DPW Supervisor

City of St Joseph; Portland (MI); On-site; USD 77,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid pension plan

Health insurance

Life insurance

Work/life balance

Municipal work environment

Meaningful community impact

Job summary

The City of Portland invites applications for a DPW Supervisor to lead the Public Works Department across streets, parks, cemeteries, equipment, buildings, and water distribution. You will guide engineers, contractors, and city staff to deliver safe, efficient projects while controlling budgets and schedules.

Ideal candidates have a civil engineering or construction management background with 7+ years in public works, plus supervisory experience and Michigan CDL endorsements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in civil engineering, construction management, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible public works or civil engineering experience with supervisory duties.
• State of Michigan CDL with appropriate endorsements.
• Satisfactory driving record throughout employment.
• Strong knowledge of public works, utilities, budgeting, and project administration.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work with employees, city officials, contractors and the public.
• Occasional meetings outside regular hours and after-hours emergency responsiveness.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of the Public Works Department.
• Supervise department staff: assign work, evaluate performance, train, develop.
• Develop and administer the department budget and monitor expenditures.
• Assess infrastructure needs and recommend improvements and equipment purchases.
• Oversee maintenance of streets, parks, cemeteries, buildings, equipment, and water infrastructure.
• Collaborate with engineers, contractors, agencies, and city officials on projects.
• Monitor project quality, schedules, specs, and budgets.
• Develop and implement department policies, safety standards, and preventive maintenance.
• Respond to public inquiries and engage residents and organizations.
• Maintain records and prepare reports and presentations.
• Participate in emergency response and other public works activities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Public works knowledge

Experience with supervision

Budgeting

Project administration

Stakeholder engagement

Team management

Safety programs

Emergency response

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in civil engineering or construction management

Job description

Lead the team that helps keep Portland a great place to live, work and visit.

The City of Portland is seeking an experienced, motivated, and community-minded professional to serve as our DPW Supervisor.

This is an important leadership position responsible for overseeing the City's Public Works operations, including streets, parks, cemeteries, equipment, buildings, engineering, water distribution, infrastructure maintenance, and public works projects.

We are looking for someone who loves the community, takes pride in their work, and enjoys helping maintain the high quality of life that Portland residents value.

Under the direction of the City Manager, the DPW Supervisor provides leadership to department employees, manages daily operations, oversees projects and contractors, develops and administers the department budget, evaluates infrastructure and capital needs, and helps ensure City services are delivered safely, efficiently, and effectively.

What You'll Do

The DPW Supervisor is responsible for:

• Leading and directing the daily operations of the Public Works Department.
• Supervising department employees, including assigning work, evaluating performance, training, and professional development.
• Developing and administering the department's annual budget and monitoring expenditures.
• Assessing infrastructure and capital needs and recommending improvements and equipment purchases.
• Overseeing maintenance of City streets, parks, cemeteries, buildings, equipment, and water distribution infrastructure.
• Working with engineers, contractors, governmental agencies, and City officials on construction and infrastructure projects.
• Monitoring projects to ensure quality, schedules, specifications, and budgets are maintained.
• Developing and implementing department policies, procedures, safety standards, and preventative maintenance programs.
• Responding to public inquiries and working with residents and community organizations.
• Maintaining required records and preparing reports and presentations.
• Participating in emergency response and other public works activities as needed.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is an experienced public works professional who is comfortable leading people, managing projects, working with contractors and engineers, and interacting with the public.

We are looking for someone who:

• Takes pride in maintaining and improving community infrastructure.
• Enjoys working with people and leading a team.
• Is organized, dependable, and willing to get involved when needed.
• Has strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Can balance day-to-day operations with long-term planning.
• Uses good judgment and takes ownership of their responsibilities.
• Understands the importance of providing quality public services to residents.
• Has a genuine interest in the City of Portland and the community it serves.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in civil engineering, construction management, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in public works, public utilities, or civil engineering, including supervisory and administrative responsibilities.
• State of Michigan Commercial Driver's License (CDL), with the ability to obtain appropriate endorsements.
• Satisfactory driving record and ability to maintain it throughout employment.
• Strong knowledge of public works and utility operations, infrastructure maintenance, facilities management, budgeting, personnel administration, and project administration.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with employees, City officials, contractors, consultants, and the public.
• Ability to attend occasional meetings outside normal business hours and respond to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $76,687 – $108,116, DOQ

The City of Portland offers an attractive benefits package, including:

• Hybrid pension plan
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Work/life balance
• A supportive municipal work environment
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community

If you are an experienced public works professional who wants to be part of a community and take pride in the work you do every day, we would like to hear from you.

The City of Portland is an equal opportunity employer.