Director of Public Works

City of Rockville•Md 20850, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Rockville is recruiting for a highly-collaborative, strategic leader committed to accountability, service excellence, and community stewardship to serve as the Director of Public Works. The successful candidate will bring proven experience overseeing essential public works operations and delivering high-quality, innovative, and timely services that support the City’s infrastructure and growth. They excel in managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment and in empowering diverse teams while fostering a culture of accountability, fairness, safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on meeting community needs and expectations. The successful candidate has broad public works expertise, including solid waste, water and wastewater systems, and multi-divisional operations such as streets, drainage, and facilities. They also possess a solid foundation in infrastructure and asset management—covering lifecycle planning, condition assessment, and maintenance prioritization—along with a thorough understanding of applicable federal, state, and local regulations. A trusted and effective communicator, the ideal candidate builds strong relationships across the organization and within the community. They demonstrate integrity, sound judgment, and clear communication through reports, presentations, and public engagement. Financial acumen is essential, including experience managing budgets, allocating resources, and using performance data for inclusive and informed decision-making. Adaptable and forward-thinking, this individual embraces change to improve organizational effectiveness. They are skilled in strategic planning, operational execution, and process improvement, and make confident decisions with limited oversight. Above all, they bring genuine passion for public service and a commitment to achieving measurable results that enhance the quality of life for the community.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in civil engineering or a related field of study.
Seven (07) years of progressively responsible work in municipal public works with at least four (04) years of experience that has included management and supervision of professional, technical, and support staff.
Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as a professional civil engineer with the Maryland Board of Professional Engineers.
Must possess or be able to obtain a driver’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related field is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Provides strategic leadership and direction for the planning, design, engineering, surveying, inspection, construction, scheduling, repair, and maintenance of all capital improvements and core Public Works operations, including streets, fleet services, water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection, storm and sanitary sewer systems, refuse collection and disposal, street lighting, and traffic management.
Leads the development, execution, and evaluation of Public Works initiatives and citywide programs, ensuring alignment with municipal priorities and long-term infrastructure goals.
Provides strategic oversight and direction for the recruitment, training, coaching, and performance management of a diverse workforce of supervisors, engineers, inspectors, technicians, and maintenance personnel.
Provides leadership to all departmental activities through a structured management team and fosters a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
Collaborates with departmental leaders and staff to define project objectives, assess facility and infrastructure needs, evaluate program effectiveness, and establish standards for maintenance and service delivery.
Strengthens cross-functional collaboration by coordinating major initiatives and operational activities with other City departments, external agencies, regional partners, and community committees.
Leads the preparation of the departmental budget in partnership with subordinate managers; oversees financial stewardship, accounting practices, and compliance with fiscal policies.
Develops and presents reports, policies, procedures, and documentation that support transparency, operational excellence, and informed decision-making across Public Works programs.
Evaluates employee performance through direct observation and consultation with supervisors; ensures staffing plans meet operational requirements; champions professional development by encouraging participation in training, workshops, and skill-building opportunities.
Initiates, plans, manages, and monitors citywide and neighborhood-level Public Works programs, including leaf collection, solid waste and recycling operations, snow removal, waterline flushing, and other essential services.
Coordinates efforts with City, County, and State departments, civic associations, and community partners.
Serves as a key advisor to the City Manager, and various Boards and Commissions on Public Works matters.
Represents the department at community meetings, civic groups, business associations, and public events, including occasional evening and weekend engagements.
Conducts comprehensive assessments of the City’s Public Works needs and recommends strategic solutions that enhance infrastructure integrity and service delivery.