Announces a Recruitment For
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
For THE CITY OF DEKALB, ILLINOIS
GovHR USA is pleased to announce the recruitment and selection process for a Public Works Director for the
City of DeKalb, Illinois. This brochure provides background information on the City of DeKalb and the Department, as well as the requirements and expected qualifications for the position. Candidates should apply by July
13, 2015 with résumé, cover letter and contact information for five work-related references to
www.govhrusa.com/current-positions/recruitment to the
attention of Lee Szymborski, Senior Vice President,
GovHR USA, 650 Dundee Road, #270, Northbrook, IL
60062. Tel: 847-380-3240. The City of DeKalb is an
Equal Opportunity Employer.
Lee Szymborski, Senior Vice President
GovHR USA/Voorhees Associates
650 Dundee Road, Suite 270
Northbrook, IL 60062
TEL: 847-380-3240
FAX: 866-401-3100
Formal applications should be submitted to:
www.govhrusa.com/current-positions/recruitment
City of DeKalb, Illinois
PROFESSIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Public Works Director, DeKalb, IL (pop. 44,030). The City of DeKalb is a full-service home rule municipality
located 65 miles west of Chicago and proud home to Northern Illinois University.
DeKalb seeks a high-energy, experienced, highly collaborative public works executive to direct a broad range of
services including engineering, transportation, streets, water utility, fleet, City-owned facilities and a municipal
airport. The ideal candidate needs to be an innovative thinker and willing to be an integral member of the senior
management team. Furthermore, the candidate should have a mentoring and collaborative management style,
be team oriented, be a strategic thinker and be a great communicator, both verbally and in writing.
The successful candidate will possess a
passion for public service, be adept at
combining a hands-on management
style with confident professionalism and
an ability to work with a variety of stakeholders. In addition, the candidate must
have the ability to evaluate alternative
models of service delivery including
shared services. A record of creative
problem solving, strong public relations
skills and approachability is required.
The position is responsible for managing
a department comprised of 53 full-time
and part-time bargaining and nonbargaining unit employees, managing
$12.1 million in operating and enterprise
fund budgets, plus more than $1 million
in Motor Fuel Tax Fund capital programming. DeKalb encompasses 15 square
miles; the City maintains 130 miles of
streets and 176 miles of water mains.
The City’s water utility treats, stores and
distributes over 1.2 billion gallons of potable water annually. The Airport has over 30,000 annual take-offs and landings, over 80 based aircraft and two
runways. The Director is appointed by and reports to the City Manager. DeKalb operates under a CouncilManager form of government.
A Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in the disciplines of management, public administration or related
field; a Master’s degree in public administration or related field is highly desired. Seven to 10 years of progressively responsible public sector public works management, or general public administrative or managerial experience, or any equivalent combination of education and experience, is desired. Experience in a larger community
at the assistant department head level will also be considered. Starting salary range of $125,000+/- DOQ.
Candidates should apply by July 13, 2015 with résumé, cover letter and contact information for five work-related
references to www.govhrusa.com/current-positions/recruitment to the attention of Lee Szymborski, Senior Vice
President, GovHR USA, 650 Dundee Road, #270, Northbrook, IL 60062. Tel: 847-380-3240. The City of DeKalb
is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Public Works Director
COMMUNITY BACKGROUND
The area today known as DeKalb has a long, colorful history that began to unfold in the early 1800s. Settlers
from the east coast were attracted to the area by the rich farmland and abundant natural resources. Agriculture
was the primary economic activity. The area began to grow and develop with the arrival of the Chicago and
North Western railroad in the mid-1800s. The area’s prime location brought easier shipping of local crops to larger markets such as Chicago.
In 1873, local farmer Joseph Glidden developed barbed wire and began commercial mass production of his new
invention designed to manage animals in large pastures. However, another entrepreneur later claimed to invent
barbed wire. After 18 years of legal wrangling, Glidden’s patent was declared the “winner,” thereby assuring
DeKalb a place in history and the nickname “Barb City.” The DeKalb County Farm Bureau, the first organization
of its kind, was established in 1912. In the 1930s, the DeKalb AgResearch Corporation marketed its first hybrid
seed corn.
The founding of Northern Illinois State Normal
School in 1895 permanently changed
DeKalb’s landscape by adding education,
cultural and sporting events to complement
and enhance the lifestyle of DeKalb residents
and visitors. The 756-acre campus became
known as Northern Illinois University (NIU) in
1957. Today, NIU is the second-largest university in the State of Illinois system, with
22,000 students and is the largest employer
in DeKalb.
DeKalb has evolved from primarily an agribusiness and manufacturing town, into a regional economic engine with its access to the
I-88 and I-39 corridors. DeKalb has a history
and culture of innovation. Whether you are
looking for small town charm or a progressive
area, DeKalb is a unique city which takes
pride in its farming roots, is embracing
growth, celebrating its diversity and is advancing the abundant opportunities that have
been brought its way.
DeKalb is the cultural hub of the county. Art
galleries, Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Municipal Band, live theater, dance, arena concerts, independent films and championship sports are all in DeKalb’s back yard. DeKalb has 40 area parks, 3 major bike trails
and the art deco Egyptian Theatre. In April, 2015, The City of DeKalb was named as a quarterfinalist in the
America’s Best Communities competition and they are committed to winning.
The Kishwaukee River flows northward through the city, offering recreational opportunities. The community has
an outstanding school system. In 2013, DeKalb High School District 428 was ranked among the best in Illinois
by U.S. News and World Report. The DeKalb Public Library has served the community for more than 100 years
and will complete an extensive, $25.3M expansion project in August 2016.
City of DeKalb, Illinois
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
DeKalb operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The Mayor is elected at large for a four-year
term. The City Council consists of seven Alderpersons. The Mayor serves as the City’s Chief Elected Officer and
performs other traditional statutory functions. The City Council approves the annual municipal budget and decides on taxing levels to fund municipal services. In addition, the Council establishes policies, goals and objectives to direct the City’s growth and development and adopts ordinances, rules and regulations as necessary for
the general welfare of the community and its visitors. The City Council generally meets on the second and fourth
Mondays of each month.
The City Manager directs the day-to-day services and operations of the City. The Public
Works Director, as all other department
heads, is appointed by and reports to, the
City Manager, who is responsible for executing the City Council’s policies, ordinances,
resolutions and service objectives.
The City has a $35 million general fund operating budget for FY 2015. A total of 199 fulltime and 64 part-time employees assure the
delivery of efficient and effective day-to-day
municipal services. DeKalb provides the full
range of traditional City services including
Administration, Finance, Police, Fire, Public
Works, Community Development, Human
Resources and Information Technology. Currently, there are three unions in the City:
IAFF, FOP and AFSCME.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
The Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the physical environment and infrastructure of the City of DeKalb through oversight of all municipally owned facilities and utilities. The Public Works
Department is also charged with the maintenance of the City’s urban forest, the installation, maintenance and
replacement of the City’s streets, alleys, storm sewer collection system, potable water production and distribution systems, many regulatory frameworks such as the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) water permit, National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP), Federal Emergency Management Agencies (FEMA), Community Rating System (CRS), and a
24/7/365 airport with a runway longer than anything at Chicago Midway Airport. The primary functions of the
Public Works Department include:

Administration – oversees the daily management and operations of the entire department.

Airport – charged with the management of DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DTMA) and the DeKalb
Flight Center that provides fueling and services to all aircraft at DTMA. DTMA is an all-weather, 24 hour
a day airport with one full Instrument Landing System (ILS) and four Global Positioning (GPS) approaches. The Airport has over 30,000 annual take-offs and landings, over 80 based aircraft and two
Public Works Director
runways that are respectively 7,025 feet and 4,200 feet in length; the Airport is designed to serve all corporate, cargo and general aviation aircraft coming to the region.

Street Division – maintains the City’s streets, alleys, sidewalks, storm sewer system and detention basins. Responsible for snow and ice removal, traffic signal maintenance,
street markings, signs, airport and runway maintenance, forestry, and provides support services for community events.

Water Division – provides for the supply, treatment, storage
and distribution of the City's potable water system, which
consist of in excess of 1.2 billion gallons of water annually to
DeKalb residents. Monitors water quality through use of the
City’s Illinois Department of Public Health certified water
laboratory. Responsible for the maintenance and repair of
11,000 water meters and performs the collection of 44,000
water meter readings for billing purposes for both water and
sewer. Oversees activities including water main breaks, service leaks, hydrant maintenance and painting, valve maintenance and JULIE locates.

Engineering and Transportation Division – provides the technical expertise and oversight related to the design, maintenance and expansion of DeKalb’s infrastructure system, including its utilities and street system. Responsible for the
residential and commercial site plan review and inspection
and developer advisement. Manages the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) regionally known as the DeKalbSycamore Area Transportation Study (DSATS) which plans
regional transportation programs and projects among its member organizations.

Support Services Division – responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all municipally owned
facilities to include City Hall, Street Building, Water Building, storage facilities, Municipal Annex,
DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport, Fire Stations and Police Station. Operation and maintenance of the
City’s underground fuel storage tanks. Responsible for maintenance of equipment and fleet. Manages
and operates the GIS and GPS programs and creates and maintains the infrastructure databases
and map documents.
CHALLENGES/ISSUES FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
The next Public Works Director for the City of DeKalb can expect to be involved in handling the following:
•
Developing a collaborative, integrative approach to Departmental management and planning in a workforce environment that is lean and dedicated.
•
Understanding and analyzing the City’s public works and utility needs and demands relative to the Department’s configuration, with an eye toward possibly restructuring the department.
City of DeKalb, Illinois
•
Reviewing and proposing cost-effective means to address the City’s long-term capital and infrastructure
needs, including updating the City’s Water System Master Plan and Water Rate Study to meet current
and future capital and operational needs.
•
Analyzing and critically assessing the City’s capital equipment replacement plan.
•
Examining, on a number of fronts, the long-term potential of the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DTMA)
and the DeKalb Flight Center. An Airport Improvement Study is funded in the current year’s budget
and the Public Works Director will be a leader in this initiative. Presently, the Airport has more than
30,000 annual take-offs and landings, over 80 based aircraft and two runways that are respectively
7,025 feet and 4,200 feet in length. The Airport is designed to serve all corporate, cargo and general
aviation aircraft coming to the region. City officials speculate there are greater opportunities that can be
obtained from Airport operations. As well,
there are regional governance issues in need
of exploring.
•
Reviewing staff supervisory training needs
and developing appropriate programs that
support an environment of ongoing professional development. In a similar vein, understanding the Department’s demographics and
developing a department succession plan will
also be important.
•
Addressing a robust list of street condition
needs and demands in a conservative fiscal
environment. Most street rehabilitation work
in the last several years has been concentrated in the TIF areas of the City. Today,
areas of critical need are located outside of
the TIF districts, requiring a closer look at
how to finance needed improvements.
•
Managing an assessment for the future of the City Hall building. In the coming year, the City plans to
address the mechanical systems in the building, looking at repurposing the former Police Department
and identifying and potentially beginning environmental remediation and determining space needs. City
Hall revitalization will be studied to determine if it is more cost effective to renovate the existing structure
or to build new. This project will be led by the Public Works Director.
•
Researching, preparing and defending recommendations to elected officials and proactively setting priorities and pushing projects to the “finish line.”
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
The Public Works Director is an integral part of the City of DeKalb’s executive team, requiring well-developed
leadership abilities and management skills that are based upon consensus building and problem solving. The
Director must have a strong desire to work in a collegial, team-oriented environment. He/she must be a highly
motivated, self-starting and confident individual with excellent interpersonal skills.
The City is seeking proven, progressive and passionate-for-public-service candidates committed to excellence
in the delivery of public works services. The following factors of education, experience, leadership management
style and personal and professional traits have been identified as necessary and/or desirable for the Director to
Public Works Director
succeed in this position. The starting salary range for the position is $125,000+/- DOQ with excellent benefits
including membership in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF).
Education and Experience
A Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in the disciplines of management, public administration or related
field; a Master’s degree in public administration or related field is highly desired.
Seven to ten years of progressively responsible public sector public works management, or general public
administrative or managerial experience, or any equivalent combination of education and experience, is
desired. Experience in a larger community at the assistant department head level will also be considered.
Supervisory responsibility in a functionally similar position or any equivalent combination of education and
experience is preferred.
Have working knowledge or aptitude to gain a quick understanding of federal, state and local policies, practices
and standards used in providing public works, water utility and airport services.
Have experience and ability to formulate, initiate, administer and deploy policies, procedures and equipment affecting all elements of a public works department, water utility, and airport operations.
Possess a reputation for fairness in
personnel actions and working with
employees, taking into account individual employee needs while getting
the work of the Department done on
a timely basis.
Have management experience in
creating an environment of trust,
integrity and mentorship where employees respect one another and
where the Department consistently
functions at a high level of customer service.
Have experience in preparing and
presenting complex department and
utility budgets, complemented with
an understanding of the principles of
government budgeting, recognizing
the long-term cost implications of
proposed new programs.
Have familiarity with systems and metrics which measure the success and effectiveness of departmental programs.
Have a demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership and long-range planning practices.
Have a track record of assessing the skills and abilities of existing personnel in an effort to maximize their talent
and expertise, including opportunities for employees to take on new challenges and “stretch” as professionals.
Have proven verbal communication and listening skills, both one-on-one and in a public speaking venue, treating everyone in a professional and respectful manner.
City of DeKalb, Illinois
Be computer literate and have a demonstrated record of understanding and utilizing technology systems and
procedures to monitor and measure departmental productivity and provide timely information to citizens. Possess proficiency in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint and the ability to navigate Web mapping and GIS.
Have experience in working and collaborating
with elected officials, city boards and commissions, community groups and the news media.
Have successful experience in collaborating
and interacting with other internal organizational units; experience with external organizations in a constructive, cooperative and
mutually supportive manner, while representing the City’s interests tactfully and firmly.
Have an appreciation for working in a municipality where an institution of higher learning is
a major part of the community’s social, cultural and economic fabric.
Have experience evaluating organizational
structure effectiveness and staffing needs
and implementing changes to meet current
and future fiscal and program service needs.
Have the ability to make effective presentations before the City Council; possess strong public relations experience and have excellent writing skills.
Management Style and Personal Traits
Have complete personal and professional integrity, gaining respect and inspiring the trust and confidence of
subordinates, co-workers and elected and appointed officials, as well as the general public.
Be a clear and concise communicator. Be able to present complex technical information to any audience in a
manner that is understandable and jargon-free.
Have a genuine passion for public service from both an internal, department standpoint and for service to the
community; be devoted to customer, community and departmental service.
Be a visionary, one who “dreams big,” helping City officials and residents see individual projects as part of a larger, positive picture for the well-being of the entire community, while keeping an eye on the details and fiscal
implications of the “big picture.”
Be a highly motivated, goal-oriented leader with a proven ability to quickly earn respect, gain cooperation and
communicate clear direction.
Be able to give and take constructive criticism.
Be a critical analyst and creative thinker. Be imaginative in solving problems, encouraging and empowering employees to find new and better ways to get work done, while also applying, maintaining and respecting the regulatory framework that guides the delivery of municipal services.
Public Works Director
Have a high energy level and enthusiasm for meeting the challenges and responsibilities of the Director’s position; have a good work ethic.
Project a professional presence in appearance, actions and personal demeanor in representing the City and
be a person who can inspire confidence and credibility with regard to Public Works and Utilities programs
and services.
Be a positive and flexible team builder who is committed to the well-being of the staff, one who works with staff
to identify departmental needs and find solutions which meet those challenges. Be a manager who both defends
his/her staff when appropriate and holds the team accountable.
Have the ability to set high standards of performance, productivity and initiative by Departmental personnel; be
comfortable in recommending and administering disciplinary actions if necessary.
Have the maturity and professional stature to project a strong professional and personal presence that will
quickly establish credibility and gain respect within the Department, the City and the region as a whole.
Be proactive, anticipatory and innovative; be someone who can make difficult decisions and stand behind those
decisions.
Be willing to keep the City Manager and elected officials apprised of major activities and operations of the Department in a consistent and timely manner, passing on both “good news and bad news” in a tactful, selfconfident and professional manner.
Have an open, friendly personality and communication style and a calm demeanor; be one who can establish
trust quickly with others. Have a sense of humor when appropriate to the circumstances.