Item 3.8 Public Works Manager Job Description and Authorize Recruitment
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Human Resources Assistant City Administrator/ Human Resources Hille June 22, 2026
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Consent City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty 3.8 – Job Description
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative communication.
X Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and expectations in a
cost-effective manner.
X Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommend the City Council approve of a job description and authorize recruitment.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
This recommendation aligns with the resignation of the Street Operations Manager and reflects the continued growth
and increasing complexity of the City’s Public Works Department. This is a modification from the previous Street
Operations Manager job description, as staff has reviewed and evaluated changes since the vacancy beginning in April
2026.
The Street Operations Manager role has historically functioned as a working manager position, focused on primarily
street and fleet maintenance functions. While effective in the past, the change in demands of the position have
realigned it to be a broader focus of Public Works, which would encompass Streets, Fleet Maintenance, Storm Water
Maintenance, Facility Maintenance, and multi-department coordination.
The Administrative and Public Works Subcommittees were presented with this information and were in support of the
job description changes and provided recommendation for consideration of the initiation of recruitment. The draft job
description has undergone a position scoring through the City’s third-party evaluator. The position was scored at
Grade 14, an increase from Grade 13 of the previous job description.
The draft recruitment schedule is currently as follows but subject to change:
- Recruitment Authorization: 6/22/2026
- Position Posted: 6/24/2026
- Position Closes: 7/16/2026
- Supplemental Questions: 7/27/2026
- Tentative Interviews: Week of August 3rd
- Council Review: 8/24/2026
- Tentative Start: September
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• Job Description – Public Works Manager (DRAFT)
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to approve the Public Works Manager Job Description and to authorize recruitment.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
General Fund – Street Maintenance (43100) Yes
Position Description
Position: Public Works Manager
Department: Public Works
Position Status: Full-time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Pay Grade: 14
Approved: DRAFT
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
General Statement of Duties: Performs supervisory, management, and administrative work in the Public
Works Department including the facilities maintenance, fleet maintenance, street maintenance, and
storm water divisions; prioritizes, plans, and directs the department’s operations and staff; coordinates
with City Engineer on projects and various aspects of divisions maintenance; performs related duties as
required.
Immediate Supervisor: Public Works Director/City Engineer
Supervises: Public Works Division, Fleet Maintenance Division and Facilities Maintenance Division
MAJOR JOB FUNCTIONS
1. Public Works Operations:
a. Develop and review Standard Operating Procedures and Policies for public works
operations, including but not limited to street maintenance, snow plowing, gravel road
maintenance, tree trimming, roadside mowing.
b. Oversee and manage compost site a
c. Oversee street signage and signal maintenance
d. Recommend streets for maintenance and/or repair
e. Determine level of maintenance and/or repair
f. Conduct annual pavement condition index ratings and coordinate with the City Engineer
on development of the capital improvement plan and assist with implementation of
capital projects
g. Assist in the management of the City’s right-of-way permitting
h. Monitor weather conditions and dispatch snow plow operators
i. Coordinate with Parks and Utility Departments to ensure their staff are trained and
available to assist
j. Drive plow vehicles and equipment as part of City snow removal route assignments
k. Organize and manage City Clean Up Day event and Adopt a Street Program
2. Storm Water System
a. Direct inspection, maintenance, documentation and record keeping of the storm water
utility system
b. Coordination with City Engineer on infrastructure inspections and implementation of
MS4
c. Assist with development of the Capital Improvement Plan and implementation of capital
projects
d. Follow federal, state and local requirements, licenses, guidelines and policies and
ensures all requirements are met
e. Assist in field with storm water utility system maintenance and function as part of
maintenance team
3. Fleet Maintenance Management
a. Oversee mechanic(s) and operations of fleet maintenance
b. Coordinate and assist Lead Mechanic in fleet management technology solutions to guide
vehicle and equipment maintenance scheduling and tracking
c. Oversee development of Capital Improvement Plan identifying vehicle and equipment
replacements and additions
d. Ensure coordination with other departments to provide prompt, accurate, and reliable
maintenance of City vehicles and equipment
4. Facilities Maintenance
a. Oversee the facilities maintenance staff, plan, and delegate building maintenance
division for all city facilities including coordination of scheduling with respective
department
b. Develop and maintain comprehensive plans for the development and maintenance of
city facilities
c. Coordinate with IT department on facility security and access systems
d. Oversee facilities access management
e. Assign tasks related to facility work order requests
5. Project Management:
a. Assist in the definition of project scope and objectives, involving all relevant stakeholders and
ensuring budget compliance
b. Manage changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs using appropriate
verification techniques
c. Act as liaison for Engineering projects to operations
d. Act as liaison with Wirght County Highway Department, Neighboring communities and state
agencies for city related projects
e. Provide general oversight to ensure timely and satisfactory completion
f. Establish and maintain relationships with third parties/vendors
g. Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation
6. Contract Coordination
a. Coordinate and oversee various contracts covering projects and operational contracts
b. Create and maintain relationships with suppliers
c. Maintaining correspondence and documentation related to contracts
7. Budget and Financial:
a. Prepare department’s budget and capital improvement plan including supporting
documentation
b. Monitor and manage budget to ensure expenditures are within approved budget
c. Follow all purchasing policies
d. Follow all finance laws and policies including but not limited to the public purpose
expenditure policy
8. Policies and Procedures:
a. Review and recommend departmental operations to improve efficiency and work flow
b. Establish and oversee policies, procedures and practices for the department
c. Monitor operations to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, rules and
ordinances
9. Supervision:
a. Perform performance reviews for all department staff
b. Ensure staff is adequately trained and department is cross trained
c. Recommend discipline and pay adjustments to City Administrator
d. Ensure staff attends safety training and follows safety procedures
e. Assign work and ensure that it is done professionally, efficiently, accurately, and timely
f. Interview and recommend staff hiring with assistance of human resources staff
10. Other Duties and Responsibilities:
a. Act as Public Works Director in their absence
b. Inform Public Works Director of Department activities and relevant matters
c. Manage and develop safety programs and safety committee
d. Coordinate with Parks and Utilities on multi-department efforts
e. Assist City Engineer on development activity
f. Coordinate with contracted engineering services for development and city projects
g. Assist in development and maintenance of emergency action plan procedures and
policies
h. Prepare memos for and make presentations to the City Council and other boards and
commissions
i. Attend City Council and other board and commission meetings as requested
j. Provide reports and special projects as requested by Public Works Director/City
Engineer .
k. Involved in capital project review, management and general oversight to ensure timely
and satisfactory completion.
l. Provides strong communication, teamwork and works closely with other departments
for the betterment of the City
m. Address resident questions and concerns
11. General
a. Participate actively in the City’s management team
b. Treat fellow employees with respect and integrity
c. Promote a positive and motivating environment
d. Provide exceptional customer service
e. Confer with supervisor, peers, and employees to discuss and resolve issues
f. Make decisions that are always in the best interest of the City
g. Perform other duties and projects as assigned
h. Follow all safety policies and procedures
i. Follow all City policies and procedures
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• Demonstrable knowledge of and experience in all aspects of street maintenance and street
construction, snow plowing operations, storm water and pond maintenance and cons truction,
and fleet maintenance
• Demonstrable knowledge of and experience in scheduling, managing, and overseeing projects
including safety practices, working with contractors and engineers, resolving work site and
contract conflicts, and applicable State and Federal laws
• Extensive knowledge of and experience in City operations, ordinances, and practices related to
purchasing, budgeting, supervision, and all street related maters
• Considerable skill in Microsoft Office software programs and related software
• Considerable skill in the operation of heavy and light equipment and department tools
• Working ability to occasionally perform heavy manual labor, sometimes under adverse weather
conditions and during abnormal hours
• Experience making presentations to government bodies, professional associations, and
community organizations
• Ability to communicate clearly, professionally, effectively, and precisely both verbally and in
writing
• Applied knowledge of standard office and Street Department related computer applications
• Ability to resolve and diffuse conflicts
• Ability to understand, manage, and communicate complex ideas, projects, and situations
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team and to coordinate work with other
departments and to lead multi-departmental or multi-jurisdictional projects
• Ability to plan, prioritize and organize the department’s work
• Strong sense of honesty, integrity, and credibility
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
1. Bachelor’s Degree or comparable certification in field related to infrastructure construction,
business administration, engineering, or project management
2. Five years of professional experience in public sector public works including streets and
infrastructure maintenance at a management level
3. Five years of supervisory experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. American Public Works Association (APWA) Certification
2. Experience working for a growing city or county
3. A valid Class A commercial driver’s license
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Most work is in a normal office environment work; with occasional work outside in various environmental
conditions. Occasional environmental conditions include extreme cold, extreme heat, wetness, humidity,
noise, vibration, hazards, and atmospheric conditions. Work includes performing administrative tasks
sitting, and frequently walking through the construction sites and street projects. This includes varying
level of effort for physical strength work occasionally ranging from light physical to medium work.
Attendance at City Council meetings as requested.
Activities that occur constantly (5–8 hours/shift): feeling, talking, hearing, eye/hand/foot coordination
Activities that occur frequently (2–5 hours/shift): standing, walking, sitting, balancing
Activities that occur occasionally (up to 2 hours/shift): lifting, reaching, handling, grasping, repetitive
motions
Activities that occur rarely (do not exist as regular part of job): carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing,
stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling
City of Otsego is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,
reasonable accommodations are offered to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and
current employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Employee signature below constitutes employee’s understanding of the requirements, essential
functions, and duties of the position.
_______________________________________________
Employee Name
_______________________________________________ ______________________
Employee Signature Date