Administrative Supervisor - Public Works

Job description

About the City Lafayette has an inescapable small-town feeling that provides a sense of belonging and connection. Whether it’s eclectic Old Town, distinctive neighborhoods, or unique arts and outdoors spaces, the City has a warmth and character all its own, offering a unique vibe and spirit. Lafayette has appeared on numerous national lists of top places to live and safely raise a family. We are a full-service City, which means services are provided directly to our community such as Police, Fire, Public Works, Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, Library and Community Arts Center. These types of services offer employment opportunities for a wide array of interests. The City’s mission is to recruit, develop and retain a diverse, well-qualified and professional workforce that reflects the unique personality of the community we serve. Exceptional City Provided Benefits: • Medical, Dental, Vision • 401A Retirement Plan (10.2% City, 8% Employee, immediately 100% vested upon hire) • Life Insurance (One year’s salary up to $150,000. AD&D coverage in equal amount) • Tuition Assistance (up to $5000 per year for approved expenses) • Employee Assistance Program (free counseling, travel assistance, legal aid, etc) • Short and Long-Term Disability • Bilingual Pay Additional Benefits: • Deferred Compensation and Roth Options • Voluntary Life Insurance/AD&D • Identity Theft Program • Recreation Center Pass • Wellness Punch Card (100 punches per year to use at golf course, waterpark, etc) Leave: • First year employees will accrue 80 hours Vacation • Sick Leave • Floating Holiday Leave • 11.5 paid City holidays. • Other leave programs are offered to include FMLA, Parental and Bereavement Leave SUMMARY: The Public Works Administrative Supervisor manages administrative and financial functions of the Public Works Department. This position is responsible for developing strategies for the division and management of a professional and accountable workgroup focused on continuous improvement and efficient service to the public and internal customers. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The following duties are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive: Division Leadership & Continuous Improvement Leads and supervises Public Works Administration staff, work programs, and operational goals. • Fosters a department culture focused on continuous process improvement and monitors the long-term impact of these efforts. • Develops, implements, and enforces division-specific policies while recommending organizational adjustments to the Deputy Director. • Partners with leadership across the City and Public Works department to align and achieve shared strategic objectives. • Escalates emerging issues, project progress, and critical resource constraints to the deputy director. Personnel Management & Supervision • Directs division workflows through internal staff, external consultants, and specialized contractors. • Establishes clear work plans, communicates expectations, monitors output quality, and determines staffing resource needs. • Mentors, supports, and evaluates employee performance while actively involving staff in collaborative decision-making. • Oversees the entire talent lifecycle for the division, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, and employee retention. • Manages policy compliance, conducts performance reviews, and administers corrective actions or discipline when necessary. • Coordinates and standardizes the Employee Onboarding Program across all Public Works divisions. Program & Systems Oversight • Oversees Core Utility Billing operations, driving policy revisions, analyzing trend data, and resolving escalated customer issues. • Manages specialized department functions including operational vehicle licensing, license plates, and CORA (Colorado Open Records Act) requests. • Directs Public Works website management, ensuring digital accessibility, legal compliance, and updated content. • Supervises Public Works permitting programs, with a focus on Right-of-Way permitting workflows. • Identifies and implements automation opportunities to improve overall Public Works efficiency and service delivery. Budgetary & Financial Management • Partners with the Senior Financial Analyst to develop, monitor, and manage the comprehensive divisional budget. • Assist in establishing departmental budget guidelines and schedules that align directly with the City’s central budget process. • Reviews monthly financial variance reporting and develops strategic recommendations to optimize departmental spending. • Collaborates with other City departments to identify financial efficiencies and joint funding opportunities. Communications & Customer Service Standards • Serves as the primary department liaison to the central Communications Department to establish messaging standards. • Collaborates with staff to design communication strategies for the Capital Improvement Program and external partners (e.g., Keep It Clean Partnership). • Supervises administrative personnel handling direct customer inquiries, serving as the final escalation point and providing backup coverage. • Monitors the quality, clarity, and timeliness of outbound public communications and informational updates. • Tracks work order tracking systems and follows up with division managers to ensure customer service metrics are met. Performance Metrics & Data Analysis • Recommends, establishes, and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs), goals, and divisional and departmental metrics. • Maintains analytical systems to capture accurate operational and performance data. • Analyzes tracking system reports to deliver data-driven recommendations to department leadership. Emergency Response Coordination • Coordinates the administrative infrastructure during local and regional emergency response efforts. • Ensures strict documentation, resource tracking, and record-keeping compliance throughout emergency incidents. • Serves as an active member of the Incident Management Team (IMT) as required. • Collaborates with the Finance Department to prepare and submit emergency grants and FEMA/state reimbursement applications. REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Finance, or a related field, plus five years of relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience with financial management including budget, purchasing, and customer billing. Customer service experience including working effectively with both internal and external customers. Excellent communication skills including the ability to prepare technical reports and effectively communicate technical information to non-technical audience. Demonstrated ability to work under pressure including managing multiple priorities and deadlines. Demonstrated attention to detail, including the ability to perform complex financial analysis. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS (In Addition to Required Minimum): Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Experience in local government, Public Works, or a related field. Demonstrated knowledge of Public Works services and practices. Bilingual in English and Spanish. Experience with utility enterprises including rates and fees, revenue projections, and financial management. Experience supervising employees. Experience with utility billing software and automated metering systems. Experience with government accounting principles. Certified Public Finance Officer through Government Finance Officers Association. WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS: This position is primarily administrative and sedentary in nature, working indoors (90%) completing tasks such as reading and reviewing reports, papers, and other documents, writing reports, papers, correspondence, and other documents. Frequent sitting to perform daily tasks; occasional walking through a multilevel facility to retrieve information; frequent standing, sometimes for extended periods. Frequent squatting, reaching above shoulder, and twisting to file documents and lift supplies and materials; occasional bending, kneeling, climbing, balancing, and reaching below shoulder to store documents, materials, and supplies. Constant light grasp, fine manipulation, and handling to perform daily duties; occasional firm grasp to safely use equipment. This position requires a great deal of communication with City employees, the public and outside agencies. Exposure to periods of high activity and high stress under demanding conditions. The job will require acute mental skills, memory for details and ideas, attention to details, a lengthy attention span, and ability to focus on close work and involves sitting (75%), walking (15%), and standing (10%). Interaction with co-workers is an everyday occurrence and requires the ability to direct, negotiate and mediate. Will be required to operate a vehicle to travel to and from meetings and required to attend some evening or weekend meetings. INDEPENDENCE OF ACTION: Work assignments are made either verbally or in writing. Work is performed with considerable independence within established policies, procedures, rules, and regulations. Work is reviewed through observation, conferences, reports, audit, and for results obtained. Situations will often dictate that this position must interpret policies and procedures or in the absence of any relevant policy or procedure this position may be called upon to make decisions and judgments based upon facts and circumstances presented. This requires the ability to think independently and to use logic along with all the known facts to render appropriate decisions and direction in both field and administrative matters. EQUIPMENT USED: The ability to properly operate or use the following equipment is necessary for this position: telephone, copier, calculator, personal computer and associated software, fax machine, and other office equipment. Please ensure your application is complete and submitted prior to 11:59 pm on September 22, 2026, to be considered. Incomplete applications will be withdrawn from the process.