CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA
Public Works Director
THE COMMUNITY
The City of Apache Junction is a desert community at an elevation of 1,175 feet above sea
level located 35 miles directly east of Phoenix on Highway 60 (the Superstition Freeway).
Incorporated in 1978, the City currently encompasses approximately 36.5 square miles with a
population of approximately 40,000 with over 30,000 seasonal residents calling the area home
between October and May. The market area for Apache Junction extending from Mesa to the
west past Gold Canyon to the east includes a year-round population of over 80,000 residents.
The area experiences about eight inches of rain and an average of 214 totally cloudless days
per year.
Known as the gateway to the legendary Superstition Mountains, residents enjoy the region’s
outstanding recreational areas with hiking, water sports, and camping among others. Apache
Junction boasts one of the best-rated parks and recreation departments in Arizona, and the
community is home to some of Arizona’s most popular golf courses. The area is home to the
Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club where two Jack Nicklaus designed golf courses
have hosted a Tour event.
Apache Junction is also home to an ever growing community of artists and cultural activities.
Among the most popular community events include:
• Arizona Renaissance Festival
• Lost Dutchman Marathon
• Lost Dutchman Days
• Hiking the Superstition Mountain
While the City of Apache Junction has experienced moderate growth over the years, the
community continues to prepare for a significant increase that will raise the City’s population
by a projected 20,000 over the next decade. The area is fast becoming a popular destination
for families, vacationers, and business. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert
and the picturesque Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction is a growing city with an exciting
historic past.
Apache Junction has a place in Arizona history as the point of convergence for supplies and
labor during the construction of the Roosevelt Dam, 30 miles east on the historic Apache Trail.
Apache Junction, with mining and transportation roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
has never had the traditional downtown amenities found in more established communities.
The earliest residential and commercial developments in Apache Junction occurred in the
1950s and 1960s along the Apache Trail and were centered around the Superstition Inn (the
properties surrounding the Focal Point area). This is the area that the City is actively working to
develop as a 21st century downtown for the community.
The combination of a temperate climate, unlimited recreational opportunities along with a
strong local economy make Apache Junction a highly desirable community in which to live
and work. New housing in a proposed master-planned development will continue to attract
new residents to the City. Nearby Phoenix offers all of the cultural and recreational amenities
of a large metropolis. With the perfect blend of big city offerings within close proximity and
the open spaces of this desert community, Apache Junction is fast-becoming one of Arizona’s
prime destinations for new residents and tourists alike.
Welcome to Apache Junction video: http://youtu.be/6sLzy-CEmO0
CITY GOVERNMENT
The City of Apache Junction has a Council-Manager form of government, with a seven-member
City Council (including the Mayor) elected at-large. The Mayor and City Council appoint the
City Manager who is responsible for management of the City. The City Manager directs ten
departments including the City Attorney’s Office; City Clerk’s Department; Development
Services; Management Services (Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing and
Communications, and Economic Development); Finance; Library; Magistrate Court; Parks and
Recreation; Public Safety (Police); and Public Works. Water services are provided by the Apache
Junction Water Utilities Community Facilities District.
Apache Junction employs approximately 250 full-time equivalent employees and has a total
Fiscal Year 2016-17 budget of approximately $43 million.
Visit the City’s website at www.ajcity.net
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Public Works is responsible for the construction and maintenance of City streets, traffic signals,
street lights and signs, the purchase and maintenance of City vehicles, the maintenance of City
buildings, graffiti control program, Adopt-A-Street program, the management of City surplus
property and Household Hazardous Waste. The Public Works Department has a staff of 23 to
25 with an annual operating budget of approximately $5.5 million and a capital budget of
approximately $3.8 million.
“The mission of the city is to provide residents,
visitors, and community organizations/
businesses the finest in municipal services.”
— Apache Junction Mission Statement “Support and enhance a high quality of life for the City’s
residents, businesses and visitors by providing well planned,
cost effective, environmentally sensitive infrastructure
and services to promote public health, personal safety,
transportation, economic growth and civic vitality.”
— Public Works Mission Statement Public Works consists of four divisions:
Streets – The Streets Division maintains 176 miles of streets in Apache Junction, of which
166 miles are paved streets and 10 miles are dirt streets. The Streets maintenance program
addresses problem areas including chip seals, overlays and street replacement. This Division also
has regular maintenance programs for sweeping, weed and tree trimming, alley maintenance
and other street-related maintenance.
Engineering – The Engineering Division is responsible for the design, review and approval of
infrastructure improvements in the public right-of-way. This Division issues permits for rightof-way encroachment, including utility permits, and enforces requirements associated with
infrastructure inspection, FEMA drainage, and flood control. Engineering also provides rightof-way information and processes abandonments of City right-of-ways and easements.
Building Maintenance – This Division maintains 10 buildings and structures that are
owned and operated by the City of Apache Junction.
Fleet – The Fleet Division maintains a City fleet comprised of approximately 120 vehicles and
165 pieces of equipment.
CURRENT FOCUS AND PRIORITIES
Growth
The new Director will play a vital role in helping shape the future of the community as
accelerating growth and development takes place in the City and the region. With an
anticipated influx of approximately 20,000 new residents to the City over the next decade, the
Department will need to examine methods for maintaining and enhancing service levels while
helping position the City for this rapid growth.
New Development
Lost Dutchman Heights is a 12-square mile area of land within the city limits owned by the
Arizona State Land Department (ASLD). The ASLD and the City have developed a concept plan
for 39,800 households, 6-8 million square feet of commercial development, for an added
80,000 in population. As such, the new Director of Public Works will play a critical role in the
long-term planning for this master planned community. This will include coordination with the
Arizona Department of Transportation on a proposed north-south freeway connection running
from Apache Junction to the City of Coolidge.
Street Maintenance/Repair
A 0.2 percent increase to the City’s sales tax (10 years) was approved by City Council in 2014
with funds specifically dedicated to improvements to local streets and roads. With HURF
(Highway User Revenue Funds) monies from gas taxes decreasing to municipalities, optimizing
the use of the funds from the sales tax for road improvements is critical.
Diversity
The City is firmly committed to workforce diversity and to providing quality services to all
members of the community. The new Director will be expected to continue this commitment.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Reporting to the City Manager, the Public Works Director serves as a member of the City’s
Executive Management Team. The Director plans, manages and oversees the activities and
operations of the Public Works Department including engineering, field operations, public
infrastructure, fleet, building maintenance, and City-wide safety functions. The Director
coordinates assigned activities with other City departments and outside agencies and performs
responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager. The Director provides
City-wide direction in areas of policy and planning for growth, development and maintenance
of infrastructure such as roads and drainage systems. Direct reports to the Public Works Director
include the City Engineer, Management Analyst, and Public Works Manager.
The City seeks a new Public Works Director due to the recent departure of the long-tenured
incumbent who accepted an opportunity with a larger municipality in the region.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate is an energetic, outgoing public works/engineering professional who
possesses broad experience in all areas of public works. As the Director interacts with a
variety of internal and external stakeholders, exceptional leadership, communication, and
interpersonal skills are of the utmost importance. The successful candidate comes with a big
picture perspective and is flexible and creative in his/her approach to working with Public
Works’ multiple customers in coming up with the best possible solutions. The ideal candidate
will have the proven ability to work with disparate groups and bring them together in the spirit
of collaboration and teamwork. An understanding of the Public Works Director’s position within
the larger organizational picture is a plus – a high level of political awareness is desirable.
Candidates with the demonstrated ability to mentor and develop staff while holding them
accountable will be favorably considered.
Expertise
The new Director will need to have the ability to work collaboratively within the City and
with other local, state, and federal agencies. This will require the ability to be dynamic, open
to new ideas, offer practical solutions, and follow through on projects to completion. While
broad knowledge and skills covering all major areas of public works is assumed, the issues and
priorities facing the City of Apache Junction demand particular, demonstrated expertise in the
following areas:
• Proactive, creative, and solution-oriented problem solving with a strong commitment to
the City’s quality of life
• Highly analytical – able to evaluate the Department’s operations and structure and forecast
future needs/changes to best meet the needs of the City and its residents and visitors
• Strategic orientation and ability to anticipate issues and problems
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with a proven ability to successfully
communicate highly technical issues to a lay audience
• Collaborative – ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external
stakeholders to effectively move city initiatives forward
• Being a team player in serving as a leader of the Public Works Department; building
and maintaining teamwork within the Public Works Department and with other City
Departments
• Project management skills – demonstrated ability to deliver projects on-time and onbudget
• Comfortable working with elected officials, community groups, stakeholder agencies, and
the public
Personality/Management Style
• High integrity and solid character
• Dispute resolution and consensus building skills
• Open to new ideas; flexible in his/her approach
• Friendly and diplomatic demeanor
• Ability to be politically astute, yet apolitical
• Passion for public service and strong customer service ethic
• Superior communicator who can quickly cultivate internal and external trust and
confidence with a variety of audiences
• Doesn’t shy away from hard work that comes with a position of exciting opportunities and
challenges; brings a “roll up your sleeves” approach to the position
• Exceptional listening skills
• Values professional development and growth
• Responsive to community concerns; sensitive to a diverse group of stakeholders
• Persuasive, confident and calm under pressure
• Fair, honest with a good sense of humor
Specific requirements are as follows:
Experience and Education
The successful candidate will have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering,
Environmental Science, Public Administration or related field, and six (6) years experience in
engineering or public works, three (3) years of which included supervisory experience (or an
equivalent combination of education and experience).
COMPENSATION
The hiring salary range for this position is $101,556 - $120,718. The City offers an attractive
benefit package, which includes:
• Membership in the Arizona State Retirement System with an employee contribution for
FY 17/18 of 11.50%
• Typical work schedule: Monday–Thursday (4/10s); often requires availability and contact
outside of regularly scheduled hours
• Vacation Leave: 1st through 4th years accrue 96 hours per year; accrual is per pay period
which begins immediately and is available for use after six months of employment
• Sick Leave – 96 hours per year; accrual is per pay period which begins immediately and is
available for use after 30 days employment
• Nine (9) paid holidays per year
• Annual birthday leave
• Medical Insurance: monthly employee contribution between 2.3% - 36.0% dependent
upon selected plan; eligible the first of the month after 30 days employment
• Dental Insurance: monthly employee contribution between 0% - 40% dependent upon
selected plan; eligible the first of the month after 30 days employment
APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
The final filing date is Friday, April 21, 2017. To be considered, please submit a résumé, cover letter, current salary, and six workrelated references (who will not be contacted in the early stages of the recruitment) to: [email protected]. Resumes should reflect
years and months of positions held, as well as size of staff and budgets you have managed. For additional information, please contact:
Stuart Satow
CPS HR Consulting
Phone (916) 471-3134; Fax (916) 561-7205
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cpshr.us/search
Résumés will be screened based on the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates with the most relevant qualifications will be given
preliminary interviews by the consultant. CPS HR Consulting will report the results to the City. The City will then select candidates
who will be invited to participate in City interviews scheduled for May 31- June 1. Extensive reference and background checks will be
completed on the selected candidate with appointment anticipated in June and expected start date in July.