Public Works Director

Bridgewater; Bridgewater, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan (VRS)

Paid vacation & sick leave

Job summary

Town of Bridgewater in Virginia seeks a Public Works Director for a full-time, senior leadership role overseeing parks, streets, facilities, equipment, and utility work. The position emphasizes field leadership, accountability, and citizen service, with substantial time in the field coordinating crews and operations.

The successful candidate will report to the Deputy Town Manager, collaborate with the Public Works Coordinator, and drive a culture of safety, professionalism, and proactive

Qualifications

• Experience in public works, facilities, utilities, construction, parks, maintenance, or related operational management.
• Supervisory experience.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Working knowledge of equipment, maintenance operations, and safety practices.
• Passable computer skills—if you can use email and create a modest spreadsheet, you’re probably good.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate maintenance operations.
• Provide field leadership and operational oversight.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, VDOT, environmental, and other applicable standards.
• Manage equipment utilization and replacement planning.
• Coordinate projects and work assignments.
• Assist with budgeting and capital planning.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Supervisory experience

Organization

Multi-tasking

Safety practices

Field leadership

Tools

Email

Spreadsheet

MS Office

Job description

Are you an experienced, practical, and service-oriented leader? If so, the Public Works Director position within the Town of Bridgewater’s Public Works Department may be the right career for you!

Role

Bridgewater is a growing and active community with a strong tradition of public service and a commitment to “A Better Life.” The Public Works Director oversees the Town’s maintenance and public works operations, including parks and grounds maintenance, streets and rights-of-way, facilities maintenance, equipment management, project coordination, utility work, and related operational activities.

This is intended to be a highly visible, field-oriented leadership position. The successful candidate will be expected to spend substantial time in the field with crews, coordinating operations, ensuring compliance with safety and operational standards, identifying problems before they become emergencies, and helping build a culture of accountability, professionalism, and citizen service throughout the department. And, of course, the successful candidate will be required to respond to operational emergencies and weather-related events whenever they occur.

The Public Works Director will report to the Deputy Town Manager and coordinate closely with the Public Works Coordinator. These three employees will strategize and coordinate matters on a daily basis, though the Public Works Director should spend most of the day in the field.

On occasion, the Public Works Director will be required to jump in and fix something, but make no mistake, this job is more about leadership and effective supervision than building and fixing things. We expect the Public Works Director to:

• Lead by example
• Communicate clearly and honestly with those above and below in the chain-of-command
• Hold employees accountable fairly and consistently
• Preserve a positive and productive work culture
• Think proactively
• Value teamwork and professionalism
• Recognize that we’re all here to serve the citizens, not ourselves

The Public Works Director is responsible for directing, supervising, and evaluating the work of public works personnel; assigning and prioritizing work; overseeing departmental operations; and making recommendations regarding hiring, discipline, promotion, and other personnel actions.

Compensation

The Public Works Director is a full-time P9 position with a salary range of $72,800 to $110,240 ($35.00 - $53.00 hourly); an exact salary will be dependent upon the selected candidate's qualifications/experience. The maximum salary is not intended for new hires, but we might pay it for the "perfect" candidate. (That said, our experience is that no one is perfect.) The minimum salary would likely be offered to some an unskilled, inexperienced candidate selected for potential only. The Town offers excellent benefits including health and dental insurance, VRS retirement, and vacation and sick leave.

Hours

Regular shift hours are Monday through Friday from 8:0 am until 4:30 pm.

Responsibilities

As the Public Works Director, you’ll:

• Supervise and coordinate maintenance operations
• Provide field leadership and operational oversight
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, VDOT, environmental, and other applicable standards
• Manage equipment utilization and replacement planning
• Coordinate projects and work assignments
• Assist with budgeting and capital planning

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in public works, facilities, utilities, construction, parks, maintenance, or related operational management
• Supervisory experience
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Working knowledge of equipment, maintenance operations, and safety practices
• Passable computer skills—if you can use email and create a modest spreadsheet, you’re probably good

The selected candidate for this position will be subject to the following screenings and must receive satisfactory results:

• Criminal background check

Licenses/Certifications

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status.The Town of Bridgewater is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Rev. 06-22-2026.