Director of Public Works & Engineering

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS & ENGINEERING

Vanderhoof is a friendly and welcoming rural-urban mixed community located in the geographical center of British Columbia and is at the “Heart of it All” when it comes to lifestyle, recreation, and employment opportunities. With a population base of roughly 4,500, and serving a larger area of nearly 10,000, Vanderhoof is an active community with great indoor/outdoor recreation facilities and trails. Vanderhoof is situated along Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway), and is located an hour west of Prince George, BC.

The Director of Public Works & Engineering is a senior management position. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Director is responsible for strategic planning, direction, and integration of all aspects of the Public Works Department operations, maintenance, and capital upgrades of municipal infrastructure, including but not limited to streets, sidewalks, parks, arena, water, storm water and wastewater systems, equipment, and fleet.  The Director of Public Works & Engineering ensures continuous operation and services to the public, such as garbage collection, transit, and snow clearing services, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of District facilities such as the cemetery, airport, district owned buildings and properties in accordance with federal, provincial, and municipal regulations.

DUTIES

• Prepare strategic planning and goal setting for the Public Works Department and monitor progress of strategic priorities.
• Responsible for planning, managing, and executing a variety of capital projects within the community.
• Prepare and monitor the annual and long range operational and capital budgets for the department, in accordance with approved guidelines.
• Administer, award, and oversee project contracts, tenders, RFPs, and service agreements.
• Oversee planning, data collection, condition assessment and tracking of the District’s assets through asset management software.
• Provides engineering support for the various District departments for activities such as building and development.
• Manage maintenance of infrastructure, and capital projects, including managing and controlling contractor’s quality of work and progress, and tracking expenditures to ensure projects stay on budget.
• Oversee the public works department operations, including parks and the arena.   
• Oversee garbage collection, transit, and snow clearing services.
• Prepare departmental rules, regulations, procedures, and policies in accordance with District policies and any applicable legislative or governing bodies to ensure compliance with all safety regulations. 
• Administer the safety program, policies and procedures for the District. Take corrective measures to improve safety in the workplace.
• Ensure the department members operate and conform to all standards identified in the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines.
• Responsible for evaluating work methods, systems, and procedures to improve the delivery of services through the implementation of new approaches and/or the application of new technology.
• Research, write, and report on relevant infrastructure grant applications.
• Attend Council and relevant committee meetings.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for Council’s consideration.
• Respond to resident enquiries and issues.
• Oversee the management, leadership, and administration of two exempt staff, 14 regular full-time unionized staff, 2 casual unionized staff, and up to 10 seasonal staff. 
• Oversee training and development for Public Works staff, including developing, coordinating, planning, and executing all necessary training sessions and maintaining training records.
• Perform other assigned duties as required by the Chief Administrative Officer or designate.  

QUALIFICATIONS

• Diploma or Degree in Civil Engineering, Planning, Construction Management, or related discipline;
• A minimum of 5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience;
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience supervising staff within a unionized environment;
• Experience in municipal operations or local government is considered an asset;
• Experience with tendering, and contract management is considered an asset;
• Project management, asset management and general infrastructure planning experience is considered an asset;
• A valid BC Class 5 Driver’s license;
• A clean driver’s abstract;
• Clear police information report (not required at the time of application).

SKILLS 

• Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills; excels at building effective working relationships with the public, elected officials, District staff and other partners in a team environment.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing. 
• Proven track record of successfully leading capital projects construction, and maintenance.
• Experience in administration with suitable computer operations skills, including ability to produce reports and presentations for Council, CAO, committees, and public groups.
• Ability to exercise sound decision making and considerable judgement that reflects well on the department and organization.
• Proven supervisory and team leadership skills, including the ability to promote cohesion and teamwork among the team.
• Ability to act with tact and discretion around sensitive issues or situations and to maintain strict confidentiality as may be required or appropriate.

The position is a regular full-time excluded management position that offers an attractive benefits package, including flex time.  The salary range for this position is $106,408 to $128,942 per annum.

The District is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  We invite all qualified candidates to apply.  Please apply by Tuesday, May 20, 2025. 

We want to thank all applicants, however only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.