Director of Public Works

The City of Kirkland is seeking to hire a Director of Public Works!

Why Kirkland?

• Attracts, selects, retains, motivates, evaluates, and leads a professional and competent staff.
• Establishes and implements strategic vision, goals, objectives, and priorities which align with the City Manager and City Council goals and work plan.
• Fosters a positive and supportive work environment; promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, contributing to an environment of respectful living and working in a multicultural society.
• Ensures input from all stakeholders are incorporated in recommendations forwarded to the City Manager and City Council.

• Ensures that all Public Works services and capital projects are provided on time, on budget, and that continuous quality is delivered to all internal and external customers.
• Ensures timely and accurate development and administration of operating and capital budgets, consistent with City Council priorities and budget policies and expenditure guidelines.
• Oversees the forecasting of staffing, operational costs, and capital improvements for the City's utilities including water, sewer, surface water, and solid waste, and transportation infrastructure.
• Establishes utility rates, fleet rates, and capital overhead rates and presents information for review and adoption by the City Council.

• Oversees the efficient and effective operations and maintenance of the Public Works Maintenance Center Campus, the City's utilities: water, sewer, stormwater, solid waste, and the City's transportation infrastructure, and procurement and maintenance of the City's fleet.
• Ensures maintenance activities conform to and meet regulatory compliance as required by federal, state and local codes and standards.
• Works collaboratively with water, sewer, and solid waste utility providers including, but not limited to, the Northshore Utility District, Woodinville Water District, Cascade Water Alliance, Waste Management (refuse and recycling contractor), and King County's Wastewater Treatment Department to prepare and administer contracts, interlocal agreements, franchise agreements, and Memorandums of Understanding.
• Ensures the planning, training, and preparation of emergency and storm responses, including the safe and efficient response during an event.

• Provides the City Manager and City Council with adequate information to make decisions on Public Works issues with regional implications.
• Ensures the development and implementation of the City's Capital Improvement Program, General Sewer Plan, Comprehensive Water System Plan, Surface Water Master Plan, Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, and Transportation Strategic Plan, and other plans as directed by the City Manager and City Council.
• Provides policy and technical guidance to staff, other City departments, the public and appointed and elected officials on public works policies, regulations, and programs. Researches, evaluates alternatives, and prepares recommendations and reports for complex or politically sensitive departmental issues. Coordinates department activities and tasks with other City departments to assure a consistent approach toward common projects of citywide interest.
• Initiates, directs, and/or conducts special studies and special projects.
• Determines overall department policies and procedures and implements City codes and standards. Explains and validates department programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues.
• Actively makes information available and seeks input from residents, ratepayers, community groups and meetings, and boards and commissions. Provides support to the Transportation Commission. Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive resident inquiries and complaints.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of public works; incorporates innovation as appropriate.

• Performs functions as assigned in the City's emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.
• Attends City Council meetings and/or other board and commission meetings to present professional recommendations and advice on complex policy or operating issues.
• Provides input regarding collective bargaining agreements and in labor negotiations.
• Responsible for developing measurable implementation plans that achieve the City's initiatives in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Roadmap.

• Ability to attract, retain, lead, and motivate a competent and professional staff.
• Ability to supervise, coach, delegate/assign, and review the work of staff.
• Comprehensive knowledge of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Advanced analytical, public and media relations, and communication skills (both verbal and written) to comprehend, interpret, and explain rules, regulations, legal requirements, and policies.
• Advanced interpersonal skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external customers and contacts.
• Ability to remain flexible to changing priorities and growing demands.
• Ability to manage, plan, administer, and evaluate programs and projects.
• Comprehensive technical and analytical expertise in construction practices, infrastructure design, and transportation modeling.
• Comprehensive knowledge of budget principles, development, and managing a complex budget.
• Working knowledge of bidding, purchasing, and contract management and administration.
• Basic PC proficiency including word processing and spreadsheet software.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university. Coursework in civil engineering, capital project management, operations and maintenance, public administration, or a related field.
• Experience: 10 years of increasingly responsible management experience, including 5 years at a senior supervisory level.
• 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.

• Must have a valid Washington State Driver's license and ability to remain insurable under the City's insurance to operate motor vehicles.
• Professional Engineering license preferred.
• Public sector work experience preferred.

Physical Demands and Working Environment:
Work is primarily performed in a typical office environment. Incumbent is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time while working at desk or during meetings. 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.

Selection Process

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. This position is open until filled with a first review of applicants on August 4th, 2025.

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 711.