Description
Position Summary:
Under the direction of the Public Works Director, the Deputy Director manages and provides strategic and technical leadership and professional oversight and supervision of the Engineering Division. This position also serves as the City Engineer and is responsible for planning, design, and delivery of the City’s capital improvement projects; oversight of development engineering and construction inspection activities; and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, City codes, and accepted engineering standards. The Deputy Director coordinates infrastructure planning and policy implementation with City leadership. The position is a liaison with developers, public agencies, utilities, and consulting engineers to support the development, maintenance, and improvement of the City’s public infrastructure systems.
Essential Functions: Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class. Employees are required to be in attendance and prepared to begin work at their assigned work location on the specified days and hours. Factors such as regular attendance at the job are not routinely listed in job descriptions, but are an essential function. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Division Management: Direct and manage the operations of the Engineering Division including planning, design, capital project delivery, development review, and coordination with operations and other departments. Develop division budget, goals, policies, and procedures, and monitor performance to ensure efficient operations.
Supervision: Supervise, mentor, and evaluate engineering staff; assign work, establish priorities, and provide technical guidance, professional development, and performance management. Recommend personnel actions to the Public Works Director as appropriate, up to and including disciplinary actions.
Technical Oversight: Oversee procurement and administration of engineering consultant and construction contracts. Direct review of development proposals, engineering plans, and construction activities to ensure compliance with City standards, codes, and applicable regulations. Provide professional engineering guidance related to public infrastructure design, construction practices, and regulatory requirements. Review and approve engineering plans, reports, and specifications prepared by staff, consultants, and developers.
Strategic Liaison: Maintain awareness of emerging trends, technologies, regulations, and best practices in civil engineering and public works; incorporate improvements into City standards and practices. Anticipate funding opportunities and challenges and lead the division in pursuit of grants and other funding opportunities. Respond to public inquiries and concerns related to engineering and infrastructure issues.
Department Leadership: Serve as acting Public Works Director in absence of the director. Participate in the department leadership team to set strategies, monitor progress, and development solutions to problems.
Other Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties, essential functions and qualifications contained in this job description reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions, the level of knowledge, and scope of the responsibility typically required of the job. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences, to equalize peak work periods, or to otherwise balance the workload.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
The position requires flexibility, adaptability, and sound judgment to ensure safe and effective performance across all work settings. The Deputy Director performs work in both office and field environments.
Office duties typically involve prolonged periods of computer use, reviewing plans and reports, preparing documents, and utilizing standard office equipment such as copiers and printers. Visual and auditory abilities must support the review of technical plans, inspection of construction work, and effective communication with staff, contractors, and the public.
Fieldwork includes inspections of construction sites, public works facilities, and infrastructure projects, requiring awareness of traffic, moving equipment, and varying environmental conditions. Noise levels range from moderately quiet in the office to moderately loud in the field. The position requires mobility and the physical ability to walk, stand, climb, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach as needed to perform site inspections and project oversight. Fieldwork may occasionally involve exposure to environmental elements such as wet or humid conditions, dust, fumes, or other typical construction-related hazards.
The Deputy Director is also expected to attend evening meetings, participate in public hearings, and occasionally travel within the region for professional conferences, training, or interagency coordination.
Supervision Received:
General supervision is provided by the Public Works Director.
Supervision Exercised:
The position provides direct supervision to engineering and technical staff including Engineers, Construction Inspector, Engineering Aides, Technicians, and other professional staff. May provide oversight and direction to consulting engineers and contractors engaged in City engineering projects.
Requirements
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Civil Engineering or a closely related field.
Experience: Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional civil engineering experience in public works or municipal infrastructure programs or projects, including responsibility for budgeting, project management, or program administration. At least four (4) years of supervisory experience. A master’s degree in civil engineering, public administration, or a related field may substitute for one year of professional experience.
Licensure: Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Washington, or the ability to obtain Washington licensure within six (6) months of appointment.
Other Requirements: Verification of identity and United States work authorization as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Successful completion of a background investigation. Valid Washington State driver’s license (or be able to attain at time of appointment) and a driving record acceptable to the City's insurance carrier.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Technical Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of civil engineering related to the planning, design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of municipal infrastructure including streets, stormwater systems, sanitary sewer systems, water distribution systems, and related municipal facilities. Ability to prepare and review engineering plans, specifications, reports, technical studies, technical calculations and analyses, engineering design standards, applicable codes and regulations, and related project documentation. Practical knowledge of asset management principles and guidelines to support lifecycle management of public infrastructure assets. Use of engineering design software, modeling tools, asset management tools, and related computer applications used in engineering analysis, design, project management, and technical documentation.
Project Management: Understand engineering project and construction management principles including planning, scheduling, budgeting, inspections, coordination with contractors and consultants, contract management, grant management, and oversight of multiple concurrent projects.
Strategic Planning: Ability to lead long-range infrastructure planning initiatives and integrate emerging technologies and civil engineering best practices into City standards.
Regulatory Compliance: Ability to maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, standards, and guidelines governing public infrastructure design and construction and contracting, including environmental regulations, accessibility requirements, and public right-of-way standards.
Leadership: Ability to provide supervision, leadership, and strategic direction to the division. Strong communication skills that are adaptive to the audience, from mentoring staff on technical work, discussing technical plans with consultants and developers, to sharing project information with commissioners, councilmembers, or the public. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders. Skills in prioritizing work for the division, tracking progress, and reporting up to the director on progress or challenges. Experience participating in and leading meetings with outside partners and presenting to commissions, City Council, and the public.
