PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR en City of West Covina, CA

About the Department

The City is in search of its next Public Works Director.
The posting will remain open until filled. First review will be Friday December 5, 2025.
Applicants must submit cover letter, resume, and three professional references.
Click here to view brochure.

Under general administrative direction, plans, directs, manages, and oversees the operation and activities of the Maintenance Division including the development, maintenance, of the City’s community parks/open space, fleet management , maintenance and operation of City facilities, sewer lines, and streets. The Director ensures all resources are properly allocated and managed; provides long-range planning for department programs, projects and needs; coordinates assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies; provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager; and does related work as required.

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 this class.

• Assumes full management responsibility for the Public Works Department.
• Develops, implements and monitors long-term plans, goals and objectives focused on achieving maintenance.
• Develops and submits appropriate application and documentation necessary to secure funding sources. Maintains appropriate records for compliance with these funding sources.
• Reviews work in progress, specifications, estimates, and contract documents for street, sewer, storm drain, bridge, and other projects.
• Provides direction for the department staff; approves a variety of policy and procedure changes and revisions; participates in special projects of department; reviews actions and effectiveness of the respective divisions.
• Directs the preparation and maintenance of records, field notes, reports, maps, plots, deeds, benchmarks, monuments, and similar information and records.
• Manages and participates in the development and administration of the department’s budget; directs the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, and supplies; directors the monitoring of and approves expenditures; directs and implements budgetary adjustments as necessary.
• Selects, trains, motivates, and directs department personnel; evaluates and reviews work for acceptability and conformance with department standards, including program and project priorities and performance evaluations; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures; responds to staff questions and concerns.
• Confers with engineers, developers, architects, and a variety of outside agencies and the general public in acquiring information and coordination of engineering, public works, utilities, streets, and related matters; provides information regarding these matters.
• Performs site inspections during construction to ensure methods and materials are in compliance with regulations for system safety or design.
• Represents the department to other City departments, elected officials, and outside agencies; explains and interprets departmental programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves significant and controversial issues.
• Manages the inspection of development projects and City capital and maintenance projects to ensure compliance with codes, ordinances, approved plans, specifications, and conditions.
• Manages Public Works contracts; conducts negotiation and administration of contracts.
• Oversees the Landscaping Maintenance Districts as well as the Citywide Assessment Districts.
• Ensures overall quality of the department's service by developing, reviewing, and implementing policies and procedures to meet legal requirements and City needs; continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors the distribution of work, support systems and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; and directs the implementation of change.
• Prepares, reviews, and presents staff reports, various management and information updates, as well as reports on special projects as assigned by the City Manager.
• Responds to and resolves difficult situations and sensitive citizen inquires and complaints.
• Oversees the development of specifications and bid documents for a variety of public works and public utilities-related designs, construction and maintenance projects, recommends contract awards, negotiates contract provisions and coordinates, reviews, inspects and monitors and approves contractor’s performance.
• Reviews and advises for completeness and accuracy on developments plans, permits for work in City rights-of-way, project construction plans and specifications.
• Manages the application process for acquiring and administering County, State and Federal Grants.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• Assigns the design and execution of projects to subordinate staff, contractors, and consultants.
• Reviews work in progress and approves final designs, specifications, estimates, and contract documents for the Public Services Department.
• Prepares and administers the annual budget for the Public Services Department, approves the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies, approves expenditures, and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary.
• Oversees the planning, development, and delivery of a comprehensive recreation and leisure programs; identifies community needs and directs staff in delivery of programs; creates fee structures.
• Oversees the maintenance and repair of City facilities; creates maintenance programs and directs staff in maintenance programs including preventative maintenance programs; plans for building repairs and renovations; coordinates with consultants and provides appropriate recommendations. 
• Identifies grant and other funding opportunities; oversees the preparation of grant applications and administers grant programs.
• Prepare and present verbal and written reports to the City Council, County Board of Supervisors, Commission, governmental agencies, and community groups.
• Formulate and recommend a variety of policy and procedure changes and revisions; participates in special projects of the department; reviews actions and effectiveness of the respective divisions.
• Reviews and approves the work of consultants engaged by the city.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and services delivery methods, based on desired outcomes. Assess workloads, administrative support systems, and internal working relationships to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Plans, directs, and coordinates, through subordinate level staff, the Public Services 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.
• Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for an executive level finance position. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is to possess the equivalent of:

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive recreation, parks/open space, and facilities maintenance program.
• General knowledge of the field of traffic and sanitary engineering on the municipal level.
• Philosophy, principles, and techniques of providing and assessing the recreational, parks, and facility needs of a community.
• Practices and methods of parks, facilities maintenance.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.
• Skills in resource development to garner grants, legislative appropriations, donations, sponsorships, and in-kind services for programs.
• Principles and practices of public administration, including long-range planning, budgeting, purchasing, and maintaining public records.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards.
• Standard office equipment, including personal computers and computerized applications and programs including Microsoft office suite.
• Research methods and report preparation and presentation.
• Business arithmetic.
• Principles and practices of sound business communication; correct English usage, including spelling and grammar.
• The principles of administration, budgeting, supervision, personnel, and training.
• Municipal organization operation and applicable state and federal laws.
• Discipline and termination procedures.

Ability to:

• Plan and coordinate the work of engineering and technical personnel engaged in office and field work.
• Prepare, review, and approve comprehensive reports, plans, and estimates in a professional manner.
• Maintain effective working relationships with administrative personnel, public officials, contractors, and members of the public.
• Prepare contract documents and supervise and coordinate the administration of such contracts.
• Prepare and operate in accordance with an approved budget.
• Develop and administer effective department and program goals, objectives, policies, and methods for evaluating achievement and performance levels.
• Organize, set priorities, and exercise expert independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
• Develop and implement appropriate procedures and controls.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically, and persuasively.
• Operate a computer and standard business software.
• Use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people.
• Make accurate mathematical calculations.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Operate a computer and standard business software and other standard office equipment.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential personnel issues and employee situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training, and Experience 
Bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation administration, public administration, or related field is required. 

Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience in progressively responsible experience in the development, implementation, operation, of parks, recreation, and facilities programs including three (3) years in a supervisory capacity.

Master's Degree in a related field is desirable.

Licenses/ Certificates/ Special Requirements
A valid California Class C Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record is required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions Work is performed in a variety of environmental conditions. There is exposure to temperature variations, noise, vibrations, fumes, odors, and dust. Physical demands require bending, stooping, standing, and walking. Mental demands require the use of written and oral communication skills; reading and interpretation of data, information, and documents; analysis and solving of problems; use of math and logical reasoning; observation and interpretation of situations; learning and applying new information or new skills; working under deadlines with constant interruptions; interacting with City staff and other organizations; and may involve dealing with dissatisfied or quarrelsome individuals.

Other Qualifications

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The City of West Covina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the city will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

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