Ohio Public Works Commission Director

Who We Are:

The Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) was created initially in 1987 to administer the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) which was soon joined by the Local Transportation Improvement Program (LTIP). These programs, which run concurrently, are solicited, scored, and selected by the 19 District Integrating Committees according to each district’s schedule. In 2000, the OPWC became responsible for the administration of the Clean Ohio Conservation Green Space Program in which applications are solicited, scored, and selected by the 19 Natural Resources Assistance Councils (NRACs).

The legislatively appointed twelve-member Commission provides oversight to the director and adopts the bylaws governing the conduct of OPWC’s business. The Commission’s nine member staff works with the district committees to ensure that the programs are administered in a fair and objective manner. On a daily basis staff maintain ongoing contact with local communities and provide technical assistance through each project's completion.

What We Do:

The Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) improves lives by funding infrastructure and greenspace projects that are important to your community. Projects can range from improved roads and bridges to safe drinking water and greenspace conservation projects. Our programs support quality of life, ensure health and safety, and drive the economy. Our funds make local government projects more affordable, create jobs, conserve and protect properties, and replace aging and failing infrastructure. 

It is OPWC’s mission to deliver its statutory programs with the greatest efficiency and highest customer satisfaction while maintaining a high level of transparency and accountability to Ohio’s taxpayers.

What You'll Do:

As Director of the Commission, you shall provide overall management and leadership of the organization, primarily in a strong administrative leadership role. By nature of being a small organization, the Director (in partnership with the Chief Operating Officer) is heavily involved in day-to-day administrative and managerial operations while ensuring the organization’s goals and objectives are met. 

Tasks include:

• Ensures compliance with statutes, rules, and policies and making modifications as necessary;
• Administrative reviews including agreements, other written materials, and district and NRAC (Natural Resource Assistance Council) methodologies;
• Serves as Secretary to the 12 member Commission including oversight of legislative appointments;
• Decision making, setting policy and interpretation, and staff guidance.
• Works closely with the Chief Operating Officer on daily operations of the Commission including budget, human resources, policy, legal, and administrative matters;
• Representation of the organization to various groups including the Ohio General Assembly;
• Prepare and provide budget testimony;
• Review/approve/deny requests for the Director's Emergency Fund;
• Review requests for Clean Ohio modifications, easements, exchanges, transfers and assignments; discuss potential breaches and violations with counsel;
• Monitor and track legislation for potential agency impacts;
• Drafts articles, press releases, reports and other written documents and makes presentations; 
• Prepare and distribute annual guidance to districts and NRACs, review and approve methodologies, review and approve funding applications; 
• Ensure legal documents and materials are current.

Other duties as required.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

• Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration, business administration, public policy, management or related fields.
• Five or more years leading an organization, division, or office.
• Five or more years of direct managerial experience.
• Effective written and oral communication skills for both one-on-one and group settings.
• Organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Informed and motivated to lead and inspire team to perform their roles with confidence.
• Ability to engage, collaborate, build consensus and motivate a wide variety of people and organizations including customers, stakeholders, Ohio General Assembly, state and local agencies, and associations.
• Ability to focus and make progress toward goals, deadlines, and formation of strategic plans.
• Exhibit open-mindedness, and be results-oriented, decisive, and trustworthy.

According to statute, the process to fill the Director's position is as follows:

The Ohio public works commission shall:

(1) Review and evaluate persons who will be recommended to the governor for appointment to the position of director of the Ohio public works commission, and, when the commission considers it appropriate, recommend the removal of a director;

(2) Provide the governor with a list of names of three persons who are, in the judgment of the commission, qualified to be appointed to the position of director. The commission shall provide the list, which may include the name of the incumbent director to the governor, not later than sixty days prior to the expiration of the term of such incumbent director. A director shall serve a two-year term upon initial appointment, and four-year terms if subsequently reappointed by the governor; however, the governor may remove a director at any time following the commission's recommendation of such action. Upon the expiration of a director's term, or in the case of the resignation, death, or removal of a director, the commission shall provide such list of the names of three persons to the governor within thirty days of such expiration, resignation, death, or removal. Nothing in this section shall prevent the governor, in the governor's discretion, from rejecting all of the nominees of the commission and requiring the commission to select three additional nominees. However, when the governor has requested and received a second list of three additional names, the governor shall make the appointment from one of the names on the first list or the second list. Appointment by the governor is subject to the advice and consent of the senate.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.