If you are looking for opportunities to advance your career, lead exciting community projects, and be part of an incredible City team, we have the perfect job for you! If you thrive in an ever-changing environment where your ideas are valued and your personal and professional development are recognized as priorities, apply now!
Department Overview
The Public Works Department is responsible for building and maintaining the City’s infrastructure and facilities, and for providing street, sidewalk, water, stormwater, parks, trees and transportation services.
The Department consists of three Divisions: Engineering, Maintenance and Transportation. The Transportation Division, working collaboratively with other city departments, is responsible for moving people and goods throughout Menlo Park. The team leads multi-modal and safety-focused infrastructure projects; engages with regional transportation partners including Caltrain, Samtrans, Caltrans, and other transit providers; maintains more than 40 traffic signals, 2200 street lights, traffic signs and street markings; and administers a local-serving shuttle and safe routes to schools programs. The City adopted a visionary Transportation Master Plan in late 2020 that will guide investments in multi-modal infrastructure in the future, with goals to improve safety, sustainability, mobility choice, and congestion management. This position would oversee the 7 staff members in the Transportation Division.
The City is seeking a transportation enthusiast that has a proven track record of working alongside diverse community members and implementing projects to improve quality of life and address historic racial and social inequities. The candidate will have excellent managerial and analytical skills, outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, and a strong ability to promote a positive work environment. They will have experience to represent the City as part of various regional efforts and engage with City’s advisory Complete Streets Commission and the City Council. They will generate ideas and encourage suggestions that result in system improvements and enhanced efficiencies of the Department.
Job Description
Assumes management responsibility for the public works transportation division, including planning, design and maintenance of new construction projects for transportation-related infrastructure and programs such as streets, sidewalks, and traffic signals. Services and projects generally have a high profile within the City and the region.
Manages and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for applicable functional areas; recommends, within departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
Supervises various levels of staff.
Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees on performance issues; responds to staff questions and concerns; makes discipline recommendations to the Public Works Director.
Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement and reviews with the Public Works Director; directs the implementation of improvements.
Oversees the development of consultant requests for proposal for professional and/or construction services and the advertising and bid processes; evaluates proposals and recommends project award; negotiates and administers contracts after award; ensures contractor compliance with City standards and specifications and time and budget estimates; analyzes and resolves complex problems that may arise; recommends and approves field changes as required.
Monitors revenue and expense budgets on an on-going basis, which may include revenue generated from sales and gas tax base, and transportation impact fees.
May conduct transportation capital project planning activities; provides oversight and input into the conceptual design of engineering projects; investigates and resolves problems with scope of work or cost issues of major facility upgrade and replacement projects.
Analyzes transportation engineering plan design, specifications, consultant and staff comments in accordance with design requirements, and municipal and intergovernmental standards and regulations; recommends approval or additional engineering conditions and changes.
Serves as a liaison for the department to other City departments, divisions, elected officials, outside agencies, and the public; attends meetings in various locations; provides staff support to commissions, committees, and task forces; participates in community events and workshops that provide public information regarding departmental programs, projects, and services; explains and interprets departmental programs, policies, and activities.
Conducts a variety of departmental organizational and operational studies and investigations; recommends modifications to programs, policies and procedures as appropriate.
Prepares, reviews, and presents staff reports, various management and information updates, and reports on special projects to the City Council, as well as various boards, commissions, and committees, as assigned by the Public Works Director.
Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public works and other types of public services as they relate to the area of assignment.
Maintains and directs the maintenance of working and official departmental files.
Monitors changes in laws, regulations, and technology that may affect City or departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes as required.
Responds to difficult and sensitive public inquiries and complaints and assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience requirements:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in civil, traffic, or transportation engineering; transportation or urban planning; or a related field
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible and varied professional transportation planning and/or traffic engineering
Two (2) years of management and/or supervisory experience, ideally supervising professional or sub-professional engineering personnel.
Licenses and Certifications:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver's license by time of appointment.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid registration as a Professional Traffic or Civil Engineer in the State of California is desirable
Internal Number: 20094320
About City of Menlo Park
Menlo Park is a city of beautiful, tree-lined neighborhoods and active commercial districts. Located conveniently between the major metropolitan areas of San Francisco and San Jose, Menlo Park is home to a little over 32,000 residents in its 19 square miles.
Excellent public and private schools serve Menlo Park’s many young families, while residents of all ages enjoy the city’s numerous parks and recreational facilities. The city’s close proximity to Stanford University and Menlo College provide a multitude of academic, cultural and athletic event opportunities. The arts and leisure activities of the major urban areas of San Francisco and San Jose are close by. These and many other amenities contribute to Menlo Park’s outstanding quality of life. Known worldwide as the “Capital of Venture Capital”, Menlo Park is well situated to benefit from and help shape new technologies and markets originating from the Silicon Valley.
