The City of Littleton is seeking an experienced Public Works & Utilities Director to lead, plan, coordinate, and direct all the operations of the Public Works & Utilities Department. The director utilizes professional project and asset management principles and practices in establishing priorities, goals, and objectives. This position provides the highest levels of customer service by fostering positive relationships with internal and external customers and city leadership.

The ideal candidate will be skilled and enthusiastic about taking the Public Works and Utilities Department to the next level! Experienced leaders who are energetic and committed to strengthening the organization through service and collaborative teamwork will thrive. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with broad public works familiarity and a willingness to be on the ground with the team regularly. They will have a commitment to delivering extraordinary services to the public, including a passion for enhancing multimodal safety and accessibility and an understanding of how to integrate environmental sustainability ethics into the operations of the city. Those with strong project management skills, high emotional intelligence, and someone who actively works with the executive team and city management to accomplish the Council’s goals and objectives is desired.

Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated experience:

• as a senior manager challenged with broadening services and scaling up team project workload
• managing competing service demands from numerous constituencies, and
• building teams and managing changes in values and expectations

The City of Littleton is a vibrant community south of Denver and is consistently voted as one of America’s Best Small Cities, and one of Colorado’s top five places to Raise a Family. Home to a vibrant and historic downtown, and a variety of shopping venues, restaurants, parks and trails, there is a lot to offer to the wonderful people who live and work here. The City of Littleton offers outstanding benefits and perks to our employees. For more information, please see the 2024 Benefit Guide.
 
The City of Littleton believes in attracting and retaining the best talent and our strategies include hiring in at market pay and creating career development opportunities. In addition to your application, please submit a cover letter that describes why you are the best candidate for this position with the City of Littleton.

Starting pay range is $189,400 - $209,300 per year

This full-time position is exempt per FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Application Deadline: This posting will remain open until finalists are identified or the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.

• Participates in the review of private project development plans for compliance with codes, regulations, and standards, adequacy of applications for permits and compliance with approved plans.
• Participates in the development and update of transportation improvement plans, wastewater treatment plans, comprehensive water plan, capital improvement program and other plans involving municipal infrastructure.
• Oversees the preparation of engineering plans and specifications, bidding, competency of contractors and vendors, and the selection of criteria for Public Works contracts. 
• Oversees project management for the construction of public works projects to ensure contractor compliance with time and budget parameters for the project.
• Maintains confidentiality of information consistent with applicable federal, state and city rules and regulations. Plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates the activities and personnel of the Public Works Department.
• Manages and supervises administration, design, and operations to achieve goals within available resources; plan and organize workloads and staff assignments; train, mentor, motivate and evaluate assigned staff; review progress and direct change as needed. 
• Provides leadership and direction in the development of short- and long-range plans; gather, interpret, and prepare data for studies, reports and recommendations; coordinate department activities with other departments and agencies as needed. 
• Makes necessary changes in organizational structure, methods, and procedures for divisions. Formulates department policies and procedures to assure the efficient and effective operation and maintenance of the department; assure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Coordinates and balances activities of department with other city divisions/departments, consultants, developers, contractors, governmental agencies, community organizations, and the public. 
• Assigns work to subordinate supervisors who, in turn, direct the work of their divisions. 
• Issues verbal and written guidelines and approve procedures developed by subordinate supervisors. 
• Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow; studies and standardizes procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations. 
• Issues written and oral instructions; assigns duties and examines work for exactness, neatness, and conformance to policies and procedures. 
• Maintains harmony among workers and resolves grievances; performs or assists subordinates in performing duties. 
• Evaluates work completed by department to determine effectiveness in meeting goals and objectives of department.
• Ensures that responsibilities are performed within budget; performs cost control activities; monitors revenues and expenditures to ensure sound fiscal control; prepares annual and semi-annual budget requests; ensures effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, materials, facilities, and time. 
• Prepares and administers budget for all areas under department; approves the purchase of new and replacement equipment.
• Prepares or reviews routine and complex/detailed reports, projects, and recommendations (including City Council reports, letters, and memoranda) as requested by city management. 
• Prepares or reviews ordinances and resolutions related to public works activities. 
• Conducts special management projects as required. 
• Operates a personal computer including associated software programs. 
• Operates a motor vehicle in traveling to and from work sites or meetings.
• Provides professional advice to City Manager and City Council; makes presentations to supervisors, boards, commissions, civic groups and the general public. Represents the city at various meetings with external officials, agencies and other groups, including South Platte Renew. 
• Attends regular City Council meetings, special meetings, and study sessions, and meetings of various city boards and commissions. 
• Attends and participates in meetings of the city management team. Attends civic and other community organization meetings to discuss the various public works activities of the city and to establish favorable public relations. 
• Addresses inquiries and complaints from the public or other city divisions or departments concerning department's programs and activities. Communicates official plans, policies and procedures to staff and the general public.
• Maintains liaison with other departments as well as state, local, and other public officials.
• Evaluates service costs and makes related recommendations. 
• Identifies and recommends improvements in divisional and departmental operations to ensure assigned functions are efficient and cost effective. 
• Takes proper safety precautions, anticipates unsafe circumstances, and acts accordingly to prevent accidents. 
• Uses all required safety equipment. Performs related duties as required.
• Develops and implements (and revises as necessary) performance measurement criteria for department. 
• Seeks innovation and continuous improvement for department.
• Assists in the city's participation in special community events and other activities.
• Observes and follows established city and department policies and procedures in the daily conduct of the job.
• May serve as an Emergency Worker.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the City Manager or their designee.

Education: 

Experience: 

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible administrative and supervisory experience; or
• An equivalent combination of education, training and work experience that produces the knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilitiesof the position, 
• Must have a valid driver’s license. 

• Advanced knowledge of systems approach to safe, healthy, equitable mobility and accessibility for all users of municipal infrastructure.
• Requires solid interpersonal, oral, public speaking, and written communication skills; effective presentation skills, solid staff leadership; public relations skills; and the ability to effectively communicate and interact with individuals or groups of individuals of varying social, cultural, economic, professional, and educational backgrounds, including the ability to effectively deal with individuals who may be upset; the ability to act with tact, good judgment, and discretion; maintain the confidentiality of matters as appropriate; ability to prioritize community engagement, build buy-in for change, and foster support for city initiatives; and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City Council, Mayor, City Manager, department directors, consultants, staff, and the public.
• Advanced knowledge and ethic for environmental stewardship and responsible use of sustainable practices and conservation that improves human well-being and ecosystem resilience. 
• Requires expert knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of public management and administration; public works management and administration; budget development and oversight and short and long range planning; project management; personnel planning and administration; selecting, supervising, training, and evaluating supervisors, professionals, and administrative personnel, exercises sound judgment and possesses the skill and ability to apply that knowledge to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Requires solid knowledge and understanding of applicable state and federal laws; the city charter and codes; relevant areas of municipal civil liability; methods, materials, and techniques employed in public construction and maintenance project; and knowledge of laws and regulatory codes related to the development and construction of public works construction and maintenance.
• Requires the knowledge, skill, and ability to safely and effectively operate the following equipment and vehicle(s) as may be required to perform essential job functions, as demonstrated by previous work experience and demonstrated on-the-job performance: personal computer with assigned software; telephone; assigned city vehicle or personal vehicle when required for city business.

• Long periods of sitting, standing or walking may be required.
• Work is, primarily, performed in a standard indoor working environment. Outdoor work includes travel may include exposure to adverse weather conditions; occasional noise exposure up to 100 decibels; and possible exposure at construction sites to fumes, odors, dusts, mists, and gases.
• Work requires irregular hours and being available via cell phone during and after work hours and use of various city vehicles and office equipment.
• Work environment requires ability to lift objects up to 20 pounds, bend, stoop, reach, climb ladders/stairs, crouch, etc. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Littleton is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and intends to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and job applicants regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other non-job related characteristic, and to hire and retain the best-qualified individuals without regard to any of these factors. This prohibition includes unlawful harassment based on a protected class.

The City of Littleton will consider reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process and employment. Applicants and employees can request an accommodation by contacting Human Resources at 303-795-3857 or emailing hr@littletongov.org.

Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace

The City of Littleton is committed to the health and safety of all its employees. To ensure a safe and productive work environment the city prohibits the use, sale, dispensation, manufacture, distribution or possession of alcohol, drugs, controlled substances or drug paraphernalia on any city premises or worksites. No employee shall report to work or be at work with alcohol or with any detectable amount of prohibited drugs in the employee's system. A detectable amount refers to the standards generally used in workplace drug & alcohol testing. This prohibition specifically includes marijuana, and decriminalized psychedelics whether used for medical purposes or obtained legally under state law.

For more information, please contact: 

Chandler Beaman

Recruiter

cbeaman@duffygroup.com

602-344-9393