Public Works Director

Town of Zebulon•Zebulon, NC

About The Position

The Public Works Director is the Town’s senior public works leader and an active member of the executive leadership team. The role leads the department’s strategic operations, personnel management, service standards, and infrastructure planning. The Director is expected to demonstrate executive leadership, sound judgment, integrity, emotional intelligence, financial stewardship, political awareness, and the ability to lead change. The Director builds trust through active listening, fair and transparent decisions, constructive conflict resolution, appropriate accountability, and reliable follow-through, while remaining visible and approachable and supporting a workplace in which employees are heard and treated consistently. The Director unifies divisions around a clear service vision, develops supervisors, supports frontline employees, and communicates with the Town Manager, Board of Commissioners, employees, residents, and community partners. The position oversees maintenance and development of town infrastructure, including roadways, sidewalks, rights-of-way, stormwater systems, solid waste and yard waste services, fleets, equipment, and assigned facilities. It leads long-range capital planning, asset management, preventive maintenance, and workforce development. The position administers operating and capital budgets, monitors expenditures and project costs, tracks grants, and oversees procurement and construction-related work. It ensures compliance with applicable safety, environmental, stormwater, solid waste, purchasing, personnel, and records requirements and maintains emergency response readiness. The Director coordinates with town departments, utilities, regional partners, contractors, and elected officials, and uses work-order tracking, GIS, and operational data to improve service delivery and departmental performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Construction Management, or a closely related field.
At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in public works, infrastructure management, construction, or related municipal operations.
At least five years of supervisory or management experience.
Experience managing operating and capital budgets, construction and maintenance projects, staff leadership, procurement, and safety and regulatory compliance.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with senior leaders, elected officials, department directors, contractors, public agencies, employees, and community members.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Public Administration, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
Experience as a Public Works Director, Assistant Director, division manager, or comparable senior public works leader.
Experience in North Carolina municipal public works operations and applicable procurement and environmental requirements.
Experience serving a rapidly growing community and improving infrastructure systems and service delivery.
APWA professional certification or another relevant public works, engineering, or management credential.
Demonstrated success building employee trust, developing management teams, modernizing work-order or asset management practices, managing stormwater and capital projects, and improving departmental performance.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate departmental operations, personnel, service standards, and work programs.
Lead and coach managers and supervisors, promoting employee voice, professional conduct, clear communication, and consistent accountability.
Build productive working relationships across the management team.
Direct planning, operation, and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way, stormwater systems, solid waste and yard waste services, fleet, equipment, and assigned facilities.
Develop asset management and preventive maintenance programs, condition assessments, fleet replacement schedules, and multi-year infrastructure plans.
Prepare and administer operating and capital budgets; monitor expenditures, project costs, grants, and financial performance.
Oversee project scopes, technical specifications, bidding, procurement, construction coordination, contracts, change orders, and project closeout in partnership with Finance and other departments.
Ensure compliance with applicable safety, environmental, stormwater, solid waste, purchasing, personnel, and records requirements, and maintain emergency response readiness.
Coordinate infrastructure planning and capital priorities with development activity, other Town departments, utilities, regional partners, and contractors.
Improve work-order tracking, GIS and operational data, reporting, productivity measures, and communication of service priorities.
Represent the Department before the Town Manager, Board of Commissioners, employees, residents, and community partners, providing practical and timely recommendations.
Develop employee capabilities, succession plans, and professional development, and foster a respectful culture of teamwork across divisions.
Mentor supervisors and foster clear communication, mutual accountability, and high professional standards.
Lead long-range capital planning, asset management, and preventive maintenance programs.
Manage department fiscal responsibilities, including budget administration, grant tracking, and project procurement.