Job Summary
The City of Kirkland is looking to hire a Deputy Director of Public Works – Engineering, Planning and Development Services!

Why Kirkland?

Ranked as one of the most livable cities in America, Kirkland is an attractive and inviting place to live, work, and visit. We have big city vision while maintaining a small-town, community feel. If you are a candidate with the desire to join an organization looking to innovate into the future, the City of Kirkland is the place for you!

If you ask our employees why they love where they work, they will tell you about the great people, work environment, supportive leadership and City Council, and fearless innovation.

We also invest in you!

Competitive Wages: We strive to maintain competitive compensation packages and work to provide wages that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our employees.

Awesome benefits: The City offers benefits that are unmatched by most other employers. Please click on the benefits tab above to view more details.

Childcare Programs: To help address the challenge of finding reliable childcare, the City of Kirkland has reserved spots for City employees at local and regional providers, available at a discount. New employees gain access to Kirkland’s reserved spots as soon as they start employment. Learn more! (link)

Training and Career Development: The City of Kirkland believes in developing it’s employees. You will have access to training opportunities designed for career development and advancement based on your position, skills, and interests.

Job Summary
Under the direction of the Public Works Director, the Deputy Director of Engineering, Planning, and Development Services leads, manages, directs, plans, organizes, and coordinates the administrative, engineering and development activities of the Public Works Department. This includes Development Services, Transportation, and Surface Water Divisions. The Deputy Director of Engineering, Planning, and Development Services provides leadership and manages Public Works functions in accordance with professional and administrative standards, municipal ordinances, and general established policies. In collaboration with the Deputy Director of Operations, assists the Director in the day-to-day operations and administration of the Department, personnel, budget, and work program tasks; oversees the activities of the Department in the Director’s absence.

The Deputy Director of Engineering, Planning, and Development Services, in collaboration with the Deputy Director of Operations, is responsible for the hiring, coaching, safety, and development of staff, including the compliance of applicable policies, standard operating procedures, statutory requirements, and collective bargaining agreements.

Distinguishing Characteristics: This position exercises significant independent judgment and discretion in managing staff, projects, and resources. The Deputy Director of Engineering, Planning, and Development Services reports to the Public Works Director and oversees the Development, Transportation, and Surface Water divisions of the Department, not including Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). The incumbent will have varied responsibilities across divisions and must have a breadth of knowledge to be successful.

Principle Accountabilities:
The Deputy Director position is responsible for managing the implementation of short and long-term projects and programs, to achieve City goals and Council priorities, and assure the most cost-effective and efficient approach to the continuous quality operation and maintenance of the City infrastructure. This position possesses decision-making authority in the areas to:
Attract, retain, and motivate a professional and competent staff.
Adhere to budget guidelines and manage resources to meet objectives.
Resolve internal and external customer inquiries, concerns, and complaints.
Oversee the daily activities of the divisions, including setting priorities.
Prepare or oversee memos, reports, studies, analyses.
Develop systems, protocols, and standard practices to facilitate delivery of Public Works services and ensure they are on time, and within scope and budget.
Create and implement systems and processes that monitor work to ensure that continuous quality service is delivered to all internal and external customers within standards set by law, work programs, or agreement.
Provides professional opinions/recommendations to the Public Works Director and City Manager.
Ensures that the Public Works Director has adequate information to make recommendations to the City Manager and City Council on Public Works issues with regional implications.
Ensure Department activities are successfully coordinated with other City Departments.

Essential Functions: Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Prepares work plans and schedules for major work processes or products related to Public Works divisions, except for Operations and CIP. Tracks progress of assigned work against established schedules.
Responsible for developing, implementing, overseeing, and evaluating annual work plans, comprehensive plans, policies, systems, and procedures to achieve the City Council and Department’s vision, mission, and strategic goals and objectives. Collaborates with other division leaders and senior level staff throughout the City and in other governmental jurisdictions to assure consistency and integration with these objectives.
Participates on the PW Leadership Team (includes the Director, Deputy Director, Managers, Supervisors, Senior Financial Analysts).
Recommends staffing, service levels, budgeting, and resource requirements. Assists the Director in preparing and administering the Department’s budget. Approves expenditures and budgetary adjustments as appropriate.
Participates in annual performance evaluations, recommending goals and areas for personal and professional improvement.
Assists the PW Director to provide policy and technical guidance to staff, other City Departments, the public and appointed and elected officials on the City’s public works policies, regulations, and programs for land use, growth, and development. Researches, evaluates alternatives, and prepares reports for complex or politically sensitive department issues. Coordinates Department activities and tasks with other City departments to assure a consistent approach toward common projects of citywide interest. Coordinates and consults with City Attorney’s Office on all legal matters.
Serves as City representative in intergovernmental activities or negotiations with other agencies and municipalities, regional, state, and federal agencies as assigned by the Public Works Director.
Evaluates and determines consultant requirements, negotiates, and administers professional and consulting services contracts and work programs; oversees consultant performances and authorizes tasks and expenditures as assigned by the Public Works Director.
Presents programs and projects to community groups and at public meetings. Provides public information to outside groups regarding the City’s and the Department’s activities.
Ensures delivery of high-quality customer service to internal and external customers.
Assists Public Works Director, the Deputy Director of Operations, division managers, and Human Resources in the handling of HR issues, including (but not limited to) recruitments, organizational development, performance management, and organizational development.
Fosters a positive, supportive, team-oriented work environment; promotes an equitable workplace that demonstrates an environment respectful of working in a multicultural society, which supports the Department’s vision, mission, and values.

Peripheral Duties:
Assumes final decision-making responsibility on project development on behalf of the Public Works Director as assigned.
Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive inquiries, conflicts, and complaints.
May serve as a group leader/facilitator in inter-departmental task forces addressing citywide policy and management issues.
Acts as project manager for large projects and supervises and coordinates project management staff as assigned by the Public Works Director.
Attends and participates in professional group meetings, conferences, and trainings; stay current on new trends and innovation in the field of maintenance services.
Performs functions as assigned in the City’s emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.
Responsible for developing measurable strategies that achieve the City’s initiatives in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Roadmap.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Comprehensive knowledge of management, administration, and budgeting to effectively direct the activities of a Public Works Department, including making critical decisions and representing the Public Works Director and the City; managing diverse work activities of highly skilled professionals; and ability to motivate staff and provide constructive feedback.

Ability to exercise considerable discretion and independent judgment in choosing approaches, methods, and resources to solve problems and achieve results.

Ability to analyze complex and controversial public works issues and development applications and provide recommendations and advice to the Director, public, and appointed and elected officials.

Ability to carry out a vision of the City’s future and to contribute to the development of a constituency of engineering, utilities, facilities, and maintenance and operations divisions.

Familiarity with Public Works policy and practices, such as design work, utilities, facilities, and maintenance and operations, planning concepts, techniques, and practices.

Ability to attract, retain, lead, and motivate a competent and professional staff.

Ability to interpret and enforce collective bargaining agreements.

Advanced public relations and communication skills (both verbal and written) to comprehend, interpret, and explain rules, regulations, legal requirements, and policies; ability to convey technical ideas and information to a variety of audiences.

Advanced interpersonal skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external customers and contacts, often with conflicting interests.

Comprehensive knowledge of budget principles, development, and administration.

Principles in supervision, training, and performance evaluations.

Ability to remain flexible to changing priorities and be appropriately responsive to citizen and Council requests.

Advanced negotiation skills and contract writing and administration skills.

Advanced work planning, scheduling, and documentation skills.

Advanced PC proficiency including word processing, presentation and spreadsheet software, and databases.

Comprehensive knowledge of project management principles.

Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and maps.

Comprehensive knowledge of construction methods and engineering practices.

Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations applicable to municipal public works activities.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in construction, engineering, or related field.

Experience: 7 years’ experience in development, engineering, transportation, or surface water systems programs, or similar areas, including 5 years of progressively responsible supervisory experience.

Or: In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual’s knowledge, skill, and ability to proficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

Licenses and Other Requirements:

Registration as a Professional Engineer in Washington preferred.

Must have a valid Washington State Driver’s license and ability to remain insurable under the City’s insurance to operate motor vehicles.

Other
Other

Physical Demands and Working Environment:

Incumbent is typically required to reach, stand, walk, finger, talk, hear, and perform activities requiring repetitive motions.

Work is typically light work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Attendance at meetings is required and are frequently held outside of normal office hours. Incumbent is occasionally required to conduct site visits, which may result in exposure to outside weather conditions and/or construction sites. Some local area (Puget Sound) travel is required.