Director of Lincoln County Highway Department

Job Summary

As the County Highway Department Director, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight for the planning, development, and maintenance of the county's transportation infrastructure. This role involves coordinating various activities related to road construction, maintenance, and improvement, ensuring compliance with state regulations and delivering high-quality services to the community.

Principal Accountabilities

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Develop and implement long-term plans for the county's transportation infrastructure, aligning with community needs and state regulations.
• Oversee road construction projects, ensuring timely completion, budget adherence, and compliance with quality standards.
• Stay informed about state and federal regulations related to transportation and ensure departmental activities comply with these regulations.
• Assist in developing, monitoring, and managing the budget in coordination with the Commission.
• Provide leadership and guidance to staff, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
• Collaborate with other county departments, government agencies, and stakeholders to address transportation-related issues and implement effective solutions.
• Act as a liaison between the department and the community, addressing public concerns, providing information, and promoting transparency.
• Coordinate responses to emergency situations affecting county roads, i.e. severe weather or accidents.
• Supervises the overall administration and direction of highway operations, including the construction, maintenance and repair of roads, bridges, and related facilities; the maintenance of vehicles and equipment; snow and ice removal; and tree and brush removal.
• Develops work schedule and assignments for all department employees; establishes a time frame for projects and ensures timely completion of tasks and projects; reviews the quality of work performed and ensures that work complies with standards. Plans the utilization of staff and equipment in accordance with work schedules, orders materials and supplies.
• Represents the department at a variety of different meetings. Responds to complaints, concerns, and questions from the public and other entities.
• Plan projects to utilize all state and federal aid funding available. Maintain program according to State and Federal requirements.
• Develop and present safety meetings and training sessions for road department employees. Inspect and document accidents, both employee and public (pertaining to roads). Conduct inspections of road department facilities and equipment to ensure safe working conditions.
• Develop and maintain countywide inventories and inspection programs including but not limited to signs, culverts, bridges, etc. Develop and maintain snow removal programs.
• Develop and implement job descriptions for all road department employees, conduct performance evaluations, supervise drug and alcohol testing for employees and responsible for the supervision of all road department employees.
• Document and approve or disapprove employee’s requests for time off, sick leave, vacation leave, etc.
• Document disciplinary actions for violated rules and regulations in the department.
• Prepare and present to Commission the County’s 1 & 5yr road plan, annual report, and fiscal budget.
• Plans, directs, and budgets the activities of the Highway Department.
• Prepares departmental operating and capital budgets; coordinates efforts with county board and other boards/committees.
• Administers and approves all expenditures for outside services.
• Responsible for the planning, designing and implementation of maintenance and construction procedures of all county roads, bridges and highway structures; solicit, review and make recommendations of bids for such work, schedule and inspect contract work for compliance with plans and specifications, maintain and recommend replacements of construction equipment, inspects the county’s bridges.
• Performs other responsibilities as required or assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices involved in the initiation, planning, and development of highway maintenance projects.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of administration to include budgeting, personnel administration, project management, program reporting and communication, and supervising principles and techniques.
• Comprehensive knowledge of modern principles and practices involved in the construction and maintenance of highways and bridges.
• Thorough knowledge of Highway Law as well as all applicable codes, rules, regulations, and policies governing the County highways and bridges.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques for managing a diverse workforce.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate complex and diverse phases of maintenance programs and highway projects.
• Ability to anticipate the future needs of the public as they apply to the development of long-range maintenance and construction programs.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative relationships with staff, public officials, other County departments, and representatives of contractors, consultants, and public.
• Ability to evaluate complicated proposals and designs and select the most practical plan of work that serves the public’s safety and interest in the short- and long-term.
• Sound professional judgment, dependability, initiative, and resourcefulness.
• Thorough skills in budgeting and project management.
• Knowledge of state and federal funding programs.
• Ability to manage and develop leadership within a construction workforce.
• Tact, courtesy, integrity, and dependability are required.

Experience & Education

• Must have a minimum of five years of progressively more responsible supervisory experience in construction management, preferably road construction and/or maintenance.
• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent preferred. A minimum of 5 years’ experience with a High School Diploma or GED equivalent is acceptable.
• A valid State of Missouri Commercial Driver's License is required.
• Previous experience in a supervisory or managerial role must.
• Strong knowledge of highway construction and maintenance.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication.

Physical Requirements/Working Environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS - Position requires FREQUENT sitting, talking, and hearing. The employee is constantly required to use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with and hands and arms. Job requires physical stamina and endurance, including the ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs., operate hand tools, and perform stationary flagging. Position may require frequent or occasional bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, climbing, standing, reaching, and pulling. Squatting, kneeling, reaching above and at shoulder height, moderate grasping to manipulate objects; lifting objects weighing 50-75 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

WORK ENVIRONMENT - This position is exposed to wet/humid conditions, inclement outdoor weather, vibration, oils, moving mechanical parts, potentially hazardous bodily fluids, potentially hazardous or cancer-causing agents/chemicals, or very loud noises. May be required to work in confined spaces or hazardous traffic conditions. Job requires overtime and nighttime work as needed and requires the ability to respond to emergency situations within a reasonable timeframe.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• All Highway Department Employees.

Travel

• Frequent travel throughout the County. Conferences/meetings as needed. 

Benefits

• 14 paid holidays
• Receive 8 hours vacation and 4 hours personal time per month
• Potential for overtime or comp time
• CERF Retirement
• Paid health/dental/vision insurance for employees
  • Option health/dental/vision insurance available for family/dependents at employee's expense
• Qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• County provided Life and AD&D insurance
• Optional additional voluntary life insurance

Disclaimer

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.