Director of Public Works | Department of Public Works

This is administrative and civil engineering work, directing and coordinating a city-wide public works program. This includes overall responsibility for all public works functions. General direction is received from the Mayor through conferences and policy directives, and work is reviewed for the achievement of desired objectives.

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plans, organizes, and administers a plan for public works; directs the program and activities of engineering, public buildings, refuse and disposal, flood control, streets, and vehicle maintenance. 
•  Prepares departmental budget after consultation with bureau directors. Reviews the work of technical and professional personnel involved in the various programs.
• Confers with bureau to formulate and develop departmental plans and design for construction of public utilities and non-utilities such as streets.
• Coordinates the activities of the various bureaus compromising the department; supervises and reviews through bureau heads, the preparation of proposals, the inspection of contractual work, the maintenance and repair of streets and bridges; confers with unit heads on operational, budgetary, personnel, equipment and work program needs; resolves the most complex situations.
• Reviews the preparation and processing of documents for all public works projects and capital budget proposals and schedules.
• Coordinates all federal and state projects related to site improvements and sewer construction within the right of way of public streets, with the Redevelopment Authority, relative to engineering, planning preparation, bidding and construction.
•  Performs other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering.
• Extensive knowledge of modern engineering methods and techniques as applied to municipal public street construction, sewage treatment and sanitation.
• Extensive knowledge of modern engineering administrative methods and techniques required in directing a large operational department employing technical, inspectional, and skilled personnel engaged in a variety of public works activities.
•  Thorough knowledge of law, rules and regulations controlling municipal street construction and maintenance and/or operational problems.
• Ability to develop and enforce departmental policies affecting divisional operations. 
• Ability to express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, associates and the public.
• Ability to keep abreast of legislative and other activities that affect public works.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering.
• Extensive civil engineering experience, seven (7) years of which shall have been in the field of highway or street construction and maintenance, including four (4) years in an administrative capacity.
• Or, any equivalent combination of acceptable training and experience.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES:

• Registration as a professional engineer as issued by the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for professional engineers prior to appointment.

Director of Public Works Job Description | PDF