ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT

THE JOB: The Department of Public Works is looking for Assistant Public Works Superintendents in the following specialty areas: 

Assistant Public Works Superintendent (Sanitation Operations): Sanitation Operations oversees the staff and crew for three sanitation districts and five County Service Areas in the County of Santa Cruz. Incumbents in the Sanitation Operations Division report to the Operations Manager, and under general direction, assist in the planning and supervision of staff; evaluation of personnel and equipment; institute appropriate safety programs, and perform other duties as required.  

Assistant Public Works Superintendent (Road Maintenance Operations): Road Maintenance Operations conducts long-range planning for maintenance, repair, and construction of 596 miles of roads in the County of Santa Cruz. Incumbents in the Road Maintenance Division report to the Road Superintendent, and under general direction, assist in long range planning; supervision of staff; evaluation of personnel and equipment; institute appropriate safety programs, and perform other duties as required.

All Assistant Public Works Superintendent assignments: Under direction, assist in the planning, supervision, and management of a Division of the Public Works Department; supervise staff assigned to a variety of activities; evaluate personnel and equipment safety, and institute appropriate safety programs; act in the absence of the Superintendent or manager or others; and perform other duties as assigned. The current vacancies are in Sanitation Operations and Road Maintenance; however, the list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future vacancies in any of the Public Works Divisions during the life of the eligible list.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain these would be to have four years of experience in one or more of the following: road repair, road construction, operation and maintenance of water and sewage treatment plants, maintenance of transmission facilities, collection system maintenance, operation and maintenance of refuse transfer station and refuse landfill facilities, or fleet services operations. At least two of the years of qualifying experience must have included supervisory experience. 

Special Requirements, Conditions (All Assignments): Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License (upon hire.) Sanitation Assignment: Within three years of employment, must possess all of the following: A Grade I or higher Collection System Maintenance Certificate and a Grade I or higher Mechanical Technologist Certificate, both issued by the California Water Pollution Control Association, and a Grade I or higher Water Treatment Plant Operator Certificate issued by the State of California Department of Health Services. Disposal Site Assignment: Within one year of employment, must possess a Manager of Landfill Operations Certificate issued by the Solid Waste Association of North America (if the examination for the Certification is not administered within this time frame, this period will be extended to the next examination administration.) Fleet Services Assignment: Within six months of employment, possession of a valid California Class A Driver License.

Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of the methods, materials, and equipment used in one or more of the following: Road repair and road construction; operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants, maintenance of transmission facilities, collection system maintenance; operation and maintenance of refuse transfer stations and refuse landfill facilities; operation of facilities servicing and maintaining construction equipment, light and heavy duty trucks and automobiles with internal combustion gasoline and diesel engines. Safety practices for one or more of the following: Road repair, road construction, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants, maintenance of transmission facilities, collection system maintenance, or operation and maintenance of refuse transfer stations, refuse landfill facilities; or repair and maintenance of construction equipment. Working knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision and training; estimating repair costs including labor and materials. Some knowledge of engineering principles used in one or more of the following: Road repair, road construction, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants, maintenance of transmission facilities, collection system maintenance, or operation and maintenance of refuse transfer stations and refuse landfill facilities.

Ability to: Assign, supervise, direct, coordinate, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff; schedule work, determine priorities, and make decisions to resolve difficult or unusual problems; operate and train others to safely operate equipment and handle materials based on the assignment; read and interpret state and local laws and regulations pertaining to the work of the assignment; read and interpret maps and engineering blueprints, specifications, and drawings; develop specifications and evaluate bids; determine equipment, materials, and labor needs and prepare cost estimates; assist in budget preparation and administration; prepare clear and concise correspondence and written reports; communicate effectively orally to provide instructions, explanations, reports, etc., to subordinates, superiors, the public, and others; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work; learn to input, access, and analyze data using a computer terminal; perform tasks requiring strength, such as loading equipment onto a truck; put on, wear, and use a respirator; distinguish colors, such as color-coded chemical test guides or underground service alerts; hear and distinguish various sounds, such as voices of workers and the sounds of operating equipment. Additional abilities required for: 

• Road assignment: Operate heavy equipment and lift items weighing up to 75 pounds.
• Sanitation assignment: Lift items weighing up to 82 pounds, such as pumps.
• Disposal Site assignment: Operate heavy equipment and lift items weighing up to 75 pounds.
• Fleet Services Assignment: Diagnose the cause of mechanical failure in construction equipment, light and heavy trucks and automobiles, and determine appropriate repairs; lift items weighing up to 75 pounds.

Special Working Conditions (All Assignments): Exposure to variable temperatures and weather conditions; heights; high levels of noise; strong, unpleasant odors; infections that might cause chronic disease or death; and the possibility of experiencing burns, bodily injury, exposure to non-ionizing radiation, and contact with toxic substances or chemical irritants. Roads and Sanitation Assignments: Exposure to cramped spaces and electrical hazards.

Other Special Requirements (All Assignments): Availability to work irregular hours, including responding to twenty-four-hour emergency calls. Fleet Services Assignment: Alcohol and drug tests will be administered to all candidates prior to final selection for positions requiring Class A or Class B Driver Licenses upon entry, and to employees in positions requiring those licenses, as mandated by the Department of Transportation federal regulations. In addition, all candidates must provide specific employment history for up to the past ten years for all jobs they have held that required operation of a commercial vehicle.

Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

VACATION - 16 days 1st year, increasing to 31 days per year after 15 years’ service. Available after one year of service.
ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE – One week advanced upon appointment; two weeks accrued each year; can be taken in cash or time off.
HOLIDAYS - 13 paid holidays per year.
SICK LEAVE - Six days per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE - 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN - The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN - County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN - The County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY - Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County participates in Social Security.
LIFE INSURANCE - County paid $50,000 term policy. Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
LONG TERM DISABILITY PLAN - Plan pays 66 2/3% of the first $13,500, up to $9,000 per month maximum.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay for qualifying child or dependent care expenses may elect this pre-tax program.
H-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay a County medical premium may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION - A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now! Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.  For information, call (831) 454-2600. Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711. Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways: 1) in the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.

IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY THAT WOULD REQUIRE TEST ACCOMMODATION, CALL (831) 454-2600. WOMEN, MINORITIES AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. 

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.  

An Equal Opportunity Employer

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.