Public Works Director

City of McFarland

Public Works Director

(CONTRACT)

 

Salary Range:  $135,000- $165,000 Annually

(Initial placement within the range will be based on qualifications and experience. Possession of a current California Civil Engineer license may support appointment toward the upper end of the range.)

Opening Date:10/2/2026

Closing Date: 10/16/2026 at 5:00 pm Pacific Time (US & Canada)

IDEAL CANDIDATE AND OPPORTUNITY:

The City of McFarland is seeking a hands-on, collaborative public works leader who can strengthen day-to-day operations, develop staff, deliver complex capital projects, and communicate effectively with the City Council, regulatory agencies, contractors, and the community. The next Director will lead significant water, wastewater, street, transit, refuse, and grant-funded infrastructure work while maintaining reliable essential services.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under general direction of the City Manager, the Public Works Director plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the programs and operations of the Public Works Department, including streets, fleet and facility maintenance, refuse and solid waste compliance, water, wastewater, transit, graffiti removal, and oversight of civil engineering and capital projects. The Director develops departmental policies, goals, work plans, and budgets; provides expert professional assistance to City management; supervises division leaders and staff; and serves as a key advisor to the City Manager on infrastructure, utilities, emergency response, and other matters affecting City operations.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

·   Plan, organize, direct, supervise, and evaluate all departmental programs and services for efficiency, effectiveness, safety, regulatory compliance, and alignment with the City’s goals, objectives, and priorities.

·   Develop and implement Public Works Department goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work plans consistent with City Council and City Manager priorities. Participate in the development and administration of the City’s operating and capital budgets.

·   Select, assign, supervise, train, and evaluate department employees in accordance with City policy. Recognize strong performance, address performance concerns, and recommend disciplinary action when appropriate. Ensure employees receive training in safe work practices, emergency procedures, and the proper handling of hazardous materials. Resolve personnel matters and ensure workplace accidents are promptly reported and investigated.

·   Establish performance measures, monitoring systems, internal controls, maintenance practices, and reporting procedures to ensure the quality, timeliness, efficiency, and regulatory compliance of department operations.

·   Prepare clear and accurate City Council staff reports, resolutions, contracts, presentations, and other agenda materials for review by the City Manager.

·   Attend management and City meetings as the department representative. Make presentations before boards, commissions, community groups, and the City Council as requested by the City Manager.

·   Represent the City on regional, community, and professional boards, committees, and commissions as requested by the City Manager. Maintain effective working relationships with neighboring agencies and local, state, and federal partners.

·   Provide technical assistance to the City Manager and other department heads. Respond to public inquiries, monitor programs for compliance with regulations and City priorities, conduct special studies and fact-finding assignments, and present clear oral and written analyses to the City Manager and City Council.

·   Resolve the department’s most difficult, complex, and sensitive customer service matters and maintain appropriate records. Keep the City Manager informed of significant problems, risks, and community concerns, and recommend appropriate changes to programs and policies.

·   Evaluate department service levels and operational needs, recommend program changes, and direct the development and presentation of the Public Works operating and capital budgets.

·   Forecast department revenues and expenditures, including grant and contract activity; administer division budgets; and ensure compliance with funding agreements and applicable financial controls.

·   Direct the planning, design, permitting, construction, closeout, and long-term asset management of public works projects. Oversee preparation and technical review of plans, specifications, and estimates, coordinating required engineering approvals through the City Engineer or qualified consultants. Review bids and recommend contract awards.. 

·  Participate in negotiations with outside entities and administer professional services, construction, franchise, and operating contracts within delegated authority. Prepare recommendations for City Council action and monitor contractor performance and compliance.

·   Authorize purchases of departmental materials and equipment within established authority and budget limits, consistent with City purchasing policies and applicable public contracting requirements.

·   Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate Public Works functions, including streets and traffic control devices; fleet, equipment, and facility maintenance; refuse, recycling, solid waste compliance, and graffiti removal; wastewater collection and treatment; water production, treatment, and distribution; transit; and oversight of civil engineering and capital improvement services.

·   Plan for facility expansion, storage needs, fleet and equipment replacement, and other long-term operational requirements. Ensure the safe storage and handling of hazardous or volatile materials in compliance with Cal/OSHA and other applicable requirements. Prepare or oversee specifications for projects and equipment and implement federal and state mandates.

·   Prepare or supervise the timely preparation of required reports for federal, state, regional, and other regulatory agencies, and provide periodic operational and project reports to the City Manager and City Council.

·   Serve as a key member of the City’s emergency response organization and remain available, as required, to respond to water, wastewater, street, facility, weather, and other public works emergencies outside regular business hours.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

Knowledge of – Principles, practices, and programs of municipal public works administration, including streets, water and wastewater utilities, transit, refuse and solid waste, fleet and facilities, capital improvement planning and delivery, asset management, and emergency response. General civil engineering standards and legal requirements applicable to public works projects. Municipal budgeting, public administration, organizational management, public procurement, contract administration, grant compliance, and applicable prevailing wage requirements. Supervisory and employee-relations practices in the public sector. Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, permits, and codes. Principles of workplace safety and risk management. Effective written and oral communication, financial and operational analysis, and current office and project-management technology.

Skilled in - Planning, organizing, administering, and coordinating public works operations, utility services, maintenance programs, and capital projects. Assigning, directing, developing, and evaluating staff. Providing analytical and management support to the City Manager. Conducting complex studies, evaluating alternatives, and making effective recommendations. Reading, interpreting, and applying complex plans, specifications, procedures, policies, rules, and regulations. Negotiating and representing City interests. Prioritizing work and managing multiple projects and deadlines. Preparing clear, accurate, and concise reports, correspondence, budgets, and presentations. Maintaining confidentiality and establishing effective working relationships with employees, employee representatives, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, community members, and professional colleagues.

Ability to - Plan, organize, and direct public works activities, programs, and services. Read and understand blueprints, engineering plans, specifications, contracts, and regulatory documents. Maintain accurate records and effective internal controls. Develop and administer complex operating and capital improvement budgets. Organize, assign, direct, review, and evaluate staff. Assess difficult situations, manage risk, and make sound recommendations and timely independent judgments within established authority. Communicate clearly and concisely in oral and written English. Effectively represent the City in meetings with public agencies, private organizations, contractors, and community members. Use computers and related business and project-management applications.

Licenses and Certificates: Possession of a valid California driver’s license by time of appointment. Registration as a Civil Engineer in the State of California is highly desirable.

Physical Abilities and Work Environment – Sit for lengthy periods of time in an indoor office environment. Be available to visit a variety of work and project sites, requiring physical agility and the ability to climb stairs and ladders. Drive an automobile, walk over uneven ground. Operate keyboard equipment. Effectively deal with stressful situations. Any combination of experience and education that would be likely to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities could be qualifying, as determined by the City. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities is: 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Any combination of experience and education that would be likely to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities could be qualifying, as determined by the City. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities is:  

Experience – Five years of increasingly responsible professional, administrative, engineering, utility, capital project, or public works experience, including program planning, development, and administration and at least two years of management or supervisory responsibility. Municipal or other public-agency experience is highly desirable.

Education - Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil or environmental engineering, construction management, public administration, business administration, or a related field. Additional qualifying professional experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis. A master’s degree in a related field is desirable and may substitute for up to one year of non-supervisory experience.

Other – Must file an annual Statement of Economic Interests, Form 700, as required by the City’s conflict-of-interest code. Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish is desirable.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The City of McFarland offers an excellent benefit package including:

• Comprehensive City paid medical including buy up option, City paid dental, and vision benefits for the employee and Dependents.
• Life insurance $50,000 (Employee Only)
• Retirement: Deferred Compensation 401(k) -The City of McFarland contributes an additional 10% of an employee's pay each pay period into a 401K plan, at no cost to the employee.
• Supplemental life insurance (Optional)
• Deferred Compensation 457 Plan (Optional)
• Section 125 plan participation
• 12 Days' vacation and 12 Days sick pay accrued annually.
• 12 Days Holiday Pay
• 1 Personal Day Pay
• Work Schedule- Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm

Selection: Screening will consist of a competitive assessment of relevant education, training and work experience to be followed by an interview before an Oral Board to determine the most qualified candidates. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview, and the decision of the screening committee is final. Applicants will receive electronic notification regarding results for all phases of the recruitment up to the establishment of the eligibility list, if applicable. Candidates will be notified of the date and time of scheduled interviews and/or tests. The City of McFarland reserves the right to alter the testing process at any time, without notice, as needed.

To apply: You may apply online by clicking on the "Apply" button. Please submit a complete application (a resume may be included but does not substitute for a completed application) together with any materials required to accompany application if noticed in this announcement, to the Human Resources Office, City of McFarland, 401 W. Kern Ave. McFarland, CA 93250

Special Condition: Candidates recommended for hire will be required to undergo a background reference and fingerprint check and a pre-employment physical and drug screening.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: The City of McFarland is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), requests for special accommodations during any stage of the examination process should be made in advance to If you believe you need accommodation under the ADA in the testing process for any position for which you intend to apply, please contact the Human Resources Division at (661) 792-3091 to request such accommodation. The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability or medical condition, Acquired Immune Deficiency (AIDS/HIV) or AIDS related conditions, political affiliation, sexual orientation, ancestry, marital or domestic partner status, gender identity, parental status, veteran status, height, weight, or any other basis protected by law

• Must: Five years of increasingly responsible experience in public works, civil engineering, utilities, capital improvement projects, construction management, or municipal operations, including program planning and administration.
• Must: Two years of management or supervisory experience.
• Must: Experience overseeing public works infrastructure, operations, projects, programs, consultants, or contractors.
• Must: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, construction management, public administration, or business administration, or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience. Additional qualifying experience may substitute for education year-for-year.
• Must: Ability to obtain and maintain a valid California driver’s license by appointment.
• Preferred: Experience working for a municipality or other public agency.
• Preferred: Experience with water and wastewater systems, operations, and regulatory compliance.
• Preferred: Experience planning and managing capital improvement projects.
• Preferred: Experience developing and administering budgets, grants, contracts, and public procurement.
• Preferred: Experience presenting technical or policy information to elected officials, regulatory agencies, community groups, or the public.
• Preferred: California Civil Engineer license.
• Preferred: Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.