Public Works Director

The Village of Little Chute, WI is seeking a collaborative and innovative leader to join its team as its next Public Works Director. The Village is in the Fox Valley area along the Fox River, Little Chute was founded in 1899 and has a rich history as a European settlement. The community holds true to its Dutch roots and is home to the famous windmill in the heart of downtown. Little Chute is a full-service community, a fantastic place to live, work, learn and play. The Village boasts a high-achieving school district, an affordable growing housing market, and strong recreational assets that host many events to bring people together. This position is vital in the community, bringing knowledge and guidance to our talented organization, managing various operations ranging from street and rail transportation and all utility systems.

We are seeking an individual with strong public works experience, the ability to lead and mentor our great public works team and effectively communicate information to a variety of our stakeholders. The Director plays a critical role in the Village’s executive management team. Little Chute’s Public Works Director leads a department of multiple divisions: GIS, Engineering, Streets/Operations, Recycling, Vehicle Fleet, Sanitation and Stormwater, Wastewater, and Water Utilities.

The starting salary is up to $122,533 (DOQ), plus excellent benefits. The Director reports directly to the Village Administrator. Operating under the Village Board form of government, the Little Chute Village Board is comprised of 7 members elected at large on a non-partisan basis for three year overlapping terms. The 2025 total DPW department operating budget is $11.6M. The position leads a staff of 19 full-time employees. The village 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is $15.1M which the DPW Director also assists in developing and overseeing.

The ideal candidate requires a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, public administration, business administration, planning, or closely related field from an accredited college or university. A master’s degree in one of these fields or registration in the State of Wisconsin as a Professional Engineer is preferred. A combination of equivalent experience and education will also be considered. Additionally, this position requires advanced professional knowledge in the principles and practices of public works administration, engineering, capital project development and implementation, field maintenance operations and program development. Requires knowledge of applicable laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations governing public works construction, maintenance, and engineering design best practices. Experience in budget development and management; project management; human resources and supervision of employees; familiarity with state and federal grant programs and in effectively interacting with a wide variety of stakeholders including members of the public, developers, contractors, city staff, and elected officials.

The person in this position is expected to have a high degree of professionalism and represent the Village of Little Chute with personal and professional integrity. The Village also desires a candidate who fosters teamwork, has a strong commitment to public service, and who will support and encourage a positive working environment and professional development opportunities for public works staff.

Future opportunities include maintaining momentum on current infrastructure projects; grant administration; development of a cohesive team culture across the department’s distinct missions; development and retention of DPW staff; and the overall upgrading of the Village’s aging infrastructure within existing fiscal restraints. Upcoming projects include a new fire station, water tower and infrastructure expansion in new growth areas.

For more information, visit the community website at https://littlechutewi.org . The Little Chute Public Works Director Position Profile is posted on the PAA website at www.public-administration.com.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $122,533.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $122,533