Public Works Director

Town of Zebulon; Zebulon (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Zebulon seeks a Public Works Director who combines technical foundation with executive leadership to guide enterprise operations and service standards. The successful candidate will manage capital planning, asset management, and fiscal responsibilities, while mentoring supervisory staff and fostering collaboration with the Town Manager, Board of Commissioners, and community.

The Director will oversee maintenance of town infrastructure—roadways, sidewalks, stormwater, solid waste,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Construction Management, or a closely related field.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in public works, infrastructure management, construction, or related municipal operations with at least 5 years in supervisory/management roles.
• Experience managing operating and capital budgets, procurement, safety and regulatory compliance; ability to collaborate with senior leaders, elected officials, and community members.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct departmental operations, personnel, service standards, and work programs.
• Coach managers and supervisors; promote employee voice and accountability.
• Build relationships across the full management team and with external partners.
• Direct planning, operation, and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way, stormwater systems, solid waste, fleet, and facilities.
• Develop asset management, preventive maintenance, and multi-year infrastructure plans.
• Prepare and administer operating and capital budgets; monitor expenditures and grants.
• Oversee project scopes, bidding, procurement, construction coordination, contracts, and change orders.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, stormwater, and records requirements; maintain emergency readiness.
• Coordinate infrastructure planning with development activity and other departments.

Skills

Executive leadership

Budgeting & finance

Procurement

Strategic planning

Communication & collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Construction Management, or related field

Master’s degree (Preferred)

Tools

GIS technology

Asset management

Project management systems

Job description

The Town is seeking a Public Works Director who understands that technical competence is the foundation, but executive leadership is the expectation. The successful candidate will demonstrate enterprise leadership, sound judgment, integrity, emotional intelligence, financial stewardship, political awareness, and the ability to lead change. The Director must build trust through active listening, fair and transparent decisions, constructive conflict resolution, appropriate accountability, and reliable follow-through. The ideal candidate will be visible and approachable, able to work effectively with every member of the management team and committed to a workplace in which employees are heard and treated consistently. The Director will unify divisions around a clear service vision, develop supervisors, support frontline employees, and communicate confidently with the Town Manager, Board of Commissioners, and community.As a key member of the executive leadership team, the Public Works Director drives the strategic operations, personnel management, and service standards of the department while mentoring supervisors to foster clear communication, mutual accountability, and high professional standards. This leadership role oversees the comprehensive maintenance and development of town infrastructure—including roadways, sidewalks, rights-of-way, stormwater systems, solid waste operations, and municipal fleets—while spearheading long-range capital planning, asset management, and preventive maintenance programs. The Director manages all fiscal responsibilities, from operating and capital budget administration to grant tracking and project procurement, ensuring full compliance with environmental, safety, and regulatory mandates. Furthermore, this position acts as a vital liaison across town departments, regional partners, and elected officials, leveraging data-driven tracking systems, GIS technology, and strategic workforce development to deliver exceptional public service to the Town of Zebulon.

Minimum qualifications include:

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 that includes 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.

Preferred qualifications include:

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.

• Serve as the Town’s senior public works leader and an active member of the executive leadership team.
• Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate departmental operations, personnel, service standards, and work programs.
• Lead and coach managers and supervisors; promote employee voice, professional conduct, clear communication, and consistent accountability.
• Build productive working relationships across the full management team.
• Direct the 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 the department’s 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; 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; provide practical and timely recommendations.
• Develop employee capabilities, succession plans, professional development, and a respectful culture of teamwork across divisions.