Lesson 6:

The Role of the Public Works Manager

The responsibilities of the public works department include providing a range of services to residents within a specific community. Its primary role is to oversee the construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure such as roads, water and wastewater systems, facilities, and sanitation services, with the aim of meeting the current and future needs of the community and its governing body.

The public works manager is responsible for overseeing the department and managing the day-to-day duties and responsibilities. This includes administrative duties but also hands-on duties. It is important that managers utilize delegation techniques to alleviate their own responsibilities. Hiring responsible employees for all duties is a key factor in running a smooth operation in the public works department.

Different divisions within the public works department that could utilize specific employees are:

• Administration Division: provides support and leadership to the department manager
• Maintenance & Operations Division manages field staff and project managers for fleet coordination, equipment function, construction, operations, and maintenance.
• Solid Waste Disposal Division: disposes of all residential waste, bulk trash, and recycled goods.
• Transportation/Stormwater Division: engineers, constructs, and maintains reservation roads, bridges, sidewalks, street signs, pavement markings, streetlights, stormwater drainage facilities, and public rights-of-way.
• Utilities Division: handles potable water production, high-quality sewage treatment, and water distribution/collection, including upkeep of water mains and lift stations.

Public Works Management Communications

To effectively communicate with employees, customers, and the community, public works managers should follow these best practices. Additionally, understanding the role and responsibilities of public works managers in the community is crucial.

Best Practices for Public Works Managers to Communicate with Employees, Customers, and the Community:

1. Establish clear and concise communication channels.
2. Use a variety of communication methods, such as email, newsletters, social media, and community meetings.
3. Ensure all communication is timely, accurate, and relevant.
4. Encourage feedback and actively listen to concerns.
5. Address issues and concerns promptly and transparently.
6. Communicate and coordinate with other government agencies and stakeholders to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.

Public Works Mission and Vision

Public works departments should have a mission and vision as a part of its overall strategic planning. A public works department may face challenges in determining which services and projects to prioritize due to uncertain future funding levels, which has become the “new norm” for many public agencies. Therefore, it is crucial for the public works department to have a well-planned program for delivering essential public works services.

As stewards of the community’s public infrastructure and Indigenous lands, it is irresponsible to operate as a reactive department without a strategic plan. To develop a successful plan, the department must establish its values and non-negotiables, and create a documentation of the necessary actions. A strategic plan, including goals, objectives, and assigned action steps, that can help the department operate effectively. Creating a vision, and mission and listing the department’s non-negotiable values are also important for directing the future of the department.

Note: (Department of Public Works Strategic Plan – Cherry Hills Village, Colorado 2018)

Stewardship and Sustainability

An important factor in good stewardship in the modern world is moving towards more sustainable practices and approaches. According to CPWA and APWA, sustainable practices in the public works field have always been a concern as they manage public infrastructure and services. The APWA Board of Directors established the APWA Center for Sustainability (C4S) to help address challenges like the changing availability and cost of resources, environmental protection, shrinking funding, and changing climate conditions with sustainable practices that consider economic, environmental, and social impacts.

The C4S has created a set of guiding principles to help public works leaders integrate sustainability into their organizational objectives and operations. These principles include recognizing the community as an interconnected system, promoting community revitalization, managing assets, restoring and enhancing the natural environment, protecting and enhancing recreational and heritage resources, collaborating with key stakeholders, practicing fiscal responsibility, and fostering active communication and civic engagement (CWPA, 2018).