Highway Superintendent, Transportation & Highways (Dept. OF Transportation & Highways) - Shakman Exempt

OVERVIEW

Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways is seeking an experienced Highway Superintendent, Transportation & Highways. This role manages all operations of the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, including oversight of staff and agency activities. It directs the development and administration of operating, equipment, and capital budgets supporting road construction, maintenance, and overall departmental functions. The position regularly briefs senior leadership on ongoing and proposed projects, personnel matters, and confidential operational issues. It also establishes and implements policies that guide the agency's various bureaus and ensure effective management of transportation and highway operations across the County.

Cook County offers great benefits and the chance to participate in a strong tradition of public service. Cook County is home to more than five million residents, roughly 45% of Illinois' population. Cook County Government provides a range of vital services and programs that enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. These services range from health care to urban planning. Cook County is committed to empowering its employees to bring our constituents the best that public service has to offer.

Attention Applicants: Please note that as part of ongoing job architecture initiatives, the County is reviewing job titles and corresponding grades, which may be subject to change.

WHY PURSUE A CAREER WITH COOK COUNTY?

In addition to providing employees with a challenging, rewarding environment for career and personal growth, we are proud to also offer some of the best benefits in the public sphere, including:

• Top Tier Medical Benefits: Medical Plans, Prescription Drug Benefit, Dental Plans, Vision Plan and 9 Additional voluntary benefit plans
• Flexible Teleworking Options
• Generous, Flexible Paid Time Off (13 paid designated holidays; Minimum of 15 vacation days annually; and Paid sick leave)
• Pension Plan
• Financial Support Programs and Resources: Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts- Dependent Day Care, Commuter Benefits, Discounted Parking, PSLF Eligibility, Deferred Compensation and Education Tuition Stipend
• Health/Wellness Perks: Flexible Spending Accounts-Health Care, Employee Assistance Program and MyHealth Connections wellness program.

SALARY RANGE: $193,680 - $236,720 / YEARLY

SNAPSHOT OF COOK COUNTY

• Serves 5.28 million residents of Chicago and its inner suburbs

• 2nd largest county in America

• Larger than 27 states

• Cook County employs over 22,000 employees who work in a variety of skilled jobs and trades.

• Nearly 80% unionized workforce

• 15 unions represented

• 63 separate collective bargaining agreements

• Highway- Cook County maintains almost 600 miles of roads and highways.

• Land- Cook County assesses the value of more than 1.5 million parcels of taxable land and collects and distributes tax funds as a service for local government taxing bodies.

• Safety- Cook County provides vital services to local government, from conducting elections in suburban areas to offering 911 services in unincorporated areas and municipalities.

LOCATION

Located in the Loop District of downtown Chicago, one of the most formidable business districts in the world, the area has an astounding number of cultural foundations, stunning parks such as Millennial Park and Maggie Daley Park, steps away from the Chicago Riverwalk, award-winning restaurants, and plenty of shopping! In addition, Chicago is serviced by multiple bus and train lines for public transportation from the suburbs to the city, taxis are plentiful, public parking garages for motorists, and bicycle share rentals and local bike lanes for bicyclists.

Job Summary

Responsible for the overall management of all operations relative to the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways and its employees. Oversee operating, equipment, and capital budget development and expenditures for the operation, maintenance, and construction of county roads. Report to senior leadership to discuss on-going and proposed projects and confidential matters relative to the operations of the agency and its management of personnel and contracts. Responsible for establishing and implementing department policies relative to the operations of the agency's various bureaus which encompass the areas of management indicated below.

Typical Job Duties

• Oversee the preparation and development of the annual and five year improvement program for highways to ensure highway capacity and safety.
• Oversee the acquisition of the necessary rights of way and easements for all highway projects to provide the land required for these projects.
• Direct the preparation of contract plans, specifications and estimates for all highway projects.
• Select professional services when needed to ensure highway capacity and safety. Oversee the supervision of contractors' work to ensure compliance with contract provisions and contract law.
• Operate roadway systems by establishing proper traffic controls and issuing permits for work to fulfill the County's legal obligation to the public under Illinois law.
• Oversee the physical maintenance of the highway system through the implementation of preventative maintenance programs to ensure highway user safety.
• Provide overall policy direction in personnel matters including training, discipline, payroll, etc. to enforce and establish County policies as it relates to its employees.
• Oversee the development of an annual operating budget for the department and monitors compliance with same.
• Oversee the proper use of purchasing procedures to comply with County-wide policy.

Required for all jobs

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years of experience in civil and highway engineering, construction engineering, maintenance engineering, or directly related experience and
• Current registration in the State of Illinois as a Licensed Professional Engineer or Licensed Structural Engineer

Preferred Qualifications

• Ten (10) years experience in civil and highway engineering, construction engineering, or maintenance engineering.
• Eight (8) years of previous management experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of highway engineering principles and practices, and all organization capabilities and how they interrelate.
• Knowledge of transportation laws established by the Illinois department of transportation.
• Ability to provide direction and guidance to other leaders in the organization, with overall responsibility for major operational area.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and able to speak publicly on behalf of the agency and the County.
• Ability to deal in a tactful effective, and confidential manner with employee and employee records, consult with attorneys and union representatives, and relate to employees at all level of skill and education.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and provide guidance to achieve strategic objectives, with the highest-level of strategic decision making.

Physical Requirements:

Light Work involves exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job/occupation is rated Light Work when it requires: (1) walking or standing to a significant degree; (2) sitting most of the time while pushing or pulling arm or leg controls; or (3) working at a production rate pace while constantly pushing or pulling materials even though the weight of the materials is negligible.

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Pursuant to the Shakman Consent Decree, Supplemental Relief Order and the Cook County Personnel Rules, this position is exempt from the County's career service rules, is at-will and political reasons or factors may be considered when taking any employment action. As an employee in a Shakman Exempt Position, if you do not currently live in Cook County, you will have six (6) months from date of hire to establish actual residency within Cook County.

Please contact shakmanexemptapplications@cookcountyil.gov for inquiries about this position.