Deputy Director of Public Works

Deputy Director of Public Works JobID: 927 Position Type: Public Works Administration/Deputy Public Works DirectorDate Posted: 9/9/2026Location: Public Works Department Additional Information: Show/HideTown of Vernon Department: Public Works Position Title: Deputy Director of Public Works Wage Classification: E-6 Bargaining Unit: Non-Union Salary: $97,589.74 - $124,185.37 (Salary commensurate with experience)Hours: 40 hours/weekInsurance: Health Savings Account/High Deductible Health Plan $2,000/$4,000 deductiblePension: Defined Contribution Plan General Statement of Duties:Assists the Director of Public Works in the planning, coordination, and oversight of departmental operations, including public infrastructure maintenance, fleet and facility operations, capital improvement activities, emergency response operations, and personnel supervision. Serves as Acting Director in the absence of the Director and assists with operational planning, workforce coordination, budgeting, project oversight, and implementation of departmental goals and initiatives.Supervision Received:Receives general direction from the Director of Public Works. Exercises independent judgment in coordinating daily departmental operations, establishing operational priorities, and responding to routine and emergency public works matters. Keeps the Director informed of operational activities, project status, and departmental concerns.Supervision Exercised:Assists with supervision of departmental personnel, including supervisors, foremen, equipment operators, drivers, maintenance staff, and other assigned employees. Participates in employee training, evaluation, scheduling, discipline, and operational oversight in accordance with Town policies and applicable collective bargaining agreements.Essential Job Functions:Assists the Director of Public Works in overseeing day-to-day departmental operations, including highway and road maintenance, refuse and recycling operations, building and facility maintenance, drainage and stormwater operations, seasonal operations, and emergency response activities. Serves as Acting Director in the absence of the Director and assists in establishing operational priorities, coordinating departmental activities, and maintaining continuity of operations.Assists with planning, scheduling, and coordination of work assignments, operational resources, staffing coverage, and emergency response deployment. Participates in snow and ice operations, after-hours emergency response activities, and storm response coordination to support uninterrupted delivery of public works services.Assists with supervision and management of departmental personnel, including supervisors, foremen, maintenance staff, and operational employees. Participates in hiring interviews, employee training and development, performance evaluations, disciplinary and corrective action processes, and administration of personnel policies and collective bargaining agreements within a unionized municipal workforce environment.Assists with oversight and coordination of infrastructure improvement projects and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) activities. Coordinates with engineers, contractors, consultants, vendors, Town departments, and outside agencies regarding operational initiatives, infrastructure projects, regulatory matters, and emergency response activities. Assists with review of plans, specifications, project documents, operational reports, and departmental procedures.Assists with departmental budgeting, expenditure monitoring, operational planning, and performance tracking. Prepares reports, presentations, operational recommendations, and related documentation as needed. Assists with administration of departmental contracts, vendor relationships, and operational policies and procedures.Responds to resident complaints, service requests, and public works-related inquiries. Represents the Department at meetings, public discussions, operational events, Council or Commission meetings, and interdepartmental discussions as requested. Promotes compliance with safety regulations, OSHA practices, environmental requirements, departmental safety procedures, and risk management standards. Assists in managing the Town's shared-service maintenance operations with the Vernon Board of Education. Performs related duties as assigned; regular and punctual attendance.Other Job Functions:Assists with special projects, procurement activities, emergency operations coordination, interdepartmental initiatives, and other related duties as assigned. May represent the Department at meetings, training sessions, public events, or emergency management activities as requested.Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.While performing the duties of the job the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; reach with hands and arms, stand, walk, use hands to finger, grasp, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls. The employee occasionally is required to climb, kneel and crouch. Hand-eye coordination is required to operate computer and various other office equipment. The employee frequently must lift, push, pull and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.Work involves a combination of office and field activities. The employee may be exposed to varying weather conditions, construction sites, traffic hazards, and emergency response situations. Evening, weekend, and emergency response work may be required. Work Environment: The work characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions. The employee frequently is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals. Must be able to concentrate on fine details with some interruption. Needs to attend to task/function for more than 60 minutes at a time. Must be able to understand and relate to specific ideas, generally several at a time and to understand and relate to theories behind several related concepts. Must be able to remember task/assignment given to self and others over long periods of time. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud. Minimum QualificationsKnowledge, Skills & Abilities:Considerable knowledge of municipal public works operations, including highway and road maintenance, drainage and stormwater systems, infrastructure maintenance, seasonal operations, emergency response coordination, and operational planning. Knowledge of supervisory principles, employee performance management, personnel development, and labor relations practices within a unionized municipal workforce environment.Ability to coordinate multiple operational priorities, emergency response activities, infrastructure projects, and departmental initiatives simultaneously. Ability to interpret plans, specifications, operational reports, and related project documentation. Ability to assist with departmental budgeting, expenditure monitoring, operational planning, and performance tracking.Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Town officials, employees, contractors, outside agencies, and the general public. Ability to identify operational issues, develop practical solutions, and communicate recommendations effectively. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports and publicly present information in a clear and professional manner.Must be computer proficient with the ability to learn software programs specific to the job. A Police background check may be required.Experience & Training Required:High school diploma or GED required, with four (4) years of progressively responsible highway maintenance, construction, facilities maintenance, or public works operations experience, including supervisory or lead maintenance experience. Any equivalent combination of education and practical experience totaling seven (7) years may be substituted.License or Certificate: Must possess and maintain a valid Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Possession of a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is preferred. This job description is not intended to be a complete statement of all duties, functions and responsibilities which comprise this position. EOE/AA Adopted: 6/2/2026