PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR - Promotional Only

THE JOB: Under direction plan, assign, schedule, evaluate and supervise the work of subordinate staff in an assigned program/division (Roads, Sanitation, Solid Waste Disposal, or Drainage); assure the quality of the work performed; develop and deliver training programs; maintain operational records and logs; determine size of work crew, equipment, and materials needed for each project; requisition supplies and materials; coordinate and schedule the use of equipment and crews with other supervisory staff; prepare reports; assure that proper safety procedures and practices are followed; investigate complaints; analyze and solve difficult and or technical problems; recommend operational policies and procedures; perform the most difficult or technical work of the assigned unit; input access and analyze data using a computer terminal; may assist in budget preparation and control; may provide vacation and other temporary relief for supervisor or other classes as required; and perform other duties as required. The two vacancies in the Department of Public Works are in the Sanitation and Solid Waste divisions.

Sanitation Assignment: Supervise crews performing maintenance, monitoring and repair of wastewater pumping stations and transmission facilities, transmission lines and access entries, and those staffing the office facility.

Solid Waste Disposal Assignment: Supervise operations at the County's solid waste disposal sites including staff who operate heavy equipment, collect fees and perform maintenance and repair; follow engineering specifications and plans to develop the disposal sites; ensure that land is properly utilized and streams are not contaminated; assure that disposal site operations comply with State standards for solid waste management, water and air quality and environmental health; oversee the maintenance and monitoring of environmental testing systems; and may install environmental testing systems.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities, is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these would be:

Four years of maintenance experience in the Roads, Sanitation, Solid Waste Disposal or Drainage divisions or comparable assignment, including two years at the journey level, and one year in a lead capacity, which would demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, CONDITIONS:

License Requirements: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License; and within six months from hire, possession of a valid Class A Driver License with Tank Endorsement.

Certificate: Possession of a Qualified Applicators Certificate issued by the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation is required for some positions.

Special Working Conditions: Exposure to: Variable temperatures and other conditions; cramped work spaces; heights, such as on equipment, on cliffs or in the bucket of a bucket truck; high levels of noise; strong, unpleasant odors; vibration; dust and silica dust; potentially hostile or violent individuals; electrical hazards; allergens, such as poison oak and stinging insects; the possibility of experiencing burns, bodily injury, and contact with toxic substances and chemical irritants; working alone in isolated areas; and, for some assignments, possible exposure to needles or blood which could possibly result in chronic disease or death.

Other Special Requirements: Alcohol and drug tests: will be administered to all candidates prior to final selection for positions requiring Class A or B Driver Licenses upon entry and to employees in positions requiring these licenses, as mandated by Department of Transportation federal regulations. In addition, all candidates must provide specific employment history for up to the past ten years for all jobs they have held which required operation of a commercial motor vehicle.

Availability: Incumbents may be required to work irregular hours, including responding to twenty-four hour emergency calls.

Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of the methods, equipment and materials used in the program assignment; occupational hazards and safety standards and practices of the program assignment; and the capabilities, operation and maintenance of light and heavy construction equipment required for most positions. Working knowledge of the methods of estimating costs of projects; and methods of supervision and training. Some knowledge of the laws, ordinances and regulations governing the program assignment; and the application of data processing to program assignment.

Sanitation Assignment: Working knowledge of the capabilities, operation and maintenance of light and heavy construction equipment, required for some positions.

Ability to: Supervise, plan, assign, direct and coordinate the work of subordinates; schedule work and determine priorities; train subordinates in proper work procedures, safety practices, and equipment operation; prepare work schedules, reports, procedures and cost estimates; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; read and understand maps, engineering blueprints and drawings, instruction manuals, technical manuals, computer-generated reports, and surveys; read and understand surveyors’ location and grade stakes; understand, explain and apply applicable laws, rules and regulations; input, access and analyze data using a computer terminal; assist in budget preparation and administration; use hand and power tools, which may cause body vibration; lift items weighing up to 75 pounds; perform tasks requiring strength, such as lifting equipment onto trucks, climbing over rough terrain, and pulling hoses up embankments; drive and operate vehicles, such as automobiles, utility and pick-up trucks, and construction equipment such as tractors, graders, compactors, bulldozers, loaders, and scrapers; distinguish colors, such as color-coded wires, fluid colors, or chemical test guides; put on, wear and use a respirator; perform tasks, which require manual dexterity such as gas and electrical welding, assembling small parts and pouring liquids into receptacles; and hear and distinguish various sounds, such as voices of workers in noisy environments and sounds of operating equipment.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE – 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years. Available after six months for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS – 12.5 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN – The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans.  For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN – County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN – County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT  – Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County pays a portion of retirement contribution and participates in Social Security. 
LIFE INSURANCE – County paid $20,000 term policy.  Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
SDI – Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN – Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN – Employees who pay a County medical premium share of cost may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION – A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
OTHER – Other pay and benefit items apply to certain positions or assignments, such as Bilingual Pay and Night Shift Differential.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now! Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. For information, call (831) 454-2600. Hearing Impaired TDD# (831) 454-2123. Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways: 1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date. For application materials, contact County of Santa Cruz Department of Public Works Personnel Division, (831) 454-2607. Following a review for minimum qualifications, applicants who are selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be notified that they must submit a completed conviction history questionnaire in order to continue to the examination phase of the process.

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.  

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.  

Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.