ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - PUBLIC WORKS (EXE LEV) - Chief of Staff

$165,000 - $227,864/Yr

City of Houston - Houston, TX

Full-time - Executive

Onsite - Houston, TX

1,001-5,000 employees

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Houston Public Works Department (HPW) is the largest and most diverse public works organization in the country, responsible for a wide range of services including streets, drainage, water production and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and construction permitting and regulation. The department is accredited by the American Public Works Association and employs over 4,000 dedicated public servants who work collaboratively to create a strong foundation for the city of Houston to thrive. We are currently seeking a highly qualified Chief of Staff to work closely with our executive team. This role is pivotal in enhancing productivity from day one by streamlining strategic initiatives, overseeing program management, and effectively communicating objectives across various departments. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in business management, particularly in executive-level advising and fostering interdepartmental collaboration. As the Chief of Staff, you will be responsible for overseeing strategic business initiatives from development through successful execution, under the guidance of senior leadership. You will assist and communicate with both departmental and external City of Houston executives in decision-making, program management, and initiative implementation. Your role will also involve reviewing, designing, and executing improvements to the organizational structure, identifying knowledge and skills gaps, and addressing them. Additionally, you will work to improve current processes and optimize organizational procedures for enhanced efficiency and productivity. Key priorities will align with the Department's core values, focusing on strategic planning, continuous improvement, internal operations, problem-solving, and effective communication and representation. You will lead collaborations with city and department coalitions to streamline processes, implement and assess key performance indicators, and serve as a liaison with staff and executives regarding departmental climate and employee well-being. Your contributions will be essential in developing and implementing internal controls and operations that align with strategic goals, as well as in fostering relationships across the organization to enhance operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategic business initiatives from development through successful execution under senior leadership guidance.
• Assist and communicate with departmental and external City of Houston executives in decision-making and program management.
• Review, design, and execute improvements to organizational structure and address knowledge and skills gaps.
• Improve current processes and optimize organizational procedures for efficiency and productivity.
• Lead and collaborate with City/Department coalitions to improve and streamline processes.
• Implement, measure, and assess key performance indicators for business initiatives.
• Serve as a liaison with staff, executives, and senior leaders regarding department climate and employee well-being.
• Develop, implement, and assess internal controls and operations to align with strategic goals.
• Assist human resources with new hires and resolve employee concerns.
• Track and respond to important actionable items and conduct special information requests.

Requirements

• Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline.
• A formal 4-year degree from a college or university and a professional certification/licensing is required.
• More than ten years of experience in a relevant field.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or similar field.
• Experience in data analysis and budget management.
• Consulting experience with a focus on operations management.
• Proven success in a project coordination role.
• Strong project-reporting skills with a focus on interdepartmental communications.
• Seven or more years of experience in local government, business management, or an executive role.
• Experience in organizing and directing multiple teams and departments.
• Experience in planning and leading strategic initiatives.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $165,000.00 - $227,864.00 annually.
• Health insurance coverage.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Retirement savings plan options.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.