Assistant Public Works Director

Salary : $126,664.72 - $173,350.11 Annually

Location : Sioux City, IA

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 202500054

Department : Public Works Administration

Division : Public Works Administration

Opening Date : 06 / 27 / 2025

Closing Date : 7 / 11 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Central

Description

The City of Sioux City is seeking a highly qualified and motivated professional to serve as Assistant Director of Public Works-a pivotal leadership position overseeing critical municipal operations in Wastewater Treatment, Renewable Fuels, and Environmental Services.

In this role, you'll provide strategic direction and day-to-day oversight to ensure the seamless delivery of essential city services. You'll lead teams, track major projects, troubleshoot operational challenges, and uphold rigorous regulatory and safety standards.

Working closely with department supervisors, the Assistant Director sets priorities, allocates resources wisely, and proactively addresses the evolving needs of our community. When the Public Works Director is unavailable, this position steps in to maintain continuity and organizational stability.

Join us!

Duties

• Supervises and evaluates the work of employees; recommends personnel actions related to selection, disciplinary procedures, performance, leaves, grievances, work schedules and assignments, and safety; administers personnel policies and procedures.
• Assists the Public Works Director in managing department operations, goals, policies and operating procedures in alignment with City objectives, budget tracking, purchasing, and policy implementation.
• Responds to citizen inquiries and service requests and represents the department at internal and external meetings as needed.
• Serves as acting Public Works Director in their absence and plays a key role in the City's emergency operations and incident response planning.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks and participating in professional organizations.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Division :

Renewable Fuels Division :

Environmental Services Division :

Engineering Division :

Streets Division :

Central Maintenance Garage Division :

Qualifications

Cognitive Demands, Skills and Abilities : Ability to exercise sound judgment; ability to make decisions under pressure, and effectively manage a broad range of complex, day-to-day responsibilities; ability to provide strong analytical and critical thinking skills to identify operational challenges, support policy implementation, and contribute to the development of practical, forward-looking solutions; a high degree of organizational ability is essential to coordinate multiple priorities, respond to emerging issues, and support the department's strategic objectives; ability to interpret and apply a wide range of legal, regulatory, and technical information related to municipal engineering, infrastructure maintenance, environmental compliance, and personnel practices, ensuring alignment with City policies and operational standards; ability to identify and understand the speech of another person; ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Job Knowledge : Strong working knowledge of civil engineering principles, municipal operations, and public infrastructure systems; thorough understanding of street maintenance procedures, fleet and equipment oversight, wastewater treatment operations, and environmental regulatory compliance; knowledge of construction practices, capital improvement planning, budget management, and the application of relevant safety and environmental standards, including OSHA regulations and NPDES permit requirements; This role supports the implementation of technical and regulatory best practices across all divisions of the Public Works Department; knowledge of principles of public administration and human resources management and labor relations.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication : Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey technical, operational, and policy information clearly and effectively to staff, consultants, contractors, and members of the public; ability to write and speak clearly; ability to read in English and compare similarities and differences between words and series of numbers; ability to apply common sense understanding to the work process, procedures, programs, and services, ability to provide and follow verbal and written instructions; ability to support leadership initiatives, facilitate team coordination, and contribute to cross-departmental collaboration; ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills for building positive working relationships, resolving conflicts, and representing the department in meetings with community stakeholders, intergovernmental partners, City officials, City staff, and business representatives; ability to draft written communication that is clear, concise, and professional, suitable for preparing reports, correspondence, internal memoranda, and regulatory documentation.

Physical Requirements : Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods and operate standard office equipment; Ability for visual acuity for reading detailed reports, reviewing engineering drawings, and performing on-site inspections; ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer; ability to see details at a distance; must be physically capable of navigating construction zones, traversing uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, and safely observing field operations.

Occasionally requires lifting or carrying materials and equipment weighing up to 30pounds.

Work Environment : Consists primarily of an office setting but includes routine field visits to active construction sites, public infrastructure locations, and operational facilities such as the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Central Maintenance Garage. These field settings may involve exposure to varying weather conditions, noise, dust, odors, and potentially hazardous environments. The Assistant Public Works Director must be comfortable operating in both administrative and field environments and may occasionally be required to attend evening meetings or respond to operational emergencies outside of standard business hours.

Special Requirements : A valid driver's license is required for travel to various job sites and city facilities.

Possession of a valid Iowa Department of Natural Resources Grade 3 Wastewater System Certificate with the ability to obtain valid Iowa Department of Natural Resources Grade 4 within 1 year of hire or possession of Iowa Professional Engineering License.

Minimum Required Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, or a closely related discipline and six (6) years of full-time work experience in public works, engineering, utilities, or related municipal services.

Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skill, and abilities.

For Full-Time employees and qualifying Transit and Library Part-Time employees, the City of Sioux City offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Flex Spending Accounts, Life, Disability and Retirement. For more information on the benefits available, please visit our