Deputy Director of Public Works
City of Palmdale, California
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Job summary
The City of Palmdale, California seeks a Deputy Director to assist the Director in short- and long-term planning, development, and administration of department policies, procedures, and services. This senior role coordinates with City departments and public agencies to advance strategic objectives.
Responsibilities include budget development, staff supervision, and presenting to City committees. A strong background in administration and engineering principles is essential, with leadership in a
Qualifications
- Broad knowledge of administrative principles and practices, goal setting, program development, implementation and evaluation, with staff supervision.
- Interpret, apply and explain applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
- Public agency budgetary, contract administration, citywide administrative practices, and risk management principles.
Responsibilities
- Assist in planning, directing and coordinating the work of the Department.
- Prepare and administer a department budget.
- Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing.
- Research and prepare financial and long-range planning reports.
- Represent the City before boards, committees, commissions and the public.
- Select, train, supervise and evaluate employees.
Skills
Education
Job description
The full salary range for this position is as follows:$81.33-$103.78, Expected salary range is $81.33- $89.65.
The Deputy Director is responsible for providing professional-level support to the Director in various areas. The Deputy Director assists in short and long-term planning, development, and administration of the Department’s policies, procedures and services. Successful performance of the work requires a professional background, as well as skills in coordinating departmental work with other City departments and public agencies.
This class is distinguished from the Director in that the latter has overall responsibility for all functions, activities, and for developing, implementing, and interpreting public policy.
- Recommend and assist in the implementation of department goals, objectives, policies, and priorities; develop strategies to build a sustainable organization and meet City strategic objectives.
- Evaluate operations and activities of assigned responsibilities; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities.
- Lead in the development and administration of the department's annual budget; recommend and assist with forecasting additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitor and approve expenditures; and implement budgetary adjustments as necessary.
- Assist in selecting, training, motivating, and directing department personnel; evaluate and review work for acceptability and conformance with department and City standards; coach, counsel, and recommend progressive discipline; respond to staff questions and concerns.
- Assess and monitor workload, administrative and support systems and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement; recommend and implement changes.
- Assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods and procedures; meet with key staff to identify and resolve problems.
- Interpret departmental policies and governing codes and regulations for departmental employees.
- Make presentations to City committees, commissions, and City Council.
- Function as a member of the City's management team and participate actively in addressing issues of concern to the City, which at times may not have a direct impact on area of specialization.
- Act on behalf of the Director as required.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
- Plan, and direct, and manage all City activities and programs involving environmental programs, , project management, and construction; coordinate the Department of Public Works’ programs and activities by incorporating with input from other departments and divisions within the City.
- Manage, oversee, and participates in a variety of professional engineering work, including the preparation of plans and project specifications; direct and coordinate project inspections; and draft ordinances according to general instructions.
- Manage, oversee, and participate in the review of plans; evaluates compliance with laws, ordinances, and acceptable engineering standards, and recommend corrections or improvements. .
- Prepare and evaluate requests for proposals relating to projects that require contract engineering work; direct the preparation of project cost estimates for competitive bidding purposes; review plans of consulting/engineering firms performing work for the City and evaluate their performance; prepare construction contract modifications and negotiate contract changes and change order costs.
- Compile and analyze statistical data and information, and prepare technical reports relating to public works projects and programs; assist in the preparation of projections for the department budget, and monitors expenditures.
- Research, analyze, and apply for various grants and other funding sources.
- Extensive knowledge of administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and supervision of staff, either directly or through subordinate levels of supervision.
- Interpret, apply and explain applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
- Public agency budgetary, contract administration, citywide administrative practices, and general principles or risk management related to the functions of the assigned areas.
- Contract negotiation and administration.
- Principles of research and effective report preparation.
- Administration, budgeting, and personnel management.
- Assist with planning, directing and coordinating the work of the Department.
- Prepare and administer a department budget.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Research and prepare complex financial and long-range planning reports.
- Represent the interests of the City before various boards, committees, commissions, outside agencies, and the public.
- Select, train, supervise and evaluate employees.
- Make sound and effective decisions regarding operational and personnel functions.
- Respond to emergency and problem situations in an effective manner.
- Understand, explain, and apply policies and procedures.
- Analyze unusual situations and resolve them through application of management and engineering principles and practices.
- Develop comprehensive plans to meet future City needs/services.
- Deal constructively with conflict and develop effective resolutions.
- Develop new policies impacting divisional operations/procedures.
- Attend meetings and/or events on evenings and/or weekends.
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering, construction management, public administration or related field. A Master's degree or California Professional Civil Engineering license is highly desirable.
Six years of progressively responsible with 3 years supervisory or management experience in an applicable field.
Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain a valid California driver's license, or the ability to use alternative transportation methods to perform the essential duties of the position.
Possession of a valid California driver's license by time of appointment is required for assignments in certain departments, including Economic and Community Development, Housing, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works.
Physical Demands: Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting for long periods of time; occasional climbing, bending and squatting.
Lifting: frequently up to 10 pounds; occasionally up to 40 pounds.
Vision: constant use of overall vision; frequent reading and close-up work; occasional color and depth vision.
Dexterity: frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding, and reaching.
Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking, in person and on the phone.
Emotional/Psychological: frequent decision-making and concentration; frequent public and/or coworker contact; occasional working alone.
Environmental: frequent exposure to noise.
Work is performed in a typical temperature-controlled office environment subject to typical office noise and environment.
Position regularly requires work outside normal business hours including after hours and, weekend work and travel is occasional.
This is a Confidential position.
Revised: November 2025
FLSA: Overtime exempt
The City of Palmdale is noted for its highly skilled workforce, with a large concentration of aerospace firms located at Air Force Plant 42 and nearby Edwards Air Force Base. Its family-oriented and culturally enhancing venues, such as the Palmdale Playhouse, DryTown Water Park and Palmdale Amphitheater, make Palmdale "a place to call home." Palmdale is located approximately one hour north of Los Angeles off the Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14). It encompasses 106.6 square miles and has a population of approximately 165,450. The City is served by several school districts and has a growing retail and commercial base. For more information, visit www.CityOfPalmdaleCA.gov.
Normal operating hours are from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday – Thursday. CLOSED on Friday.
The Teamsters Local 986 represents certain positions in the City's Public Works Maintenance Division and Parks and Recreation Department.
Additional benefits apply to the positions of Deputy Director, Director, Deputy City Manager and Assistant City Manager. These are at-will positions and do not serve a probationary period.
RESIDENCE within the City is not required.
AN ELIGIBILITY LIST of the most qualified applicants will be compiled based on the results of the selection process. The list will remain in place for a period to be determined by Human Resources.
The benefits listed here apply to full-time positions, not to part-time employees unless described.
A PROBATION PERIOD of one year minimum applies to initial employment with the City.
These employees are considered at-will and will not serve a one year probation period. Employees in this classification will also receive an auto allowance.
- The City provides 15 paid holidays per year and 80 hours vacation (years one through four) with a maximum accrual of 240 hours. Exempt employees accrue 80 hours of administrative leave per year with a maximum accrual of 240 hours.
- SICK LEAVE: Employees accrue 96 hours per year with a maximum accrual of 800 hours. Part-time employees shall accrue one (1) hour of Sick Leave for every 20 hours worked. Total accrued bank sick leave may not exceed 80 hours.
- RETIREMENT: The City is a member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). Full-time employees will be enrolled in either the New Member or Classic plan, as defined by CalPERS. New Members are enrolled in the 2% @ 62 formula and pay the full 7.75% employee contribution. Classic Members are enrolled in the 2% @ 60 formula and pay the full 7% employee contribution.
- All other part-time employees are covered under the Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS).
- WELLNESS PROGRAM: Employees may be reimbursed up to $500 per fiscal year for qualified wellness expenses.
- DIRECT DEPOSIT: Direct Deposit is mandatory for all new employees.
- INSURANCE: The City offers group health, dental/vision, long term and short term disability, and a $50,000 life insurance policy for full-time employees. The City contributes towards the employee's health insurance.
- DEFERRED COMPENSATION: The City offers a Deferred Compensation Plan which enables full-time employees to contribute on a tax deferred basis. The City matches up to $200 per month.
- BILINGUAL STIPEND: Eligible employees may receive bilingual pay.
- OVERTIME COMPENSATION: Overtime is accrued at time-and-a-half for eligible employees for time physically worked in excess of the regular 40-hour work week.
- PART-TIME EMPLOYEES: Part-time employees are reviewed for merit salary advancement but are not eligible for any other benefits listed.
- MILEAGE PAY: Any employee may be reimbursed for work related mileage at a rate consistent with IRS guidelines when assigned to use their private vehicle on City business.
- SOCIAL SECURITY: The City does not participate in Social Security and does not deduct Social Security payments from any employee's salary. The City deducts 1.45% of salary for Medicare and makes a 1.45% matching contribution.
- Benefits can change at any time.
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