Dutchess County Seeks Commissioner of Public Works

Poughkeepsie, NY… The search is underway for Dutchess County’s next Commissioner of Public Works.   According to Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro, the County is seeking an individual who can lead the Department of Public Works (DPW) through a multi-year reorganization that is already  underway, with the goals of continuing to streamline operations for efficiency and cost savings; develop public-private models for service delivery; and eliminate redundancy of services.

“We are seeking a seasoned professional who can successfully build on the strong foundation that has been established through our DPW reorganization plan.    DPW provides many of the services residents value most, and it is among the County’s largest cost centers.    Therefore, we need an experienced individual to provide the necessary leadership to ensure Public Works’ services remain sustainable for the future in the most cost effective manner possible.”

The Dutchess County Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of the County’s largest and most diverse departments.   DPW includes the divisions of Buildings, Highway & Engineering, Airport and Parks, among the most visible and identifiable departments for county residents, providing the services people value most such as snow removal, road repair and park and recreational amenities.    DPW is also responsible for the design and construction of needed county facilities and amenities including projects currently underway such as the Medical Examiner’s Office and the completion of the Dutchess Rail Trail.  

The Commissioner of Public Works position is a high level administrative and managerial position with overall responsibility for leading, planning and directing the multi faceted operations of the department.    The Commissioner is responsible for DPW’s multi-million dollar annual budget as well as oversight of the County’s capital projects.  The Commissioner supervises a large number of professional, technical, administrative, and support staff.  In particular this position provides governance and oversight over all phases of projects for new construction, renovation and maintenance of more than 40 facilities totaling more than 1.5 million square feet and 400 miles of highways and bridges.   Individuals interested in the Commissioner of Public Works position should possess strong leadership, interpersonal, and relationship skills and demonstrate the ability to lead, manage, and prioritize a large volume of key projects. A Bachelor’s degree in business, architecture, engineering, project management or a similar degree and at least 5 years experience in executive level construction project management or public works administration is required.   Additionally, the individual should have experience in complex budgeting, contract management and working in a union environment.

Interested candidates should submit a resume along with a list of successfully completed projects which details the candidate’s oversight role and the overall value of the project, along with professional references by April 1st to the Dutchess County Department of Human Resources, 22 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY or by email to mbrady@Dutchessny.gov.

“This is an exciting time to be in public service.   We are facing tough fiscal challenges and increasing demands from the people we serve.    We are responding to those challenges and demands through a multi-year transformation of county government that is unlike any other in the State of New York.   We are looking for an individual ready to be part of that transformation and help us meet the needs of our residents with a smaller, more efficient county government,” concluded County Executive Molinaro.