Assistant Public Works Director - Drainage

Assistant Public Works Director – Drainage

Role Summary We’re seeking an Assistant Public Works Director – Drainage — ideally a civil engineer (P.E. preferred)—with nearly a decade of experience managing multi‑site drainage maintenance and small‑capital programs for municipal projects in Louisiana. Their portfolio spans routine maintenance, rehabilitation, capital improvements, and emergency repair. They have a practical command of ROW safety and utility coordination, public procurement and contract administration, field QA/QC, and integration of as‑built data with GIS.

In this role, you will build an annual and multi‑year drainage work plan; translate inspection and citizen‑reported data into cost‑efficient scopes; run compliant procurements; and provide field oversight to ensure work meets plans, specs, and safety requirements. You will work closely with the City’s GIS team for data‑driven prioritization and coordination with the City's emergency management/storm‑response team to support rapid post‑storm assessments and recovery.

Strong communication with the City Drainage Engineer, Utilities/ROW Coordinator, contractors, and the public will deliver safe, on‑time, and on‑budget drainage improvements across roadway and off‑road systems.

• Serve as the City’s day‑to‑day lead for drainage, coordinating closely with the City Drainage Engineer to align project scopes with engineering intent and City priorities.
• Build and maintain an annual and multi‑year drainage work plan using inspection results and citizen reports; apply a transparent prioritization matrix; group work geographically to reduce mobilizations.
• Scope projects (roadway and off‑road/servitude drainage), develop bid documents, specs, estimates, and schedules; run pre‑bid meetings and support procurement in accordance with LA Public Bid Law.
• Manage construction: conduct routine field reviews, enforce plans/specs and safety requirements, review submittals/RFIs, track quantities, approve pay apps, and administer change orders.
• Oversee close‑out: punch lists, final inspections, warranties, and acceptance; ensure as‑built data is collected and storm‑drainage data entered into the City/IBTS GIS.
• Maintain a running log of citizen drainage concerns; coordinate with GIS staff to keep datasets current and generate decision dashboards for leadership.
• Coordinate with the Utilities/ROW Coordinator to avoid project conflicts in the right‑of‑way and to sequence work with utility cuts, paving, and striping.
• Lead post‑storm assessments and emergency response for drainage assets; develop rapid‑repair scopes and on‑call task orders as needed.
• Ensure compliance with work‑zone safety (MUTCD), environmental controls (SWPPP/erosion & sediment), and applicable permits; verify ATSSA‑trained personnel are assigned when required.
• Track performance KPIs (linear feet improved, structures repaired, cost per linear foot), prepare monthly status reports, and brief leadership on risks, budget, and schedule.
• Coordinate routine bridge‑adjacent drainage items and minor repairs (guardrail/barriers) and engage the on‑call structural engineer for specialized bridge reviews when warranted.
• Maintain strong relationships with E  Parish/DOTD and other agencies to align scopes, leverage programs/funding, and avoid duplicate efforts.