings for Airport Advisory Commission members and facilitates the agenda and meeting topics with the chairman or vice chairman.
- Provides strategic advice and counsel to City leadership.
- Writes and reviews department reports, agendas, presentations, and grant management documents.
- Oversees grant reimbursement processes for state and federal airport, water, and sewer grants, ensuring compliance and timely submission.
- Approves park use permits and other public works-related documents daily during peak seasons.
- Reviews, edits, and approves legislation, including resolutions, ordinances, action memos, and informational memos, ensuring accuracy and adherence to bi-weekly deadlines.
- Prepares and manages the annual departmental budget, including forecasting, monitoring expenditures, and identifying funding needs.
- Reviews and approves procurement documents, ensuring compliance with City policies.
- Attends and leads meetings with staff, stakeholders, and governmental partners to align initiatives and secure approvals.
- Oversees administrative tasks such as returning phone calls, emails, and other correspondence promptly to maintain strong communication with internal and external contacts.
- Performs additional duties as assigned to support departmental and City objectives.
Knowledge of:
- Civil engineering principles and practices.
- Methods and techniques in the design, construction and maintenance of municipal facilities and projects.
- Principles and practices of budgeting, fiscal management, project management principles and techniques.
- Administrative policies and procedures of the City.
- The City’s and Department’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, state, and federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
- Management and supervisory practices & principles, including the ability to make final employment recommendations, preparing performance evaluations, managing time-off, and maintaining personnel records.
- Principles and practices of budgeting, fiscal management, project management principles and techniques.
- Computer software including word processing, spreadsheet, database applications, and specialized software consistent for this position.
Skill in:
- Skill in researching and understanding complex written materials.
- Organizational and time management to prioritize duties while adapting to constant changes in priority.
- Researching and understanding complex written materials; maintaining accurate internal records.
Ability to:
- Develop department goals and objectives.
- Effectively utilize the principles of strategic and long and short-range planning.
- Adapt and take control of situations, dictating subordinate activities in a responsible manner.
- Instruct and train in methods and procedures.
- Organize, assign, and modify the work assignment of others, and (re)-establish priorities to meet deadlines.
- Apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems, and interpreting policies and regulations.
- Communicate detailed and often sensitive information effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
- Prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
- Maintain professionalism at all times.
- Use appropriate language, style and methods depending on audience and the purpose of communication.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with business representatives, elected officials, department heads, the public, and other City employees with courtesy and tact.
- Maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization.
- Maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports and conversations, within the provision of Freedom of Information Act and other applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations.
- Work the allocated hours of the position and responds after hours if needed.
Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering or related field.
Minimum Certifications: Registration as a Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering in the State of Alaska.
Other Requirements:
- Public Administration training preferred.
- Must obtain a valid State of Alaska Driver's License by time of hire.
- Homeland Security orientation tests will be required as a term of employment; ICS-100 taken on-line with 15 days of date of hire; ICS-200, ICS-700, and ICS-800 tests to be taken on-line with 45 days of date of hire. Complete ICS-300 and ICS-400 training as it becomes available.
Salary : $68 - $90