Assistant Director of Public Works (Engineering) at City of Suffolk – Suffolk, Virginia

Under general direction, this position performs advanced supervisory, mentoring, and administrative work to lead and manage the Engineering Division within the Department of Public Works. Responsibilities include directing operations, coordinating cross-functional efforts, and developing and executing strategic plans to support departmental goals.

This role requires a minimum of 25% field presence and demands a high level of energy, responsiveness, and accountability. The position emphasizes consistent follow-up, strong leadership, and effective staff development.

Leadership & Department Oversight

• Serve as Acting Director of Public Works in the Director’s absence, assuming full operational responsibility for the department.
• Represent the City and/or Public Works in meetings, presentations, and public forums, including City Council, City Manager briefings, HOA/civic groups, contractors, and internal departments.
• Engage with citizens and stakeholders to address concerns and communicate initiatives.
• Provide leadership in committees, organizations, and cross-functional teams, including those outside the technical engineering field.

Strategic Planning & Administration

• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to improve efficiency and ensure alignment with industry best practices.
• Establish, review, and update policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the division.
• Prepare and manage the division’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and annual operating budget, including long-range (5–10 year) planning.
• Monitor budget execution and make timely, informed funding decisions based on current financial conditions.

Operations & Program Management

• Oversee and manage Public Works capital improvement projects, including workload prioritization and staff coordination.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Stormwater Quality Management Program to ensure compliance with NPDES permit requirements.
• Manage and supervise key functional areas, including:
  • Capital Improvement Projects (CIP)
  • Land Acquisition
  • Traffic Division (engineering, planning, signals, signage, pavement markings, in-house operations, and contracts)
• Ensure effective review of new development projects for compliance with applicable standards and regulations.
• Maintain working knowledge of VDOT project funding programs, applications, and processes.

Emergency Management

• Oversee, manage, and execute emergency management operations, including responses to significant weather and other critical events.
• Provide timely briefings and updates to the City Manager, including situational assessments and recommended courses of action.
• Serve in a key leadership (“alpha”) role during emergency response activities.

• Regular fieldwork (minimum 25%) is required.
• Position requires availability during emergencies and critical events.
• High expectations for leadership, initiative, communication, and accountability.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

• Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff; processes employee concerns and problems; directs work; counsels, disciplines, and conducts evaluations; coordinates, work; organizes priorities and assigns work; provides technical expertise; ensures compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; participates in hiring and training of new employees.
• Manages the capital improvement program, engineering staff, and special projects as assigned; determines project scope; participates in fee and change order negotiation; provides input regarding design; resolves design and construction conflicts; approves design and construction invoicing.
• Manages the development and implementation of a Master Stormwater Drainage Plan for flood control and identification of potential capital projects and developer program; manages and implements the development of a Stormwater Utility Program.
• Manages review and approval of private development plans including directing review staff, attending pre-submittal meetings, land use meetings and other coordination/review meetings.
• Coordinates the development and implementation of a GIS program within the Division to assist with development of the Storm Water Utility; tracks complaints, projects, and departmental assets.
• Coordinates projects, activities permitting, and compliance issues with other federal, state, ad local and/or private agencies.
• Prepares and manages the division's operating budget, approves division expenditures, assists in preparation of departmental budget.
• Reviews and approves development agreements including approval of expenditures.
• Reviews and approves stormwater maintenance agreements; review of innovative designs; and design exceptions or waiver requests with recommendations to Director.
• Reviews project plans, amendments, construction record drawings, maintenance agreements, plats, and field changes from engineering consultants and contractors.
• Reviews commercial and residential development plans for compliance with Federal, State, and Local codes and laws.
• Meets with developers and consultants to discuss policies and standards; addresses engineering and development issues on behalf of the Director.
• Meets with architects/engineers; provides design developmental comments at various stages of project design; attends all design and project construction progress meetings.
• Assists in preparation of the City's ten year capital program; provides cost estimates and schedules.
• Assists in the procurement of architectural and engineering design services and negotiation of contracts; oversees contract execution.
• Administers the City's Erosion and Stormwater Management program to ensure compliance with State minimum requirements.
• Ensures adherence to established safety procedures; monitors work environment and use of safety equipment; ensures safety of employees and other individuals; initiates actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
• Consults with management staff and other officials to review operations and activities; reviews and provides input into problem resolution; receives advice and directions and takes appropriate action; provide recommendations on various situations.
• Oversees the preparation and sign off of grant proposals for special funding of City projects and studies.
• Participates in the development and implementation of the Stormwater Quality Management Program to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements.
• Investigates complaints for drainage, erosion, and street repair; answers citizen questions and inquiries.
• Performs related administrative functions; attends various meetings and participates on committees; prepares reports and related presentations; reviews and evaluates time sheets; participates in policy development, implementation, and change.
• Operates a fax machine, copier, scanner, plotter, digital camera, personal computer and other equipment necessary to complete essential functions to include word processing, spreadsheet, GIS, e-mail and other programs.
• Communicates with supervisors, employees, other departments, contractors, vendors, the public and outside agencies; attends various meetings as required.
• Compiles, calculates, and maintains department payroll records.
• Performs other related duties as required.

• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the City and or departmental practices as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the position of Public Works Engineering Manager.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of supervising a work group and is able to provide effective supervision to assigned personnel.
• Knowledge and technical ability and insight to establish, review and update policies pertaining to the division.
• Ability to effectively coordinate the review of development projects utilizing knowledge of stormwater and erosion and sediment control requirement for compliance with the same.
• Knowledge and understanding of the impact of projects on the City and is able to effectively manage capital improvement projects to the benefit of the City.
• Knowledge and understanding of the budgetary process and has the financial knowledge to accurately prepare and manage the division operating budget.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of the City's Erosion and Sediment Control Program and is able to manage the program and attain program goals.
• Knowledge of the abilities of assigned employees and is able to determine if repairs and maintenance tasks can be completed internally or if outside contractors are required.
• Knowledge and understanding of new construction and is able to professionally participate in new construction preparation.
• Knowledge of the terminology, principles and methods utilized within the department. Knows how to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, administrative changes, or related operations updates as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.
• Ability to implement policy changes within the department and ensure adherence to all establishes guidelines, procedures and policies.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with subordinates, supervisors and members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.
• Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear, and effective manner.
• Ability to use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision as situations warrant.
• Ability to use mathematical methods to perform required calculations.
• Knowledge and proficiency with computers and software programs typically utilized in the position. Is able to read, understand, and interpret technical reports and related materials.
• Ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analyses to determine necessity for revision of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.
• Ability to perform in a supervisory capacity over subordinate supervisors.
• Ability to read a variety of reports, informational and technical documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures. Requires the ability to write reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.
• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control and planning of an entire program or set of programs.
• Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
• Ability to perform moderately complex algebraic and geometric operations; ability to utilize principles of basic probability and statistical inference.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually with job-related equipment.