Assistant Director of Public Works/Asst City Engineer en City of Lake Forest, CA

About the Department

Position Duties

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.

1. Assists the Director of Public Works/City Engineer in all Public Works activities including public works administration, engineering programs and services, capital improvement program, contract procurement and administration, road, park, and landscape maintenance programs and services, and environmental programs including watershed management and water quality programs.
2. Assists in the implementation of departmental goals, objectives, and priorities for each assigned service area; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
3. Establishes, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; allocates resources accordingly.
4. Assesses and monitors work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; directs and implements changes.
5. Plans, directs, and coordinates, through subordinate level staff, the Public Works Department’s work plan; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures; meets with key staff to identify and resolve problems.
6. Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
7. Assists and participates in the administration of the department budget; approves the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary.
8. Analyzes and evaluates the more complex, visible, or controversial issues or projects and provides direction to staff; personally manages selected assignments.
9. Oversees the services and activities of the Engineering Division including design and construction inspection of public works, capital improvement projects, preparation of plan estimates and contract documents, land use application review and comment, private development plan review, and water quality pollution prevention; serves as Assistant City Engineer.
10. Oversees the services and activities of the Traffic Engineering Division including traffic engineering and transportation planning studies, the preparation of plans and specifications for traffic engineering projects, and the plan, design, and review of traffic control systems.
11. Oversees all services and activities of the water quality program; ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
12. Provides technical advice to developers, architects, engineers, contractors, and City personnel regarding engineering matters.
13. Responds to informational requests and resolves inquires and complaints from the general public, other agencies, developers, engineers, and contractors regarding public works and public rights of way.
14. Oversees the development and implementation of the Capital Improvement Program; coordinates and implements related projects as assigned.
15. Meets and confers with developers, architects, engineers, and contractors; directs the review and recommends the approval of subdivision maps, public works plans, specifications, designs, and environmental documents.
16. Provides staff assistance to the Director of Public Works/City Engineer; prepares staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
17. Represents the Public Works Department to other departments, elected officials, and outside agencies; coordinates assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations.
18. Explains, justifies, and defends department programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues; meets with professionals, citizens, and organizations to encourage action or resolve problems related to department work activities and projects.
19. Attends and participates in professional group meetings; confers with personnel from other agencies; maintains awareness of new trends in the fields of public works and engineering.
20. Represents the City effectively in meetings with commissions, community groups, governmental bodies, the media, and the public; participates on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees.
21. May attend City Council and other required meetings as necessary; may occasionally answer questions and make presentations.
22. Serves as acting Director of Public Works/City Engineer in their absence.
23. Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:
Operations, development, and activities of a comprehensive Public Works Department including public works administration, engineering programs and services, capital improvement program, contract procurement and administration, road, park, and landscape maintenance programs and services, and environmental programs including watershed management and water quality programs; principles and practices of civil engineering and administration, particularly as applicable to municipal community development and public works; engineering practices as applied to investigation, design, and construction of public works projects; modern approved practices and techniques used in the design, and construction of public works projects and the development of subdivision land, including the relationship to municipal planning and zoning; professionally accepted standards and techniques related to public works;  principles and practices of program development and administration; principles and practices of public administration, including purchasing and the maintenance of public records; principles and practices of project management and contract administration; organization and functions of an elected City Council; the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations; principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration; principles and practices of supervision, training and performance evaluation; organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs; current literature, and sources of information related to assigned programs; advanced methods and techniques of effective technical and administrative report preparation and presentation; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Ability to:
Assist in a comprehensive Public Works Department; develop and administer departmental goals, objectives, and procedures; analyze and assess programs, policies, and operational needs and make appropriate adjustments; research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques; select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff; plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the work of lower level staff; delegate authority and responsibility; analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals; manage special projects, activities and programs; prepare clear and concise technical, administrative, and financial reports; prepare and administer large and complex budgets; interpret and apply applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations; conduct independent public works project engineering; identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs; coordinate department functions with other agencies; provide highly complex and responsible staff support to the City Council, and other boards, commissions, and committees as assigned; effectively present information and respond to questions from Commissions, and staff, residents,  and the general public; gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion; operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements:
Possession of or ability to obtain registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in accordance with the certification requirements of the State of California.

Education/Training/Experience:
A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field and five years of progressively responsible civil engineering and public works experience including three years of management and administrative responsibility; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Other Qualifications

The physical and mental demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
 While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to work in an office setting and in a field environment; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; walk on uneven terrain, loose soil, and sloped surfaces; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations; to operate equipment and vehicle; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Specific hearing abilities required by this job include hearing in the normal audio range with or without correction. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands
While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret data and situations; use math and mathematical reasoning; perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines, on multiple concurrent tasks; learn and apply new information or new skills; work with constant interruptions; and interact with City officials, media, citizens groups, employees and others encountered in the course of work, including occasionally dealing with conflict situations.

Work Environment
The employee works primarily in a standard office environment with some travel to different sites and locations; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends and may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.