Public Works Director

Experience:

Five (5) years of public sector managerial experience, including responsibility for developing, directing and supervising the staff and activities of a major program or operation focused on municipal public works or a related area. Experience in multiple program areas is desirable.

Bachelor's degree with major course work in public administration, business administration, construction management, engineering, or a related field.   A master’s degree in a similar field is highly desirable.

Valid Class C California Driver License and acceptable driving record.

The City was incorporated in 1957. The history of Paramount has in many ways followed a path typical of its Southeast Los Angeles County neighbors. Agricultural beginnings early in the 20th century followed by relatively uncontrolled growth and an overbuilt environment. By the 1970s, much of Paramount had degenerated into blight. Rather than sink under the weight of its problems, Paramount chose a proactive course to meet them head on. Through the dedicated efforts of government officials, residents, the faith-based community, law enforcement, and businesses, the City made incredible strides in renewal.

Paramount has a distinctive look due to continual investment in its infrastructure and a long-time emphasis on code enforcement and assistance programs that have helped residents and businesses upgrade and maintain their properties. The municipal government is a stable, innovative, and financially conservative organization, with an emphasis on maintaining the quality of life for residents, all of which have established a town that people are proud to call home.

THE ORGANIZATION

Paramount is a General Law city that operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The governing body consists of five City Councilmembers elected at large. Each year, the elected Councilmembers choose one member to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Vice Mayor. Each member of the Council serves a four-year term.

The City is operated by six departments: Administrative Services, Planning and Building, Public Safety, Public Works, Community Services, and Finance. The City’s FY 2025-26 Adopted Operating Budget is $79 million ($45 million General Fund), plus an additional $55 million in CIPs.

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

The Public Works Department includes seven non-enterprise divisions: Administration, Facility, Road, and Landscape Maintenance, Engineering, Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance, and Sustainability. As our newest division, established in FY2022-23, the Sustainability Division implements programs and activities designed to align with the City’s sustainability goals as described in the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP).

Excluding Water Operations and CIP’s, the FY 2025-26 budget for the Public Works Department is $15,219,800 which makes up 19.5% of the City’s total operating budget. The Engineering Division is comprised of contract services, including traffic engineering. This division also provides project management and inspection services through our engineering contract that allows us to implement and construct projects from our robust Capital Improvement Program.

Staff: Department staff is comprised of 32 full time and 44 Part Time staff for a total of 76.

WATER OPERATIONS:

The Public Works Department also manages three divisions under the Water Enterprise fund, which includes Water Production, Water Distribution, and Water Customer Service.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS:

The City’s Capital Improvement Program provides for improvements to our arterial street corridors and neighborhood streets, continued design for several large infrastructure projects in the coming years, and projects that will improve and maintain our parks and City facilities.

Additionally, the City continues to update its 5-year CIP Budget that provides a roadmap for future infrastructure improvement projects. The 5-year CIP facilitates a focused spending plan and improves the overall long-term financial management for the City’s infrastructure needs.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The City of Paramount is looking for a highly skilled individual with extensive local government public works experience to take on this role. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the highest level of integrity and a genuine commitment to collaboration and delivering project-based results. They will be an approachable leader who is responsive to organizational needs and known for being open, humble, honest, respected, and trusted in all internal and external interactions.

Exceptional communication skills—both written and verbal—are essential. The ideal candidate will be energetic, kind, appropriately confident, and an effective leader with a demonstrated history of solid leadership and project management experience, with an ability to deliver projects on schedule. They should demonstrate strong strategic planning abilities to guide long term infrastructure investment and experience overseeing capital improvement programs. They should have the ability to effectively lead diverse teams, including field operations and administrative staff as well as a vision of modernizing systems to improve efficiency. Having a customer service mindset that emphasizes responsiveness and transparency as well as creative problem solving skills is a must. Lastly, the ideal candidate must excel at collaborating across City departments and with external stakeholders to advance both the short- and long term goals of the City and Public Works Department.

A 4% COLA salary increase is expected to take effect in July 2026.

Examples of Duties

Under the direction of the City Manager, the Public Works Director will:

• Assumes full responsibility for managing all activities and services of the Public Works Department.
• Direct over 70 staff members and resources; develop, administer, and evaluate projects and procedures to meet organizational needs and ensure smooth and efficient activities.
• Provide technical input and advice to the City Manager and City Council on assigned subject matter areas; propose strategies and programs to address challenges.
• Review, consider, and/or initiate various types of project proposals, agreements and recommendations; negotiate, draft, update and monitor agreements; communicate with City staff, attorneys and external agents needed to ensure legal and administrative compliance; participate in the preparation and administration of adopted plans and ordinances as required.
• Manage the field operations of its municipal water system, ensuring compliance with all applicable local, state and federal regulations.
• Direct the preparation and administration of department budges’ direct and approve various personnel actions, including selection, promotion, performance evaluations and disciplinary actions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

UPCOMING PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Arterial Streets Rehabilitation Project
• Neighborhood Streets Rehabilitation Project
• Median Enhancements Citywide
• West Santa Ana Branch Bikeway Trail
• Spane Park Stormwater Infiltration Project
• Madison Street Stormwater Project
• Paramount Park Community Center Expansion