COMMUNITY
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is located on a coastal peninsula overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles, California. It rests atop the Palos Verdes Hills and bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and maintains a low density and semi-rural environment. The City’s diverse and active population enjoys all the benefits of a bedroom community within a beautiful seaside location.
DEPARTMENT
The Public Works Department is comprised of four (4) divisions: Administration, Engineering, Maintenance, and Permitting and Resident Services. The Public Works department is responsible for a wide variety of activities, including leadership of the City’s infrastructure and environmental program, planning, development, and maintenance of the public buildings, parks, trails, roads, sidewalks, street trees, storm drains, sanitary sewers, and the preserve landslide. The department also works extensively with citizen committees which are appointed by the City Council.
POSITION
This executive level, at-will, exempt, non-represented position reports directly to the City Manager. The Director of Public Works will join a dynamic City leadership team. The Director will provide administrative direction and oversight for all functions and activities of the Public Works department, including design, engineering, and construction activities, maintenance and operations of stormwater, drainage, streets, fleet services, facilities, parks, water quality and environmental compliance, traffic, development and implementation of the City’s Capital Improvement Program, land development engineering, and property management.
The Director will take a proactive approach and have a proven ability to get things done. Joining a supportive and collegial organization, the Director will work collaboratively and foster cooperative relationships with other City departments, officials, outside agencies, and the public.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
Crucial to this position is the ability to communicate with diverse personalities at all levels of the organization, while remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient, with a high level of maturity and professionalism. The incumbent will have the ability to respond to resident’s inquires with exceptional customer service, while being sensitive toward their needs. Expert written and verbal communication skills, strong decision-making ability, exceedingly well organized and attention to detail are also equally important. The successful candidate must assure that staff work is carried out, interrelated issues are addressed, and details are not overlooked. Successful performance of the work requires an extensive professional background as well as skill in coordinating departmental work with that of other City departments and public agencies.
Additionally, the ideal candidate will have the ability to recommend and implement goals and objectives based on the best engineering practices; implement effective capital improvement projects; and develop the department’s budget for various department functions.