City of Bainbridge Island Public Works Director

THE COMMUNITY
Bainbridge Island, with a population of over 23,000, is a scenic 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. Located in the heart of Puget Sound on the Kitsap Peninsula, the Island is a vibrant and diverse community with 53 miles of shoreline. Rich in history, culture and natural beauty, the Island is home to an eclectic mix of farms, wineries, hiking trails, museums, one-of-a-kind shops, and local arts. With stunning views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascades to the east, Bainbridge Island is the closest getaway destination by ferry from Seattle. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the best of scenic, small-town charm. Bainbridge Island successfully blends its Pacific Northwest heritage with a casual, artistic, and forward-thinking sensibility. While working farms and grassy meadows still dot this friendly island, several harbors provide the Island with a strong boating community boasting marinas, yacht clubs, and moorage facilities. Woodland trails, waterfront parks, and miles of beautiful rocky shoreline with natural harbors provide both water-related and land-based recreation for all generations. Kayaking, canoeing, and sailing are some of the more popular outdoor sports. Bainbridge Island is home to the internationally renowned 150-acre Bloedel Reserve, a bountiful farmers market, artistic venues, numerous parks, and two golf courses. The new Bainbridge Island Museum of Art opened in June 2013, and joins the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum and Kids Discovery Museum as a cultural entertainment destination. Residents hold protection and conservation of the Islands natural systems as a primary community value. Islanders voted to tax themselves to purchase hundreds of acres of forests, meadows, beaches, trails, and public farmland to ensure the sustainability of environmental protections, community recreational access, and opportunity for local food sources. Incorporated in 1947 as the City of Winslow, the City of Bainbridge Island was established in 1991 as a strategy for dealing with island growth issues. Winslow, which at that time was two square miles with a population of 6,000, annexed the remaining 26 square miles of the Islands unincorporated area. The now 28-square mile community has enjoyed a 43% population growth since 1991, is ranked 42 out of Washingtons 281 cities in terms of population, and was ranked by Money magazine in 2005 as one of the best places to live in the United States. Bainbridge Island has experienced growth primarily as a residential community with an active central business district and developed industrial areas. Employment opportunities on the Island come from a mixture of small retail, manufacturing, government, and healthcare. While Bainbridge Island enjoys a direct connection with Kitsap County via bridge, many Island residents commute to Seattle for employment using the nations largest ferry system.

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THE COMMUNITY, CONTINUED

The highly rated Bainbridge Island School District (BISD), with an enrollment of almost 4,000 students, is the communitys largest employer with a staff of over 500. BISDs mission is to prepare students for the global workplace, college, and personal success. Students demonstrate some of the highest academic achievement in the state. In 2012, Newsweek designated Bainbridge High School (BHS) as one of Americas Best High Schools, and US News & World Report ranked BHS as a Gold Medal high school in its top 500 out of 21,000 public high schools reviewed. In addition, a number of students attend parochial and private schools on the Island. Many opportunities for higher education are available nearby including the University of Washington Seattle campus, Olympic College, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, and Shoreline and Seattle Community Colleges. With over 75% owner-occupied housing units, the average home value in Bainbridge Island is $456,900, with a median family income of $113,686.

CITY ORGANIZATION
The City of Bainbridge Island is a non-charter code city with a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is made up of seven members, including two representatives from each of three wards (north, central, south) and one at-large member representing the Island as a whole. Council members each serve a staggered four-year term and choose a chair on a biennial basis. The Chair has the title of Mayor and presides at Council meetings. A Mayor Pro Tem is also selected and presides over City Council Study Sessions. The City Council appoints a professional City Manager, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization. The City of Bainbridge Island adopts a biennial budget. The 2013 Adopted Budget includes $20.3 million in operating expenditures, $10.2 million in non-operating expenditures, and total revenues and resources of $51.3 million.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

The Bainbridge Island Public Works Department plans, designs, constructs, operates, and maintains public improvements, facilities, and equipment owned by the City of Bainbridge Island and the public. The Department includes 36 full-time equivalent employees and is comprised of three divisions: Administration, Engineering (including Water Resources), and Operations and Maintenance. The Department manages a 140-mile network of roads, and operates three utilities: water, sewer and stormwater. The Department budget for 2013 is over $10 million. The Public Works Director is a key member of the Citys management team and is responsible for the overall leadership and supervision of the Public Works Department.

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LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

Bainbridge Island has a new City Manager who is building a strong executive team and introducing a fresh vision for the organization. The selected Public Works Director will be responsible for guiding the department as it moves in a new direction and creating a system for performance measurement. It will be important to have an innovative leader with experience in developing high performing teams directing the Public Works Department. Development of an organizational structure that reflects the existing workforce and acknowledges limited fiscal resources will be imperative. A sustainable environment for the Island as it relates to air quality, water quality, and public projects is a high priority, and the new Public Works Director will need the knowledge and skills necessary to incorporate this philosophy into all work processes. The City has a number of significant projects and programs on which the new Public Works Director will need to focus, including implementation of the pavement management and stormwater programs, follow-through on an aggressive capital projects program, and facilitating the water and sewer system improvement program. Enhancements to the Citys use of technology, including GIS, are also needed.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
The successful candidate will be a dependable and dedicated leader who understands high citizen expectations and can support and demonstrate superior customer service. An excellent communicator with exceptional listening skills, the ideal candidate will have the ability to deliver clear and concise presentations and be able to explain projects and complex problems that a layperson can easily understand. Demonstrated collaboration on common issues with local, state, regional, and federal agencies is vital. It will be important for the new Public Works Director to have experience in contracting projects and working in a union environment. A technically savvy professional who can provide creative solutions to difficult problems will excel in this position. The ideal candidate will be someone who has moved up through the ranks as a public works employee and a departmental manager and who has the insight necessary to manage the department at all levels.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

The chosen candidate should have eight or more years of progressively responsible experience in public works and municipal infrastructure projects. A bachelors degree in engineering from an accredited college or university is required, and a masters degree is preferred. Possession of a professional engineer license is required. The new Public Works Director will need to have demonstrated experience in road preservation, water and sewer service, stormwater management, and non-motorized projects. Expertise in shoreline issues and environmental sensitivities is essential, as is demonstrated success in obtaining state, regional, and federal funding for projects.

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COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The City of Bainbridge Island offers a competitive salary, depending on experience and qualifications. The City participates in the Washington Public Employees Retirement System. A full range of leave and insurance benefits is also provided.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Please apply online at: http://apply.governmentresource.com For more information on this position contact: Tom Muehlenbeck, Senior Vice President Strategic Government Resources Tom@governmentresources.com 972-740-4468 The position is open until filled. For the review status of this position, please visit: www.GovernmentResource.com/pages/CurrentSearches. The City of Bainbridge Island is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check.

RESOURCES
City of Bainbridge Island www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce www.bainbridgechamber.com Bainbridge Island School District www.bisd303.org

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

To ensure that the physical infrastructure of the city's buildings, facilities, roads, and utilities are built, repaired and maintained in a fiscally responsible manner and within the guidelines of the Capital Facilities Plan of the Comprehensive Plan.