Director of Public Works

City-of-Lancaster-1; Lancaster (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Lancaster seeks an experienced Director of Public Works to provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the Public Works Department, including Stormwater, Streets, Water, and Wastewater operations. The role reports to the Assistant City Manager and drives infrastructure priorities and service quality for the Lancaster community.

The Director will lead budget management, project implementation, and public communication, presenting to City Council and collaborating with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.
• Master’s degree preferred for advanced leadership.
• Minimum 5–7 years of related executive management experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for Public Works.
• Manage budgets and departmental resources.
• Present projects and reports to City Council and the City Manager’s Office.
• Oversee Stormwater, Streets, Water, and Wastewater operations.
• Recruit, develop, and coach department staff.
• Foster collaboration across City departments and stakeholders.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Team development

Public communication

Stakeholder engagement

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

STW

Job description

The City of Lancaster is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Director of Public Works.

Reporting to the Assistant City Manager, the Director of Public Works provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and overall management of the City’s Public Works Department, includingStormwater, Streets, Water, and Wastewater operations. This position plays an important role in advancing the City’s strategic goals, supporting priorities established by City Council, strengthening essential infrastructure, developing employees, and delivering quality services to the Lancaster community.

The Director will provide leadership and direction for Public Works operations while balancing immediate service needs with the City’s long-term infrastructure priorities. This position requires a leader who can confidently navigate strategic planning, operational leadership, employee development, budget management, project implementation, public communication, and presentations before City Council.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong executive and organizational leadership.
• Experience leading, developing, and building effective teams.
• Strategic planning, sound judgment, and strong problem-solving abilities.
• Effective financial and resource management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to effectively communicate with City leadership, elected officials, employees, residents, customers, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
• The ability to build productive relationships across departments and throughout the community.
• Professionalism, diplomacy, integrity, accountability, and composure.

A commitment to teamwork, continuous improvement, employee development, and exceptional public

Lead with PRIDE

At the City of Lancaster, our employees take PRIDE in the services we provide and the community we serve.

Productivity

Place accountability, authority, tools, and information into the hands of employees closest to the customer to achieve superior results.

Resourcefulness

Provide internal and external customers a cost-effective return for citizens’ tax dollars while encouraging innovation, responsible risk‑taking, and continuous process improvement.

Integrity

Be ethically and morally responsible, remain accountable for your conduct, and be proud of the work that has your name on it.

Dedication

Complete your role with passion, professionalism, loyalty, and commitment to the success of others.

Excellence

Work together to build trust, capitalize on creative talents, share ideas, and create a high‑performing organization.

As Director of Public Works, you will have the opportunity to lead these values by example, empower employees, strengthen City operations, and help enhance the quality of life in Lancaster.

• Provides overall leadership, direction, coordination, and management of the Public Works Department and its operations.
• Assists the City Manager’s Office in accomplishing the City’s strategic plan and goals as directed by City Council.
• Develops and provides departmental budgets to the City Manager’s Office for final review and revision.
• Prepares and presents projects, resolutions, and ordinances to City Council in collaboration with the City Manager’s Office and City Attorney.
• Responds to and provides support in matters involving litigation and personnel issues.
• Responds to inquiries from City Council, the City Manager’s Office, other departments, residents, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Provides leadership to division managers through regular meetings focused on team building, issue resolution, strategic planning, and performance accountability.
• Assists in the implementation of annual maintenance projects in collaboration with Engineering and the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and in accordance with citywide master plans for Water, Wastewater, Streets, and Stormwater.
• Directs, coordinates, and evaluates departmental operations and supervisory staff in accordance with City policies and applicable laws.
• Provides leadership in interviewing, hiring, training, assigning and directing work, evaluating performance, addressing employee concerns, and resolving problems.
• Develops employees through coaching, performance feedback, professional development, clear expectations, and accountability.
• Establishes high performance standards and works to identify and remove barriers to departmental goals and objectives.
• Promotes teamwork and collaboration by communicating openly, sharing information, supporting team objectives, and recognizing employee contributions.
• Manages priorities, resources, and departmental activities to support organizational objectives and cost‑effective service delivery.
• Identifies opportunities to improve work processes, departmental performance, and service delivery.
• Builds and maintains productive relationships with City departments, community stakeholders, and other individuals or organizations that support departmental and City objectives.
• Communicates clearly and effectively when presenting technical, operational, financial, or organizational information to City leadership, City Council, public groups, and other audiences.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four‑year college or university; or five to seven years of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

A Master’s degree is highly preferred.

The successful candidate should possess the leadership, communication, analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving abilities necessary to successfully direct a complex Public Works operation.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to:

• Define problems, collect and evaluate information, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Develop and implement strategies to accomplish departmental and organizational objectives.
• Effectively manage competing priorities, resources, projects, and operational responsibilities.
• Lead, coach, and develop employees while establishing clear performance expectations.
• Read, analyze, and interpret technical, financial, and legal information.
• Respond effectively to inquiries or concerns from customers, regulatory agencies, members of the business community, and other stakeholders.
• Effectively present information to City leadership, City Council, public groups, and other audiences.
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally both verbally and in writing.
• Exercise sound judgment, diplomacy, accountability, and professionalism when addressing complex organizational or operational matters.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the use of computers, printers, scanners, and job‑related software is expected. Familiarity with job‑related software such as STW is preferred.

A valid Driver’s License is required.