Director of Public Works & Engineering

Town•Frederick, CO

9h•$122,000 - $185,000

About The Position

The Director of Public Works and Engineering provides leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the Town’s Public Works and Engineering department. The department currently includes utilities and operations: streets, water, stormwater, construction management, fleet services, facility services, engineering and capital improvement project functions. As Frederick continues to evolve, this role will help formalize processes and procedures, align operations with long-term strategy, and ensure the department is positioned to support growth in a thoughtful, sustainable way. The Director will work closely with Town leadership, the Board of Trustees, staff, and the community to deliver reliable services while preparing the organization for future development. This position reports to an Assistant Town Manager and serves as a peer to other Directors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, public administration, construction management, business administration, or a related field, or comparable experience.
Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in public works, engineering, utilities, infrastructure, or municipal operations.
At least five years of experience in a senior leadership or management role.
Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and overseeing complex operational and capital functions.
Strong understanding of municipal infrastructure systems, capital planning, and public sector funding.
Proven ability to lead teams through growth, change, and organizational development.
Ability to operate standard office equipment and work effectively within digital systems such as Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, OpenGov, or similar platforms.
Valid Colorado driver’s license or ability to obtain one.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field.
Professional Engineer (PE) license. A PE license is preferred but not required. The Town seeks a leader with strong engineering literacy, operational judgment, and executive leadership capability rather than a role focused on plan production or technical stamping.
American Public Works Association Certified Public Works Professional – Management credential.
Experience working in a growing or rapidly changing community.
Experience integrating operations, engineering, and capital planning functions.
Demonstrated success in facilities planning, fleet management, or enterprise utility environments.
Experience coordinating major infrastructure projects with regional, state, or federal agencies.
Experience engaging directly with elected officials and the public.

Responsibilities

Leading the integration and alignment of Public Works and Engineering into a cohesive, forward-looking department.
Overseeing municipal utilities and operations, including streets, water, stormwater, construction, fleet, and facilities.
Guiding the development of a scalable fleet philosophy and long-term facilities planning in coordination with Town leadership.
Supporting the completion and operational transition of the Town’s Municipal Service Center.
Ensuring capital improvement planning, operations, and funding sources are connected and clearly understood.
Partnering with Community and Economic Development to align development review, infrastructure planning, and execution.
Communicating complex infrastructure, funding, and operational topics clearly to elected officials, staff, and the public.
Building a clear vision and strategic framework for Public Works and Engineering that supports long-term growth.
Stronger alignment between operations, engineering, capital planning, and funding.
Scalable systems, processes, and procedures that allow the department to operate proactively rather than reactively.
A well-supported leadership team with clear expectations, structure, and internal growth opportunities.
Effective oversight of large capital projects and major initiatives aligned with the Town’s overall strategy.
A department culture grounded in professionalism, collaboration, accountability, and service to residents.