Public Works Director

Responsibilities

The Director of Public Works is a strategic leader responsible for proactively managing the city’s infrastructure, services, and maintenance needs. This role emphasizes forward-thinking strategies, efficient resource management, and fostering a culture of innovation and employee development. By prioritizing preventive measures and capital improvement planning, the Director ensures long-term sustainability and service excellence while embodying the principles of servant leadership to benefit the community and team.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Develop and implement proactive strategies to anticipate and address infrastructure and maintenance needs, minimizing reactive responses to complaints.
• Lead the creation and execution of capital improvement plans for roadway and off-site drainage projects, ensuring alignment with community goals and the direction of Mayor and Program Director. 
• Utilize data-driven insights and advanced technology to enhance department operations and improve service delivery.

Operations and Maintenance Management

• Establish comprehensive maintenance schedules for city-owned assets, including streets, drainage systems, and equipment, to ensure maximum efficiency and longevity.
• Oversee the construction and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, bridges, drainage systems, and other municipal infrastructure.
• Implement and manage a dynamic work order system to prioritize tasks effectively and ensure timely completion.

Employee Development and Leadership

• Cultivate a high-performing team by providing robust training programs, mentorship, and opportunities for career advancement.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations, offering constructive feedback and recognizing outstanding contributions.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive work environment, guided by servant leadership principles that empower employees to succeed.

Community Engagement and Collaboration

• Actively engage with residents, businesses, and local officials to understand and address community needs.
• Communicate department goals, plans, and progress transparently through public forums and regular updates.
• Collaborate with other city departments, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure seamless service delivery.

Technology and Innovation

• Leverage cutting-edge technologies to optimize workflows, improve resource management, and enhance the accuracy of project planning.
• Introduce digital tools for real-time monitoring, data analysis, and reporting to support decision-making.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Develop and manage a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan to ensure the department is ready to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies.  Perform after-action reviews as necessary.
• Coordinate emergency operations in collaboration with city officials and contractors, prioritizing public safety and infrastructure resilience.

Financial Management and Budgeting

• Assist the Program Director with the department’s annual budget, aligning expenditures with strategic priorities and operational needs.
• Evaluate capital improvement projects to determine cost-benefit analyses of IBTS performing the work. 

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, construction management, or a related field is required.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience is required. Significant relevant experience (e.g., 12 or more years) may substitute for the educational requirement. Advanced certifications or professional licensure may also substitute for part of the educational or experience requirements.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license. 

Key Skills/Competencies

• Proactive Problem-Solving: Anticipates challenges and develops innovative solutions.
• Forward-Thinking Leadership: Aligns departmental activities with long-term community goals.
• Technical Expertise: Extensive knowledge of public works operations, asset management, and infrastructure maintenance.
• Employee Empowerment: Demonstrates a commitment to servant leadership by fostering growth and development.
• Strong Communication Skills: Effectively collaborates with diverse stakeholders and communicates complex plans clearly. 

Physical/Environmental Demands (when such demands exist)

• Ability to perform a mix of office-based and fieldwork tasks, including walking, standing, bending, kneeling, and climbing in various outdoor environments.
• Must be able to lift and carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer are required.
• Visual acuity and manual dexterity sufficient to read plans, operate equipment, and handle tools when necessary.
• Ability to respond to emergency situations quickly, potentially outside normal working hours.

Environmental Conditions

• Regular exposure to extreme weather conditions, including high heat and humidity, heavy rain, flooding, and potential hurricanes or tornadoes.
• May work in or near construction zones with loud noise, dust, and heavy equipment operation.
• Potential exposure to hazardous materials, including fuels, chemicals, or debris during disaster recovery operations.
• Must be able to navigate rugged terrain, construction sites, or damaged infrastructure safely.
• Ability to work extended hours during emergencies, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Emergency Preparedness

• Must remain on-call during extreme weather events or other emergencies to oversee public works operations, such as debris removal, road clearing, or infrastructure repair.
• Ability to operate in stressful, fast-paced situations, coordinating responses to natural disasters while ensuring safety protocols are followed.

Safety Equipment

• Regular use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, safety goggles, gloves, and high-visibility vests is required. 

Personal Qualities

IBTS places a high value on certain personal traits that work toward creating a positive, professional, and supportive work environment, which is essential for working together and achieving success. We believe “how” you achieve your results is as important as what you achieve. The following highlights the personal traits key for success within the organization.

• Strong Work Ethic
• Teachable/Continuous Learner
• Reliable/Dependable
• Collaborative/Team Contributor

Company Overview

Bring your passion, expertise, and experience to IBTS, where we appreciate and are committed to our employees. We offer outstanding benefits, growth opportunities, and work hard to maintain a culture that values our employees. 

The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization established to provide unbiased professional building code compliance services, while enhancing the communities in which we work. At IBTS, our mission is to deliver quality services to meet the challenges of governance at all levels while enhancing public safety, economic development, and the general welfare of the community. Our services include Building and Community Development, Energy and Sustainability Services, Disaster Planning and Recovery, Quality Assurance, as well as Compliance and Risk Monitoring.

IBTS is headquartered in Ashburn, VA, with additional offices in Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC.

We are committed to building a community of experts with diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives who are passionate about our mission. IBTS is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer that maintains a diverse and inclusive workforce.  All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation. This opportunity is open to Section S3 Residents.  Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Explore the opportunities!