DPW Superintendent - Streets, Parks & Forestry Division

City of Whitewater; Whitewater (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Life Insurance

Job summary

City of Whitewater is seeking a Streets/Parks/Forestry Superintendent to lead construction, maintenance, and operational activities for municipal streets, parking lots, parks, equipment, stormwater, and forestry. This role supervises staff, applies safety standards, and coordinates with city leadership.

The ideal candidate will plan projects, monitor budgets, and communicate with the public and WDNR, ensuring quality service and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Associate degree in civil engineering or engineering technician preferred.
• Minimum five years of experience in construction, repair and maintenance of municipal streets, parking lots, parks, parks equipment, stormwater facilities, traffic/street lighting, and forestry.
• Any equivalent of related education and experience that provides requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for the position.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain streets, parking lots, parks, equipment, stormwater infrastructure, traffic/street lighting, and forestry facilities as directed by budget adoption.
• Overall supervision of full-, part-time and seasonal personnel; plan, coordinate, assign and review work activities, maintain standards, allocate personnel and evaluate performance; ensure compliance with safety codes and regulations.
• Advise Director of Public Works, City Manager, engineer and other city officials in department activities; provide information to civic groups regarding street/parks/forestry services.
• Plan, schedule and oversee construction, maintenance and repair projects to provide quality service for the city.
• Monitor incoming snowstorms and schedule crews accordingly to clear streets in a timely and professional manner.
• Respond to after-hour emergencies, weather events and public safety concerns and contact appropriate staff to respond.
• Maintain open communication with WDNR and stay abreast of new technological and regulatory changes.
• Monitor expenditures and recommend budget; make recommendations for purchases of equipment, materials and supplies.
• Coordinate projects and activities with other utilities, property owners and the public.
• Assist in the design and installation of new streets/parking lots, stormwater infrastructure, traffic/street lighting, and related systems and facilities.
• Participate in long- and short-range planning of capital improvement projects.
• Coordinate with others in locating of utility services.
• Assist in development of the Five-Year Street Improvement Plan.
• Assists in City Maintenance Operations as needed (snow plowing, concrete/asphalt paving, etc.).

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate degree in civil engineering or engineering technician preferred

Minimum five years of municipal streets/parks/forestry construction and maintenance experience

Tools

MS Office

Job description

• Turn big-picture priorities into action on the street?
• Build effective crews by matching the right people to the right work?
• Juggle competing demands, delegate effectively, and keep projects on track from start to finish?

Job Summary

Are You Someone Who Can…

• Turn big-picture priorities into action on the street?
• Build effective crews by matching the right people to the right work?
• Juggle competing demands, delegate effectively, and keep projects on track from start to finish?

The Streets/Parks/Forestry Superintendent manages and oversees the construction, repair and maintenance of municipal streets, parking lots, parks, equipment, stormwater infrastructure, traffic/street lighting, and forestry for the City of Whitewater. This role supervises daily operations, coordinates seasonal work, manages equipment and personnel and ensures public safety.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary.

• Operates and maintains the streets, parking lots, parks, equipment, stormwater infrastructure, traffic/street lighting, and forestry facilities as directed by budget adoption.
• Overall supervision of full, part-time and seasonal personnel; plans, coordinates, assigns and reviews work activities, maintains standards, allocates personnel and evaluates performance; ensures compliance with all safety codes and regulations.
• Advises Director of Public Works, City Manager, engineer and other city officials in matter relating to department activities; provides information to various civic, educational and public groups regarding street/parks/forestry services.
• Plans, schedules and oversees construction, maintenance and repair projects and programs to provide quality service for the city.
• Monitors incoming snowstorms and schedules crews accordingly to clear streets in a timely and professional manner.
• Responds to after-hour emergencies, weather events and public safety concerns and contacts appropriate staff to respond.
• Maintains open communication on various issues with the WDNR and keep abreast of new technological and regulatory changes.
• Monitors all expenditures and recommends budget. Makes recommendations for the purchase of equipment, materials and supplies.
• Responds to inquiries and complaints from the public and other sources regarding the department’s services. Coordinates projects and activities with other utilities, property owners and the public.
• Assists in the design and installation of new streets/parking lots, stormwater infrastructure, traffic/street lighting, and related systems and facilities.
• Participates in long- and short-range planning of capital improvement projects.
• Coordinates with others in the locating of utility services.
• Assists in development of the Five-Year Street Improvement Plan.

Additional duties and responsibilities

• Serves on various employee or other committees as assigned.
• Assists in City Maintenance Operations as needed, i.e. snow plowing, concrete paving, asphalt paving, etc.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And/or Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Equivalent to an associate’s degree in civil engineering or engineering technician preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in the construction, repair and maintenance of municipal streets, parking lots, parks, parks equipment, stormwater facilities, traffic/street lighting, and forestryoperation.
• Any equivalent of related education and experience that provides requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for the position.

Language Skills

• Ability to analyze data and information using established criteria, in order to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives.
• Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, copy, record and transcribe data and information.
• Ability to classify, compute, tabulate, and categorize data.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to advise and interpret how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Ability to utilize a variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information such as Wisconsin Administrative Codes, OSHA Codes, municipal ordinances, mutual aid agreements and non-routine correspondence.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with city personnel, department personnel and city residents.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to calculate percentages, fractions, decimals, volumes, ratios, present values, and spatial relationships.
• Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory and/or judgmental criteria.
• Ability to work well under pressure and handle stressful situations, to organize work and set priorities, managing time and resources to meet deadlines and changing demands within the entire operation of administrative services, perform duties with a minimum of supervision.

Other Qualifications

• Proficiency in typing, computers and electronic data processing.
• Working knowledge of modern office practices and procedures and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to effectively meet and deal with the public.
• Creative thinking and planning skills are desirable.
• Ability to work effectively in cooperation with fellow employees as a member of the administrative staff team.
• Ability to work in and maintain an environment that deals with sensitive and confidential information.
• Valid State Driver's License.
• Valid CDL Driver's License.

Supervision Received and/or Exercised

• Works under the general supervision of the Public Works Director.
• Exercises close supervision over assigned laborers, seasonal employees, and other support staff.

We are proud to be recognized as a Family Friendly Workplace, supporting employees through flexible scheduling, family-focused leave policies, and a workplace culture that values balance, well-being, and time with loved ones.

• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) – WRS participation begins the 1st day of employment. The City and Employees share the required Employee Trust Fund (ETF) contribution.
• Wisconsin Public Employers Group Life Insurance Program – Employees are eligible to purchase life insurance in this program on the 1st of the month following their hire date. Spousal/dependent coverage is available.
• Income Continuation Insurance (Long Term Disability Insurance) – Employees are eligible for coverage the 1st of the month following their hire date. City will pay full cost of basic coverage at 180 day elimination period. Employee may pay a premium to reduce the elimination period and purchase supplemental coverage if eligible.
• Health Insurance – Employees are eligible for coverage the 1st of the month following their hire date. Single or Family coverage available. The plan includes valuable $0 care options, including unlimited services through a designated Direct Primary Care provider, eligible preventive care, virtual visits, certain specialty and outpatient services through preferred providers, and select medications. Employees also have access to a Nurse Navigator who can help identify lower-cost or no-cost care and prescription options. A wellness incentive is available to further reduce the employee’s premium contribution.
• Dental Insurance – Employees are eligible for coverage the 1st of the month following their hire date.
• Vision Insurance - Employees are eligible for coverage the 1st of the month following their hire date.
• Section 125 Flexible Benefit – Optional Employee benefit. Employees are immediately eligible for the City's FSA (Section 125) Program benefit upon hire. FSA contributions can be made for Medical and/or Dependent care.
• Paid Vacation – Employees are eligible for paid vacation. Vacation time is prorated during the first year of employment and is awarded on a calendar-year basis.
• Paid Sick Leave - Employees earn sick leave hours each pay period.
• Lifestyle Savings Account (LSA) - $500.00 for wellness and other eligible expenses. This amount will be prorated based on your start date for the first year of employment.
• Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program (WDC) – The WDC is Wisconsin's supplemental retirement savings program authorized under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Employees choosing to participate in the program enroll directly with WDC for payroll deduction.

Questions – If you have additional questions regarding any benefits offered by the City of Whitewater, please contact Human Resources, [phone] or [e-mail]