Director of Public Works

City of Lancaster•Pa, PA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Public Works provides strategic and operational leadership for the City of Lancaster’s Department of Public Works and serves on the Mayor’s Executive Leadership Team. The Director translates City priorities into results through infrastructure investment, capital programs, innovation, regulatory compliance, and partnerships. The role leads professional, technical, skilled, and unskilled teams; strengthens workforce culture; prioritizes employee safety and development; and promotes accountability and recognition. The Director also engages residents and neighborhoods to help ensure department work reflects diverse perspectives and delivers equitable benefits. The position oversees strategy, performance management, engineering, municipal infrastructure and maintenance, water and wastewater services, stormwater and green infrastructure, public facilities, solid waste and recycling services, and compliance with the EPA Consent Decree for combined sewer overflows. It also manages departmental budgets, procurement, policies, audits, and process improvements, and represents the City with residents, agencies, consultants, contractors, partner jurisdictions, and relevant boards and commissions. Work is performed in an office setting and indoors and outdoors, including exposure to inclement weather, extreme temperatures, noise, and pollution. The role requires on-site work at City of Lancaster locations, travel in the metro area and to other facilities, and availability for after-hours emergencies, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Residency within the municipal limits of Lancaster is required, subject to a possible waiver by majority vote of City Council.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
Progressive public works administration or management experience, typically 7–10 or more years, leading interdisciplinary teams and complex capital programs.
Valid Class C motor vehicle operator’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Extensive knowledge of civil engineering principles, municipal public works and utilities, construction and maintenance methods and materials, and applicable laws and regulations.
Ability to supervise professional, technical, skilled, and unskilled staff; anticipate future needs while managing day-to-day operations; and communicate clearly in plain language.
Ability to leverage grants and partnerships and use technology and data to monitor productivity and improve service.
Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English.
Ability to work as part of a team and collaborate successfully with others.
Ability to adapt to new or changed situations and make flexible improvements to work processes and operations.
Ability to exhibit customer-centered behaviors and focus on customer needs.
Commitment to service excellence and continuous improvement.
Ability to work on-site at City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania locations.
Residency within the municipal limits of the City of Lancaster, unless waived by majority vote of City Council.
Valid employment authorization to work in the United States.
Availability for after-hours emergencies, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
Experience in unionized settings, such as AFSCME.
Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in Pennsylvania.

Responsibilities

Set multi-year strategy aligned with City priorities and lead capital planning, asset management, and program performance.
Develop bureau-level key performance indicators for service reliability, safety, customer responsiveness, and cost control, with quarterly reviews.
Oversee engineering staff and direct municipal maintenance and improvements involving streetscapes, paving, sidewalks and curbs, traffic signals, signage, and streetlights.
Ensure safe, compliant drinking water services and manage wastewater operations for the City and partner jurisdictions.
Lead stormwater and green infrastructure programs.
Manage public buildings and facilities, as well as solid waste and recycling contracts, drop-off services, outreach, and enforcement.
Maintain compliance with the EPA Consent Decree for combined sewer overflows and oversee long-term operations, maintenance, and reporting.
Advance urban forestry and integrate public art into City projects in consultation with the Public Art Advisory Board.
Prepare and manage operating and capital budgets across bureaus, review expenditures, and approve purchases through Munis.
Approve plans and specifications; oversee RFPs and bids; and recommend awards consistent with City policy.
Identify, recommend, and enforce departmental policies, rules, and regulations; lead audits and process improvements.
Represent the City with residents, regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, and partner jurisdictions.
Serve on boards and commissions, including the Recreation Commission, Traffic Commission, Public Art Advisory Board, Sewer Appeals Board, and Long’s Park Commission, as appropriate.
Lead teams, foster open dialogue and accountability, communicate clearly, and recognize team achievements.
Build relationships with stakeholders and promote action and consensus-building.
Uphold integrity, equity, and fairness in departmental responsibilities.
Strengthen safety and risk management practices, including resourcing PPE and training and conducting incident reviews.