Deputy Director of Public Works - Capital Projects

The Public Works Department ensures the City's infrastructure remains safe, functional, and sustainable. It oversees vital services including stormwater management, transportation, water and wastewater systems, maintenance of streets and grounds, and capital improvement projects.

As the City’s largest department, we are committed to the City’s vision and the Department’s mission. We play a vital role in making Kirkland livable, sustainable, and connected. We are City employees who take pride in being trusted stewards of the public’s resources, infrastructure, environment, and quality of life.

We have a One Team approach, strive for excellence and attract, value, and keep diverse, talented employees.

Why Kirkland?

The City of Kirkland is seeking a Deputy Director of Public Works - Capital Projects to provide proactive leadership for a division responsible for delivering an estimated $200 million Capital Improvement Program. This is far more than an engineering leadership role. It is an opportunity to build an organization, strengthen project delivery, develop future leaders, and help shape one of Washington’s most dynamic cities.

The City is seeking an executive who is equally comfortable discussing engineering design with technical professionals, organizational strategy with executive leadership, and community priorities with elected officials and residents.

The ideal candidate will offer:

• Progressive leadership experience overseeing a variety of capital improvement projects, municipal infrastructure, engineering, construction management, or project delivery operations.
• A demonstrated ability to lead teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous professional development.
• Experience managing complex budgets, funding sources, and competing priorities, while successfully delivering projects on schedule and within budget.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to build credibility and trust with elected officials, executive leadership, staff, consultants, regulatory agencies, and the community.
• A collaborative leadership approach that emphasizes partnership, customer service, and cross-departmental coordination to achieve organizational goals.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, implementing best practices that enhance project delivery, strengthen organizational performance, and improve service to the community.

• Hires, leads, manages, supervises, trains, mentors, coaches, and practices accountability with staff in the Capital Projects Division. 
• Oversees the Division’s management of programs and projects, including the development and implementation of the CIP and establishing work plans and annual operating budget. 
• Demonstrates advanced problem-solving skills by proactively identifying and addressing issues that may impact project feasibility, schedule, and budget. Evaluate and analyze potential project threats and risk assessments and determine appropriate mitigations and contingency.
• Responsible for administrative and managerial functions in overseeing the development of a wide range of infrastructure projects, including design, right-of-way acquisition, environmental review, permitting, construction, inspection, and commissioning and closeout. 
• Leads the Division with continuous improvement initiatives, including implementing best practices that enhance project delivery, strengthen organizational performance, and improve service to the community.
• Leads, manages, and develops staff in the Capital Projects Division; establishes clear performance expectations and ensures accountability, consistent application of policies and procedures, and timely resolution of performance concerns.
• Evaluates and addresses organizational structure, staffing, roles, responsibilities, and work practices to improve operational effectiveness, clarify accountability, support appropriate workload distribution, and strengthen coordination across the division.
• Manages complex project budgets, funding sources, and competing priorities, while ensuring projects meet owner and/or stakeholder objectives. Leads efforts in seeking and preparing grant submissions and ensures grant compliance and administration.
• Oversees staff training and professional development to strengthen individual and organizational effectiveness, support career growth, and ensure staff have the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to perform their responsibilities successfully. 
• Serves as the City’s registered professional engineer to review and approve engineering drawings, final plans, and specifications on behalf of the City.
• Develops bid specifications for Request for Proposals (RFPs) and scope of work for Request for Qualifications (RFQs); selects consultants, negotiates, executes consultant agreements, and monitors consultant progress and expenditures by providing technical guidance and review of consultant’s deliverables.
• Advises and guides the development of comprehensive plans for Water and Wastewater Utilities. Provides recommendations for inventory and modeling of existing infrastructure systems, cost estimates, and implementation of improvements based on City policies and priorities. 
• Leads inter-departmental and citywide project teams and ensures coordination, collaboration, and effective communication on CIP projects. 
• Ensures coordination with federal, state, and regional agencies; resolves and mediates administrative, inter-agency and community relations inquiries and complaints; negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant, and controversial issues. 
• Represents the Division and Department to the public and community, elected officials, agencies, committees, and organizations including making presentations.
• Fosters a positive and supportive work environment; promotes an equitable workplace that demonstrates an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society.

• Represent Capital Projects Division and/or City in legal proceedings as required. 
• Assumes final decision-making responsibility on project development on behalf of the Public Works Director as assigned. 
• Responsible for developing measurable strategies that achieve the City’s initiatives in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Roadmap.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings, conferences, and trainings; stay current on new trends and innovation in the field of capital projects. 
• Performs functions as assigned in the City’s emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

• Demonstrates a strong leadership presence and communications skills.
• 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.
• Understands principles and practices of civil engineering and construction project management and ability to plan, design, inspect, and construct public works projects. 
• Ability to build credibility and trust with the public, elected officials, executive leadership and staff, consultants, contractors, and regulatory agencies in a knowledgeable and professional manner. 
• Experience with municipal budgeting and finance, utility rates, and internal and overhead rates.
• Demonstrates an ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous professional development.
• Ability to engage in constructive conflict resolution, including rapidly analyzing technical and/or legal implications in decision-making, working directly with the City Attorney and Washington Cities Insurance Authority, when necessary. 
• Exhibits positive leadership skills and inter/intra-departmental cooperation through involvement with diverse work groups, community members, and service teams. 
• Ability to successfully prioritize competing deadlines, schedules, and limited resources among a variety of customers to ensure timely delivery of programs and projects. 
• Advanced analytical, negotiation, customer relations, and communication skills (both verbal and written) to comprehend, interpret, and explain rules, regulations, legal requirements, and policies.
• Demonstrates ability to attract, retain, motivate, and mentor a competent and accomplishment-oriented staff of diverse professional disciplines.
• Ability to read, interpret, and evaluate plans and technical documents.
• Intermediate computer proficiency including standard desktop applications and ability to learn specialized software programs used for City activities.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations applicable to municipal public works activities.

• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Civil or Construction Engineering or related discipline from an accredited college or university.
• Experience: 7 years of increasing responsibility and experience managing capital, engineering, or construction projects in a related position, including 5 years of 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.

• Registration as a Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering with the Washington State Department of Licensing.
• Must have a valid Washington State Driver’s license and ability to remain insurable under the City’s insurance to operate motor vehicles.

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

Position requires a resume and cover letter for consideration of application.  Please note how you meet minimum qualifications within the cover letter.  Applicants who are selected for next steps in the hiring process will be invited by phone or e-mail.  Candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest possible date as screening, interviewing, and hiring decisions will be made through the recruitment period, until such time as the vacancy is filled.

The City of Kirkland is a welcoming community where every person can thrive and grow. We value diversity, inclusion, belonging, and work together to support our community. We do this by solving problems, focusing on the customer, and respecting all people who come into the City whether to visit, live, or work.  As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to creating a workforce that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. We encourage qualified applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply to our job postings.  Persons with a disability who need reasonable accommodations in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 425-587-3210 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at 711.