Public Works Director

Director Of Public Works & Transportation

The Director Of Public Works & Transportation reports to the Chief Operating Officer and provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and high-level oversight for the full portfolio of civil engineering, transportation and mobility services, traffic operations, street maintenance, stormwater utility, fleet management, facilities maintenance, and all public works programs and capital projects. This includes responsibility for day-to-day operations, maintenance, customer service, and service delivery performance across a large and diverse workforce.

This role is responsible for delivering large-scale, multi-phase infrastructure and development initiatives that span multiple departments, agencies, jurisdictions, and regulatory environments. Many of these projects involve complex funding structures such as federal and state grants, enterprise funds, and local capital resources. The Director must be able to balance the delivery of high-visibility capital programs with the operational needs of a full-service public works organization.

The Director leads cross-functional teams; oversees planning, design, construction, maintenance, and long-range infrastructure strategy for the department; ensures compliance with local, state, and federal requirements; and works closely with internal departments, regional partners, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and residents. This is a highly public-facing position that requires strong communication skills, a commitment to excellent customer service, and the ability to present frequently and effectively to City Council, businesses, and community groups. The Director must be an innovative, collaborative leader capable of delivering solutions that enhance mobility, resilience, and operational excellence in a rapidly growing city.

Minimum requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible management experience in public administration or public works, including at least four (4) years in a senior leadership or division head role.
• Experience overseeing multiple public works disciplines such as engineering, streets, transportation/mobility, stormwater, fleet, or facilities.
• Demonstrated experience managing capital projects of varying size and complexity.
• Experience working with or coordinating across multiple agencies or regulatory bodies.
• Proven ability to lead and develop staff, including senior-level managers.
• Experience with operational oversight, maintenance programs, and customer-facing service delivery.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present to elected officials, community groups, and stakeholders.

OR

• Any combination of related education, experience, certifications and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job.

AND

• Possession of a valid driver's license.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in public administration, business administration, civil engineering, or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) certification.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, multi-phase capital infrastructure initiatives (multi-million to $100M+).
• Experience managing projects involving complex funding structures such as federal and state grants, enterprise funds, or blended capital sources.
• Experience coordinating major infrastructure projects with regional, state, or federal agencies, including transportation or environmental regulators.
• Leadership experience in a large, multi-division organization or managing a workforce of comparable size and complexity.
• Experience applying alternative delivery methods (CM/GC, design-build, progressive design-build) to complex capital projects, including procurement, preconstruction coordination, and contractor collaboration.
• Experience working in fast-growing or rapidly evolving communities.
• Background in emergency operations or response to infrastructure-related incidents.
• Experience leading organizational change, modernization, or performance improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated success in public outreach, community engagement, or customer experience programs.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance of municipal infrastructure systems.
• Understanding of materials, equipment, and best practices used in public works operations.
• Proficiency in budgeting, financial analysis, grant administration, procurement, and contract negotiation for multi-funded projects.
• Familiarity with work production standards, operational analytics, and performance measurement.
• Expertise in risk management, permit compliance, and navigating local, state, and federal regulatory requirements.
• Experience in overseeing consultant teams, contractor performance, and managing major professional service agreements.
• Skills in leading large teams, supervising senior managers, and developing talent pipelines.
• Capability in managing organizational change, conflict resolution, workforce development, and succession planning.
• Ability to build trust, credibility, and partnerships across departments, agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Experience in managing complex capital programs while overseeing diverse operational divisions.
• Competence in long-range strategic planning and systems-level coordination across infrastructure networks.
• Ability to analyze complex problems and make data-informed decisions balancing technical, financial, political, and community considerations.
• Proficiency in preparing reports and delivering presentations to City Council, boards, agencies, and the public.
• Skills in communicating complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Aptitude for navigating politically sensitive issues with sound judgment, diplomacy, and situational awareness.

Travel:

Category B-Regular Local/Field Based Travel: This position requires regular travel within the County and nearby cities. Employees frequently travel to field sites, client locations, or other City buildings as part of their job duties. Access to a personal or City fleet vehicle may be required.

Essential functions:

• Provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for all Public Works programs and divisions.
• Aligns departmental goals with citywide priorities, long-range plans, and service expectations.
• Develops and implements strategic initiatives, performance measures, and operational improvements.
• Leads large-scale, multi-phase, multi-agency infrastructure projects with complex funding structures.
• Oversees planning, design, construction, and delivery of capital improvement projects.
• Manages project budgets, schedules, risk, procurement, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversees day-to-day operations and maintenance across streets, stormwater, fleet, facilities, and transportation services.
• Ensures high-quality customer service, responsiveness, and community-facing service delivery.
• Establishes operational standards, safety protocols, and service-level expectations.
• Develops, manages, and monitors departmental budgets and long-range financial strategies.
• Oversees contracts, consultant agreements, grants, and intergovernmental partnerships.
• Conducts organizational assessments and recommends structural or operational improvements.
• Maintains effective relationships with City Council, the City Manager's Office, departments, regional partners, agencies, and community organizations.
• Represents the department in public meetings, forums, advisory boards, and media interactions.
• Responds to resident inquiries and ensures transparent and effective public communication.
• Hires, trains, motivates, coaches, and evaluates staff and establishes clear performance expectations.
• Promotes professional development and succession planning across divisions.
• Ensures compliance with safety standards, HR policies, administrative rules, and workplace regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory responsibilities:

Organize and delegate assignments to team members; Hiring, training, motivating and coaching employees; Evaluate employee performance and goal setting; Hold employees accountable for assigned task and goals; Provide timely and constructive feedback and training opportunities; Provide training opportunities with a focus on employee development; Resolve conflicts and complaints; Analyzing information and processes and develop more effective or efficient processes; Establishing and achieving business and financial objectives; Ensure compliance with safety procedures.

Work environment and physical requirements:

Work environment:

• Primarily based in a standard office environment, which involves working at a desk or workstation for extended periods.
• While the role is office-based, occasional visits to off-site locations or field environments may be required for meetings or project-related work.
• The noise level is generally low to moderate, consistent with a typical office setting.
• This position involves frequent interaction with the public, stakeholders, and internal staff, including responding to inquiries, attending community meetings, and representing the City in both informal and formal settings.
• May be required to work extended hours in the evening, holidays, or weekends.
• May be required to conduct business in alternate locations within City buildings or field sites, sometimes in formal settings.

Physical requirements: