Assistant DPW Director

City of Westfield; Westfield (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Westfield is seeking an Assistant Director of Public Works to lead the department, coordinate divisions, and guide capital programs. The role reports to the Director and requires strong budgeting, procurement, and safety compliance with a focus on citizen service.

Key duties include supervising staff, planning capital improvements, and ensuring regulatory compliance across public works operations, with readiness for emergencies and community outreach.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, public administration, business administration, construction management, environmental science, engineering technology or a related field.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in public works or municipal operations with supervisory experience.
• Valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the administration and operation of the Public Works Department.
• Coordinate activities among divisions to promote efficient use of personnel, equipment, facilities and financial resources.
• Assist in developing short- and long-term departmental work plans, operational priorities and capital improvement programs.
• Supervises, directly or indirectly, Public Works personnel; assigns and coordinates work; monitors employee performance; assists with hiring, promotion, discipline, evaluations, training and other personnel actions.

Skills

Public works management

Budget and procurement

Leadership and supervision

Emergency response coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, public administration, business administration, construction management, environmental science, engineering technology or a related field

Tools

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Job description

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Job Opportunities

Current employment opportunities with the City of Westfield are listed on this page. If you do not see any job postings listed below then there are currently no positions available.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the general direction of the Director of Public Works, the Assistant Director is responsible for assisting in the administration, management, coordination, and oversight of the operations of the Public Works Department. The position provides leadership and direction to department personnel, coordinates work among divisions, monitors departmental programs and projects, assists with budget and procurement activities, ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies and safety requirements, and assists the Director in planning and implementing departmental goals and priorities. The Assistant Director serves as Acting Director when designated or authorized by the Director and performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Assistant Director reports directly to the Director of Public Works and exercises department-wide administrative and operational authority as delegated by the Director. The position provides direct and indirect supervision of department personnel through Deputy Superintendents, Superintendents, Foremen and other supervisory personnel. The Assistant Director is responsible for coordinating activities among divisions to ensure efficient use of personnel, equipment and resources.

The Assistant Director is expected to operate within the parameters of good judgement, established business practices, City policies and procedures and the law.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists the Director in the overall administration and operation of the Public Works Department.
• Coordinates activities among Public Works divisions to promote efficient use of personnel, equipment, facilities and financial resources.
• Assists in developing short- and long-term departmental work plans, operational priorities and capital improvement programs.
• Monitors departmental workload, staffing levels, schedules and operational performance.
• Identifies operational deficiencies and recommends improvements to policies, procedures, staffing, equipment and work methods.
• Assists the Director in establishing departmental goals, performance measures and service standards.
• Supervises, directly or indirectly, Public Works personnel; assigns and coordinates work; monitors employee performance; assists with hiring, promotion, discipline, evaluations, training and other personnel actions in accordance with City policies and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Works with division Superintendents to address personnel issues.
• Identifies training needs and coordinates professional development.
• Promotes employee accountability and adherence to departmental policies.
• Ensures adequate staffing and succession planning for critical operations.
• Assists in preparation and administration of the annual operating and capital budgets.
• Monitors expenditures and commitments against approved budgets.
• Reviews purchase requests, invoices, contracts and expenditures for compliance with budgetary and procurement requirements.
• Evaluates projects and purchases based on cost, operational need, life-cycle costs and available funding.
• Assists the Purchasing Department and Director with the procurement of vehicles, equipment, materials, professional services and construction services; prepares or reviews specifications, bid documents and scopes of work; evaluates proposals and vendor qualifications; and verifies that purchased goods and services meet specifications and contractual requirements.
• Oversees contractors and consultants performing work for the Department and monitors compliance with contract specifications, schedules, budgets, safety requirements and applicable laws and regulations.
• Assists in the development and implementation of asset management programs for municipal infrastructure, facilities, vehicles and equipment; evaluates condition, remaining useful life, maintenance requirements and replacement needs; and assists in prioritizing capital improvements based on condition, risk, service needs and available funding.
• Plans for and responds to emergencies affecting Public Works operations, including severe weather, snow, ice, flooding, water and sewer emergencies, major infrastructure failures, hazardous materials incidents, power outages and other emergencies. Coordinates Public Works resources with the Police, Fire, Emergency Management and other City departments as necessary.
• Serves as departmental liaison to Local Emergency Planning Committee of the City; participates in training events and meetings related thereto. Responsible for the implementation of all department safety policies and procedures.
• Oversees implementation of departmental safety policies and procedures; promotes a department-wide culture of workplace safety; ensures that supervisors address identified hazards; assists with safety training; reviews workplace accidents and injuries; and recommends corrective measures to reduce future incidents.
• Oversees the effective use and maintenance of departmental technology and communications systems, including SCADA, radio communications, GPS/vehicle tracking, work-order systems, GIS, asset management systems and other operational technology.
• Assists with the development of plans, specifications, estimates, scopes of work and project schedules for construction, maintenance and repair projects.
• Responds to and assists in resolving inquiries, complaints and service requests from residents, businesses, elected officials and other stakeholders; communicates departmental policies and operational requirements in a professional and courteous manner; and assists the Director with public presentations and community outreach.
• Monitors departmental operations for compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, permits, policies and standards, including requirements related to environmental protection, public health, workplace safety, water and wastewater operations, stormwater, solid waste and public infrastructure.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY

Knowledge of general business practices and personnel management. Ability to deal with appropriate governmental agencies. General knowledge of administrative and management practices and Federal, State, and Municipal regulations.

Must possess knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws relating to Public Works, Water and Wastewater Treatment operations including knowledge of administration, supervision, promotion and emergency operating procedures.

Familiarity with environmental protection issues as they relate to Public Works, Water and Wastewater operations including wildlife and vegetation protection as well as water resource protection and noise pollution regulations.

Ability to interpret and utilize technical sketches and plans. Familiarity of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Assess and monitor the City’s infrastructure to provide adequate levels of public service both for existing systems/networks and extensions/developments.

Knowledge of construction techniques involving wastewater facilities, water systems, streets and roads, drainage systems, flood control and sanitary sewers.

Ability to assess and monitor work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement; direct and implement changes. Background in motivation and evaluation of Public Works Department personnel; coordination of staff training.

Experience with development and administration of Public Works Department budget; History of interaction with the general public with respect to with public service needs as it pertains to public works projects.

Ability to use the personal computer to access and use spreadsheets and databases.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with others within the department and deal with the public in a courteous and professional manner.

Possession of a valid driver's license.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, public administration, business administration, construction management, environmental science, engineering technology or a related field. A combination of education, training and progressively responsible experience in public works, municipal operations, engineering, construction, utilities, facilities management or a related field may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.

Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in public works, municipal operations, construction, engineering, utilities, transportation, facilities management or a related field, including supervisory or management experience.

JOB ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical Skills

Work is performed primarily in an office environment but requires frequent travel to municipal facilities, construction sites, roads, utility facilities, treatment facilities and other Public Works locations. The position may be exposed to traffic, construction activities, heavy equipment, wastewater facilities, weather conditions, noise, dust, odors and other potentially hazardous conditions. Must be available to respond to emergencies outside normal working hours, including nights, weekends and holidays, as required.

Ability to carry out the functions and duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of this position as described in the necessary knowledge, ability and skills for dexterity and communication.

Motor Skills

The work requires motor skills for activities such as keyboarding, filing, moving objects and operating a variety of office equipment and the ability to handle and manipulate small items.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require routinely reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.