Public Works Director

Town of Carrboro, NC; Carrboro (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Carrboro, NC seeks a proven leader to lead its Public Works Department. The Public Works Director will provide strategic direction, manage operations across streets, facilities, fleet, and grounds, and advise elected officials and community partners.

This role requires strong budgeting, project management, and the ability to build collaborative relationships with Town leadership, agencies, and the public, including after-hours responses during emergencies.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of public works operations including streets, sidewalks, solid waste, fleet, cemetery, facilities, and ground maintenance.
• Knowledge of personnel management, budgeting, procurement, project management, and administrative practices for municipal public works.
• Ability to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate departmental programs, operations, projects, and services.
• Ability to communicate effectively with elected officials, Town leadership, employees, contractors, developers, utility providers, government agencies, and the public.
• Ability to analyze problems and manage long-range capital projects while ensuring compliance with laws and standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide advisory support to boards, commissions, elected officials, and community organizations.
• Formulate and recommend policies, and represent the Town with local and regional agencies.
• Oversee department personnel directly or through supervisors.
• Coordinate and manage public works programs, operations, and capital projects.
• Occasionally work outside normal hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, or emergencies.

Skills

Public Works management

Budgeting

Project management

Communication

Policy formulation

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, public works administration, or related field

Master's degree in public administration, business administration, engineering, or related field

Job description

Lead Carrboro’s Public Works Department

The Public Works Director performs complex professional and difficult administrative work directing all activities of the Public Works Department

This is sedentary work requiring the exertion of up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects; work requires reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, and repetitive motions; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels, and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; visual acuity is required for depth perception, color perception, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring devices, operation of machines, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities; the worker is subject to inside and outside environmental conditions, and atmospheric conditions.

The ideal candidate will provide:

• Strong technical expertise to advisory boards, commissions, elected officials, and community organizations
• Formulate, and recommend policies, and
• Represent the Town with local and regional agencies.

This role operates under the direction of the Assistant Town Manager with full supervision of department personnel either directly or through subordinate supervisors.

The position may require work outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, or during emergency situations.

1. Knowledge of public works operations, including streets, sidewalks, solid waste, fleet, cemetery, facilities, and ground maintenance.
2. Knowledge of personnel management, budgeting, procurement, project management, and administrative practices applicable to a municipal public works department.
3. Ability to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate departmental programs, operations, projects, and services.
4. Ability to communicate effectively and establish positive working relationships with elected officials, Town leadership, employees, contractors, developers, utility providers, government agencies, and the public.
5. Ability to analyze problems, develop solutions, make sound decisions, and manage complex infrastructure and long-range capital projects while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and standards

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, public works administration, or a related field,
• 5 years of Supervisory experience in Public Works
• Progressively responsible experience in public works operations, municipal infrastructure, or a related field, including supervisory or management experience.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in public administration, business administration, engineering, or a related field.
• Previous experience directing or managing a municipal or local government public works department or comparable operations.
• Experience overseeing multiple public works functions, including streets, stormwater, solid waste, fleet, facilities, or grounds maintenance.
• Experience with municipal budgeting, capital improvement projects, procurement, and contract administration.
• Experience working with elected officials, public agencies, contractors, developers, and community stakeholders.
• NIMS Certification ( National Incident Management)

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to a public works system.
• Comprehensive knowledge of modern management principles and practices.
• Ability to plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate the work of employees.
• Ability to assess community needs and develop recommendations for public works improvements.
• Thorough knowledge of workplace safety practices and the ability to ensure appropriate safety precautions are followed.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Town officials, government agencies, employees, contractors, community stakeholders, and the general public.