City of Lacey, WA - Public Works Director

SGR•Lacey, WA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Lacey is seeking a Public Works Director who leads with purpose, builds strong relationships, and makes a lasting impact. This role requires a creative problem solver, a connector and collaborator, a strategic thinker, and a mentor and culture builder. The City of Lacey, recognized as one of the “50 Best Places to Live for Families” in 2023, is a community of almost 60,000 residents located at the southern tip of Puget Sound. It offers a desirable living environment with amenities, outdoor adventures, and a strong community. Reporting to the City Manager, the Public Works Director provides strategic and administrative leadership for a full-service department responsible for transportation systems, utilities, parks maintenance, and capital infrastructure programs. The Director oversees approximately 199 FTEs, including a large represented workforce, and manages significant operating and capital budgets. This role involves setting departmental priorities, ensuring efficient service delivery, aligning operations with citywide goals, and overseeing engineering, water resources, and operations. The Director is a key member of the executive leadership team, advising city leadership, fostering collaboration, and strengthening organizational culture and staff development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, Construction Management, Public Administration or related field and ten (10) years of progressively responsible work experience in Design, Construction, Contract Administration, Operations, Maintenance and/or Public Works Administration including a minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience.
Supervisory experience in a collective bargaining environment is also required.
OR Master’s Degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, Construction Management, Public Administration or related field and eight (8) years of progressively responsible work experience in Design, Construction, Contract Administration, Operations, Maintenance and/or Public Works Administration including a minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience.
Supervisory experience in a collective bargaining environment is also required.
OR Equivalent combination of experience, education, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the position may also be considered.

Nice To Haves

Registration as a professional engineer in the state of Washington or equivalent certification in another state.

Responsibilities

Provides strategic and administrative leadership for a full-service department responsible for transportation systems, utilities, parks maintenance, and capital infrastructure programs.
Oversees approximately 199 FTEs, including the City’s largest represented workforce.
Manages an operating budget of $89.9 million and a capital improvement program of $87.1 million.
Sets departmental priorities.
Ensures efficient and compliant service delivery.
Aligns Public Works operations with Citywide goals.
Oversees engineering, water resources, and operations.
Manages long-range planning and capital project delivery.
Serves as a key member of the executive leadership team.
Advises the City Manager and City Council.
Fosters cross-department collaboration and regional partnerships.
Strengthens organizational culture.
Develops staff.
Ensures high-performing service to the Lacey community.