Project Manager- Public Works

City of Palmdale; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Palmdale is seeking an advanced professional journey-level Project Manager in Public Works to oversee complex capital improvement projects. You will manage design, construction, budgets, and procurement in coordination with staff, consultants, and contractors.

Responsibilities include cost estimates, contract administration, grant support, and stakeholder liaison, with field site visits and occasional after-hours work as needed.

Qualifications

• Four years of increasingly responsible design, project, and construction management experience, including significant responsibility for public works projects.
• Knowledge of CEQA, NEQA, and Public Contract Code.
• Methods and practices of budget preparation and administration; funder requirements.
• Ability to communicate with City staff, consultants, contractors, and other agencies.

Responsibilities

• Prepare project cost estimates and budgets; provide professional engineering support.
• Manage procurement of professional service contracts; review proposals and negotiate awards.
• Administer contracts, define changes, and ensure schedules and budgets are met.
• Interface with City staff, consultants and contractors; conduct status update meetings.
• Develop methods for tracking costs and timelines; maintain project files.
• Review plans and specs for public works projects; assist with grants applications.
• May liaison with contractors; inspect work to ensure standards.
• Review invoices, submittals, and payments; administer contract processing procedures.
• Serve as liaison with city, public, utilities, permitting agencies and stakeholders; supervise staff.
• Perform related duties as required.

Skills

Project management

Civil engineering

Budgeting

Contract management

Public works knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Job description

The full salary range for this position is as follows:$57.80 to $73.77. Expected hiring range is as follows: $57.80 to $63.73.

DESCRIPTION:

To perform professional and technical engineering and project management for a variety of complex and sensitive capital improvement projects in compliance with applicable standards, specifications, and objectives; research and plan for a variety of capital improvement and maintenance/improvement projects; perform complex engineering plan review related to capital projects; and track and communicate project status to appropriate personnel.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is an advanced professional journey level class responsible for managing complex and sensitive capital improvement projects. Public Works Project Managers receive general direction from higher level management and are allocated only to the Department of Public Works. Positions at this class level are distinguished from other classes within the engineering series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, and by the nature of the public contact made. Employees may provide direct supervision over assigned staff including technical and professional engineering staff. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned areas of responsibility.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Essential and other important responsibilities and functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Prepare project cost estimates and project budgets; provide professional and technical engineering support services relative to assigned area of responsibility.
• Manage the procurement process for professional service contracts. Receive professional service proposals and review for completeness, appropriateness of the scope of work and compliance with City standards and specification requirements; recommend award of bid and negotiate professional service contracts; manage contract throughout the life of the project (planning, design, and construction).
• Administer contracts and project requirements and standards in accordance with city policies and procedures and funder requirements; define and negotiate contract changes. Apply project management principles to ensure projects are completed in accordance with established schedules, funding source requirements and budgets.
• Interface, communicate and develop partnerships with City staff, consultants, contractors, and representatives from other agencies during project design and construction; coordinate and conduct status update meetings with contractor and applicable city personnel; monitor project budget and schedule and provide status updates to appropriate staff and management.
• Develop methods for tracking and monitoring project costs and timelines; maintain detailed files throughout the duration of the project.
• Review plans and specifications for public works projects including pumping stations, streets, storm drains, sewer lines, street lighting, parks, building and related projects; research project design requirements; perform calculations and prepare estimates of time and material costs; help in the preparation of grant applications.
• May serve as liaison with contractors; inspect contractor work to ensure work meets the standards and expectations of the city.
• Review and process consultant or contractor invoices, schedules, submittals, and recommend payment.
• Assist with the development and implementation of contract processing procedures to ensure projects are completed in a timely manner and in compliance with applicable standards.
• Serve as a liaison between the city, public, utilities, permitting agencies and other internal and external stakeholders for assigned projects.
• May plan, prioritize, assign, supervise, and review the work of staff related to assigned activities.
• Perform related work as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of project management.
• Principles and practices of professional and technical engineering as applied to new development and municipal public works.
• Applicable laws and regulatory codes related to development, design and construction including CEQA, NEQA, and Public Contract Code.
• Methods and techniques used in the design and construction of a variety of public works projects.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration; federal, state, and local funder requirements.
• Principles and practices of safety management.
• Pertinent local, State and Federal laws, ordinances and rules including Disadvantaged Business, ADA, green, and CEQA regulations.
• Principles of organization, administration, and personnel management.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and performance evaluations.

Ability to:

• Develop and implement methods for tracking project related costs and timelines.
• Independently negotiate agreements and modifications; administer contracts.
• Develop, administer, and adjust complex program and project grants and budgets; ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• Interpret and explain pertinent City and department policies and procedures.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
• Manage multiple projects in various phases of completion while ensuring deliverables meet applicable standards and specifications, project budget and timeline.
• Interpret and apply applicable codes, ordinances, rules, and regulations related to development and construction.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate the work performed by assigned staff.
• Interpret, review, and analyze development proposals, plans, and specifications.
• Make engineering computations and check, design, and supervise the construction of a variety of public works projects.
• Perform professional and technical support services relative to assigned area of responsibility.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering, construction management, project management or related field including 30 semester units in civil engineering

Experience:

Four years of increasingly responsible design, project, and construction management experience, including significant responsibility for public works projects.

Licenses/Certifications/Other Requirements:

Possession of a valid California driver's license by time of appointment is required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

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 Environment:

Work is performed in a typical temperature-controlled office environment subject to typical office noise and environment. Position will require frequent field visits to construction sites both indoors and outdoors.

Incumbents in this class may be required to work during irregular business hours, including evenings and weekends on an occasional basis. May be required to travel on an occasional basis.

Revised: October, 2026

FLSA: Overtime exempt