Director of Public Works

City of Neenah; Neenah (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Employee Health Clinic access

Generous vacation leave (5 weeks)

Job summary

City of Neenah is seeking a Director of Public Works who will report to the Mayor and lead engineering, streets, utilities, sanitation, fleet, and facilities. The role focuses on shaping infrastructure investment, improving operations, and ensuring sustainable service delivery for the community.

The position requires strategic leadership, staff development, and collaboration with the Common Council and regional partners to meet regulatory standards and community expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Finance, Planning, or related field.
• 6+ years of progressively responsible municipal government leadership experience.
• Direct engineering experience is not required; leadership in public works is valued.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and overall management of the Public Works Department.
• Lead, mentor, and develop department staff, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Mayor, Common Council, and City leadership on infrastructure and operational matters.
• Oversee engineering, streets, utilities, sanitation, fleet, and facilities.
• Ensure delivery of services aligned with community expectations and regulatory standards.
• Develop capital plans and oversee project design and implementation.

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Finance, Planning, or related field

Job description

City of Neenah Mission: “We strengthen our community by building on the past, owning the present, and stewarding the future together.”

City Of Neenah Core Values

• Pursue Growth-Individual development positively influences the community.
• Encourage Innovation-Anticipate change. Embrace creativity and inspire ideas.
• Cultivate Collaborative Relationships-Succeed by fostering mutual respect as we grow and work together.
• Engage with Our Community-Acknowledge people. Hear people. Include people.

Position Overview

Reporting directly to the Mayor, this public administration position leads all public works operations, including engineering, streets, sanitary sewer and stormwater utilities, sanitation services, fleet and equipment maintenance, and city facilities. The Director serves as a key advisor to City leadership and plays a central role in shaping infrastructure investment, operational excellence, and long-term community sustainability

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Administration

• Provide strategic direction and overall management of the Public Works Department.
• Lead, mentor, and develop department staff, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Mayor, Common Council, and City leadership on infrastructure and operational matters.
• Represent the City in interactions with residents, stakeholders, and partner agencies.

Operations and Service Delivery

• Oversee all public works functions, including engineering, streets, utilities, sanitation, fleet, and facilities.
• Ensure efficient, high-quality delivery of services aligned with community expectations and regulatory standards.
• Respond to and resolve complex service issues and resident concerns.

Capital Planning and Infrastructure

• Evaluate infrastructure needs and develop recommendations for capital improvements.
• Lead planning, design, and execution of construction and maintenance projects.
• Oversee engineering review and approval of internal and external project designs.
• Coordinate with developers and assist with negotiating and administering development agreements.

Financial Management

• Monitor utility financial performance and recommend rate adjustments as appropriate.
• Review and approve major expenditures and contracts.
• Support long‑term financial sustainability through strategic planning and resource allocation.

Governance and Communication

• Prepare and deliver reports and presentations to the Common Council, Board of Public Works, and other committees.
• Facilitate clear, transparent communication on projects, policies, and priorities.
• Coordinate with consultants, contractors, and regional partners.

Policy and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Continuously evaluate and improve departmental practices.

Hiring Range

$120,000–$140,000 (DOQ)

Excellent Benefits Package

• Competitive health and dental insurance programs with WRS contributions
• Free access to Employee Health Clinic provided by ThedaCare at Work
• Generous sick and vacation program with 5-week level of vacation granted upon hire

The City of Neenah offers the following benefits to employees classified as Full‑Time or Permanent Part‑Time working 30 hours or more per week.

Employee Health Clinic

Benefit eligible employees (Those working 30 or more hours per week) have access to the City's employee clinic free of charge.

Dependents up to age 26 who are on the City's health plan may also use the employee clinic at no cost. Those dependents not on the City's health plan may access the clinic but are required to pay a $40 co‑pay.

Medical

The City offers medical insurance through UMR. To better understand the network, you can visit umr.com and search for UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network.

Wellness Benefit

Covered employees and spouses who participate in their annual wellness screening receive up to $400 annually into a Health Reimbursement Account on a pre‑tax basis. This benefit can be used for medical expenses such as deductibles and co‑pays.

Flexible Spending Account Plan

Eligible employees may elect to participate in a flexible spending account (FSA) plan. The FSA plan allows employees to have payroll deducted pre‑tax and kept in an account that the employee may use for certain medical, dental, or vision costs not covered by insurance, or for dependent care, or for independent health premiums.

Dental

The City uses Delta Dental as its dental provider. Employees pay 10% of the overall premium.

This benefit includes a $1500 annual orthodontic allowance for each covered member on the plan.

Vision

The City uses Delta as its Vision provider. The Employee pays 100% of this premium.

Ancillary Benefits

The City offers ancillary benefits to offset health care costs. These benefits include Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity.

Each of the available benefits offer an additional wellness benefit.

Income Continuation Insurance

As a WRS eligible employee, we participate in Income Continuation Insurance through the State of Wisconsin. Employees who are disabled due to a personal medical event may receive monetary benefits similar to a short‑term disability program. Some provisions apply.

Life Insurance

The City provides WRS eligible employees with basic life insurance in the amount of one times an employee’s annual salary at no cost to them.

Employees may elect additional coverage for themselves and eligible dependents. Rates are based on age and salary as determined by the carrier.

Wisconsin Retirement System

The City of Neenah participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System. All eligible employees are automatically enrolled into the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). The City of Neenah pays the employer portion, and each eligible employee is responsible for the employee portion.

Employee Assistance Program

The City of Neenah has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This service is offered at no cost to its employees and their immediate family members to help deal with life's stresses. EAP consists of caring individuals who are certified counselors. They can also help by referring the employee to another resource if assistance is needed beyond the EAP.

Deferred Compensation

Deferred Compensation allows employees to set aside pre‑tax earnings toward retirement. The amount deferred reduces year‑end state and federal income tax base. All the earnings will accrue tax‑free until such time as the assets are withdrawn, generally at retirement, termination, or other special circumstances. There is also an after‑tax 457 Roth contribution option. The City does not contribute to these plans.

Time Away from Work

The City of Neenah offers several paid time off benefits to include: vacation, holidays, floating holidays, sick leave, funeral leave and jury duty leave.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Masters Degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Finance, Planning, or related field
• 6+ years of progressively responsible municipal government leadership experience
• Direct engineering experience is not required. Overall understanding of municipal engineering, project management, capital budgeting, and demonstrated leadership capabilities will be considered in lieu of direct public works experience.
• Valid driver’s license required.

The City of Neenah is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.