Public Works Director - Operations and Maintenance

Position Information

The Ideal Candidate

Typical duties for the Public Works Director - Operations and Maintenance, include directing and participating in the development and implementation of the City’s goals, objectives, policies and procedures; Planning, directing, and coordinating maintenance operations for Airport, Park, Facilities, Street Trees, Right of Way (ROW), Street Cleaning, Traffic Safety, Fleet Services, and Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) divisions; Coordinating the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities; Providing staff leadership on Public Works activities; Acting as technical advisor to the City Manager on operations and maintenance items; Preparing requests for proposals and reports; Administering agreements for consulting and contractual services; Preparing and administering the departmental budget and ensuring the accomplishment of departmental objectives within budget restrictions; Coordinating to effectively respond to and resolve difficult citizen inquiries and complaints; Coordinating public works activities with other City departments and outside agencies; Selecting, supervising, training and evaluating professional, technical and administrative support subordinates.

Under limited direction of the City Manager, develop and implement programs and services related to the Public Works Operations and Maintenance Divisions. Divisions include Airport Maintenance, Park, Facilities, Street Trees, Right of Way (ROW), Street Cleaning, Traffic Safety, Fleet Services, and the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP). Administer and manage the City’s parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities and implement rules and regulations promulgated by City Council for their use; to provide staff support for the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission and other City Boards or Commissions as required. Provide operation and maintenance services for all City property and facilities; administer and provide oversight for divisional capital improvements, budget development; and to perform related work as required. May serve as the Park Director.

Job Description

Examples of Typical Job Functions (Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations where appropriate so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Direct and participate in the development and implementation of the City’s goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate maintenance operations for Airport, Park, Facilities, Street Trees, Right of Way (ROW), Street Cleaning, Traffic Safety, Fleet Services, and Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) divisions.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities along with providing staff leadership on Public Works activities
• Act as technical advisor to the City Manager on operations and maintenance items.
• Prepare requests for proposals; reports; administer agreements for consulting and contractual services.
• Prepare and administer the departmental budget and ensure the accomplishment of departmental objectives within budget restrictions.
• Coordinate to effectively respond to and resolve difficult citizen inquiries and complaints.
• Coordinate public works activities with other City departments and with outside agencies.
• Select, supervise, train and evaluate professional, technical and administrative support subordinates.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of Public Works operations and maintenance functions. Principles and practices of strategic management and planning;
• Recent developments, current literature and sources of information in municipal public works administration in the State of California;
• Principles of organization, management, budget, and personnel management;
• Various financing mechanisms for enterprise operations and rate setting principles.

Ability to:

• Coordinate and direct public works projects and programs;
• Interpret and explain City programs, policies and procedures;
• Edit, organize and present information;
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Proactively interact with City management, public officials, community leaders, the press and the general public;
• Write grant applications and appropriately administer grant programs;
• Develop and implement public works strategic plans;
• Use computers, computer and applicable software applications.

Education and Experience:

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

Education:

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, civil engineering, or a related field.

Experience:

Minimum of 7-10 years municipal administrative experience with significant exposure to public works operations and maintenance and capital projects administration, and managing one of the functional areas described above.

Licenses and Certifications:

Possession of a valid California Driver License

Desired Qualifications:

Education: A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, civil engineering, or a related field.

Additional Information

Physical Demands

Work is performed mostly in office settings. Some outdoor work is required in the inspection of various park and public rights of way undergoing development and/or maintenance activities. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk; hear; sit; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is routinely required to stand or walk.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

Requires frequent use of personal computer, including word processing, database and spreadsheet programs; motor vehicle; radio; global positioning equipment; digital camera; calculator, telephone, copy machine and fax machine.

Environmental Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or hot temperature conditions, and airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office, and moderately noisy in the field.

The City of Chico offers a wide range of employee benefits. Benefits are subject to negotiations with employee organizations and may vary with individual bargaining units. For a summary of benefits, please visit the City of Chico website at: City of Chico - Employee Benefits

Closing Date/Time: 11/20/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of Chico

• 530-879-7905

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