Assistant Public Works Director

CITY OF KINGMAN

PUBLIC WORKS

Learn more about our Benefits & Wellness Incentives

We are looking for an Assistant Public Works Director to serve as a senior member of the Public Works leadership team and assist the Public Works Director in planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating the activities of a large, multidisciplinary department. If you are a strategic leader and clear communicator, you excel at mentoring multidisciplinary teams, navigating complex stakeholder relationships, and balancing daily operations with long-term community goals, this position may be for you!

About You

As the Assistant Public Works Director you will serve as a senior member of the Public Works leadership team and assist the Public Works Director in planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating the activities of a large, multidisciplinary department. The position provides leadership and oversight for assigned divisions, programs, projects, and strategic initiatives and helps translate City Council priorities, organizational objectives, master plans, and departmental direction into effective service delivery.

Working through division managers and supervisory staff, the Assistant Director promotes coordinated operations, sound asset stewardship, fiscal accountability, workforce development, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. The position provides highly responsible administrative and management support to the Public Works Director, represents the department with internal and external stakeholders, and serves as Acting Public Works Director when assigned.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible public works, utilities, infrastructure, municipal operations, or related management experience, including at least 3 years in a senior management or division leadership role.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Licenses & Certifications

• Valid Arizona driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.
• Professional Engineer registration, public works leadership credentials, utility certifications, project management certification, or other directly related professional certifications are desirable but not required.

Desired Attributes

• Demonstrated ability to lead through managers and supervisors while maintaining accountability for coordinated department-wide execution.
• Experience with organizational development, asset management, capital planning, budgeting, project delivery, performance management, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to provide objective recommendations, manage competing priorities, and support professional execution of policy decisions.
• Strong judgment, integrity, communication, collaboration, and commitment to public service.

Knowledge

• Principles and practices of public works administration, municipal operations, infrastructure maintenance, utility services, and service delivery.
• Strategic planning, organizational management, asset management, capital improvement planning, project delivery, and performance measurement.
• Municipal budgeting, procurement, contracting, grant administration, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Leadership development, employee relations, workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational change.
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing public infrastructure and municipal services.

Skills

• Executive and operational leadership, strategic execution, organizational coordination, and management through subordinate leaders.
• Analyzing complex operational, organizational, financial, and infrastructure issues and developing practical recommendations.
• Budget development, project and program management, performance evaluation, conflict resolution, and problem solving.
• Public speaking, written communication, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Use of asset management systems, work order systems, GIS, data dashboards, and other modern management tools.

Abilities

• Translate strategic direction into coordinated programs, projects, work plans, and measurable results.
• Lead a large, multidisciplinary organization and develop effective managers, supervisors, and teams.
• Balance immediate operational needs with long-range planning, asset stewardship, and sustainable service delivery.
• Establish priorities, delegate responsibility, monitor performance, and hold others appropriately accountable.
• Build productive relationships with elected officials, employees, residents, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and regional partners.
• Exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Executive Leadership & Department Management 

• Assists the Public Works Director in establishing and carrying out department goals, priorities, policies, service expectations, and strategic initiatives.
• Provides leadership and oversight for assigned divisions, managers, programs, projects, and department-wide functions.
• Translates Council direction, City Manager priorities, master plans, budgets, and departmental objectives into coordinated work plans and measurable outcomes.
• Serves as Acting Public Works Director when assigned and represents the department at executive, interdepartmental, regional, and public meetings.

Operational Oversight & Service Delivery 

• Monitors operations, workload, service levels, performance measures, and resource needs across assigned divisions.
• Works through managers and supervisors to resolve operational issues, improve coordination, and ensure responsibilities and decision-making authority are aligned at the appropriate level.
• Coordinates cross-divisional activities involving streets, water, wastewater, solid waste, fleet, facilities, transit, airport, and Public Works Administration.
• Supports emergency response, continuity of operations, and resolution of significant service delivery or infrastructure issues.

Strategic Planning, Asset Management & Continuous Improvement 

• Supports development and implementation of long-range plans, asset management practices, capital improvement programs, and department strategic initiatives.
• Connects identified infrastructure and operational needs to future projects, budgets, rate studies, grants, and other potential funding sources.
• Promotes documented procedures, effective use of data and technology, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement of departmental systems and services.
• Evaluates organizational structure, work processes, staffing, and service delivery methods and recommends improvements to the Public Works Director.

Fiscal, Project & Resource Coordination 

• Assists with preparation, review, administration, and monitoring of department operating and capital budgets.
• Coordinates major projects and initiatives from planning and funding through design, construction, implementation, and closeout, as assigned.
• Reviews agenda items, contracts, professional service agreements, procurement documents, reports, and recommendations for completeness, accuracy, and alignment with departmental priorities.
• Identifies grant opportunities, partnership opportunities, and alternative funding strategies that support department goals.

Workforce Leadership & Organizational Development 

• Develops managers and supervisors through coaching, clear expectations, accountability, delegation, and succession planning.
• Promotes a professional culture centered on safety, service, stewardship, collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Partners with Human Resources on workforce planning, employee relations, recruitment, performance management, organizational change, and policy application.
• Supports consistent communication and coordination among department leadership, employees, other City departments, and external partners.

Interdepartmental, Public & Regulatory Coordination 

• Collaborates with Engineering, Development Services, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, and other departments on infrastructure, development, financial, personnel, and operational matters.
• Communicates with residents, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, boards, commissions, and community organizations regarding department programs, projects, and services.
• Assists in ensuring compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, permits, grant requirements, safety standards, and City policies.

OVERVIEW

The City of Kingman is located in Mohave County approximately 100 miles southeast of Las Vegas and 195 miles northwest of Phoenix nestled between the beautiful Cerbat and Hualapai Mountain Ranges along historic Route 66. In 2019, Reader’s Digest named Kingman one of the “Nicest Places in Arizona” for its thoughtful residents and spirit of generosity. In addition to its small-town look and feel, the area also offers a wide range of recreational activities that include hiking, bike and ATV trails, camping, golf, beautiful parks, historical attractions, nearby lakes, and the Colorado River. With more than 400 full and part-time employees across 30 divisions, the City of Kingman provides exceptional public services to over 30,000 residents. Our focus on high-quality customer service, safety, and teamwork underpins our efforts to foster an atmosphere where citizens and businesses can thrive.

For more information about the City of Kingman, please see our Open Finance Portal, Choose Kingman Economic Development page, and our Go Kingman tourism page for more information.  

COMMITMENT TO SAFETY & WELLNESS
It is the policy of the City of Kingman to ensure a safe, healthful workplace for all its employees. It requires that every person in the organization assumes the responsibility of individual and organizational safety. Injury and illness losses from incidents are costly and preventable.  The City of Kingman will employ an effective accident and illness prevention program and a comprehensive wellness program that involves all its employees in the effort to eliminate workplace hazards and promote employee health and wellness. All employees are expected and encouraged to participate in safety and wellness program activities including the following: reporting hazards, unsafe work practices and accidents immediately to their supervisors or a safety committee representative; wearing required personal protective equipment; and participating in and supporting safety committee activities.  

It is the policy of the City of Kingman to ensure a safe, healthful workplace for all its employees. It requires that every person in the organization assumes the responsibility of individual and organizational safety. Injury and illness losses from incidents are costly and preventable.  The City of Kingman will employ an effective accident and illness prevention program and a comprehensive wellness program that involves all its employees in the effort to eliminate workplace hazards and promote employee health and wellness. Supervisors are responsible for supervising and training workers in safe work practices. Supervisors must enforce company safety rules and work to eliminate hazardous conditions. Supervisors shall lead safety and wellness efforts by example.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics attached to the job description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.    See Physical Demands.

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel in this position.  This job description is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the position changes.

FIND YOUR REWARDING CAREER WITH US!

Personal Growth Opportunities ~ Meaningful and Challenging Work ~ Public Service
 Community Spirit ~ Training and Development