CITY OF WICHITA, KANSAS
This truly is an outstanding opportunity to live and work in a high quality of life and dynamic city. Wichita, Kansas, with a population of 357,698 is the largest city in Kansas. The City of Wichita is seeking a highly qualified individual to become its new Director of Public Works and Utilities and to lead an organization of over 800 employees. The vacancy is due to the sudden passing of the previous Department Director who served in that capacity for eight (8) years.
The new Director of Public Works and Utilities shall possess strong leadership and communications skills, the ability to work collaboratively with elected and appointed officials, a strong work ethic, and the ability to establish performance goals, ensure accountability among key staff in the Public Works and Utilities Department, and work effectively within an economically and racially diverse community.
The minimum requirements for the position include graduation from an A. B. E. T.-accredited university with a degree in public administration, business administration or civil engineering with registration (or ability to become registered within a reasonable period of time) in the State of Kansas, plus six years of experience in responsible administrative and supervisory work. A Professional Engineer (PE) Certification is required of the successful candidate.
The Director of Public Works and Utilities is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the City Manager of the City of Wichita.
This is administrative, professional and technical work managing the City Public Works Department and municipal Water and Sewer Utilities. Work is accomplished through the direction of Division Directors, implementation of ordinances, enforcement of policies, and administration of regulations pertaining to public works and municipal water supply and water pollution control. Work is directed and reviewed through the establishment of goals and subsequent evaluation of progress toward goal attainment.
Work includes development and implementation of departmental policies, planning short- and long-term programs, and technical decision-making.
Residence in the City of Wichita will be required of the successful candidate within a reasonable period of time following appointment.
Wichita is located in the south central part of Kansas and is the largest city in the state with 357,698 citizens. Wichita is a community that celebrates its diversity as it includes 11.4 percent African-American, 9.6 percent Hispanic, 4 percent Asian citizens and a variety of other ethnicities. As a three-time All-America City award-winner (most recently in 2009), Wichita offers its residents a quality of life that is clean, safe, and growing.
The City of Wichita has operated under the Council-Manager form of government since 1917, making it one of the first cities in the United States to operate under that plan. The City Council is the governing body of the City. The City Council is comprised of seven members with the Mayor elected at-large and with six City Council members elected by districts. The 2011 City budget does not require a mill levy increase for the seventeenth (17th) consecutive year. The overall FY 2011 City budget is $473,634,877. The City has 2952 FTE employees.
The Public Works and Utilities Department is a combination of two Departments, reorganized in 2010. The Department has three (3) Divisions and twenty four (24) work groups.
The FY 2011 Departmental operating budget is $40,897,877. There are 850 FTE employees in the Department.
The starting salary for the new Director of Public Works and Utilities will be market competitive, depending upon the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate. The successful candidate will also receive an automobile allowance and a competitive fringe benefit program. Reasonable relocation expenses will also be provided to the successful candidate.
For additional information on this outstanding opportunity, please contact James L. Mercer, President/CEO, The Mercer Group, Inc. at 505-466-9500; jmercer@mercergroupinc.com.
Confidential resumes and application materials should be sent by close of business April 1, 2011, to James L. Mercer, President/CEO, The Mercer Group, Inc., 551 W. Cordova Road, #726, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Voice: 505-466-9500; Fax: 505-466-1274. E-Mail: jmercer@mercergroupinc.com; Website:www.mercergroupinc.com.
In order to attract the highest quality applicants, the City is committed to preserving to the extent allowed by law, the confidentiality of candidates.
The City of Wichita is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of Wichita does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, political ideas or disability in employment or in the provision of services.