Public Works Director

Director Of Public Works

The City of Culver City, CA (City) is seeking a dynamic, principled, and people-focused Public Works Director (Director) to lead one of its broadest and most visible service portfolios at an exciting moment of transformation. With significant investment underway in infrastructure and deferred maintenance, a citywide modernization of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) process, and a renewed focus on transparency, accountability, KPIs, and community-centered results, the next Director will have a meaningful opportunity to shape how Culver City looks, moves, operates, and serves its community for years to come.

The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government. Its five-member elected City Council provides policy direction, sets priorities, approves the budget, and appoints the City Manager, City Attorney, Police Chief, and Fire Chief.

The Public Works Department (Department) is one of the City's most operationally diverse departments, with responsibilities extending from the infrastructure beneath the street to the mobility, environmental, and public systems residents experience every day.

The Department is organized into five divisions: Administration coordinates departmental operations, budgeting, and select projects and programs. Engineering Services provides civil engineering services for public and private development; manages capital projects, sewer user charges, right-of-way activities, and utility infrastructure improvements. Mobility & Traffic Engineering oversees traffic engineering and controls, mobility planning, parking infrastructure and permitting, and pedestrian and bicycle projects and programs. Maintenance & Operations maintains City buildings, streets, sidewalks, sewers, storm drains, bridges, traffic signals, streetlights, signage, parking meters, and other infrastructure; manages the urban forest; and provides graffiti abatement and emergency services. Environmental Programs & Operations provides refuse, recycling, and organics collection and disposal; operates the City's Transfer Station; oversees stormwater quality and compliance; manages street sweeping; and leads sustainability programs and initiatives.

The City is seeking a principled, decisive, and highly engaged change leader who is data-informed, disciplined, and people-focused. The next Director will inherit a dedicated team while stepping into an organization experiencing an exciting period of transformation, with new executive leadership, evolving City Council priorities, and a priority-based budgeting approach creating greater alignment between the City's resources, its work, and the needs of the community.

To thrive in this role, the Director will bring: A Broad Public Works Foundation: Strong knowledge of municipal public works and the ability to lead effectively across diverse technical and operational disciplines. Capital & Infrastructure Management Experience: Proven track record overseeing complex capital programs, addressing deferred maintenance, and moving projects from planning through delivery. Sound Judgment & Conviction: The confidence to make well-informed recommendations, explain the rationale behind them, and respectfully push back when necessary. Political & Community Acumen: Skill in navigating highly visible and contentious issues where community and stakeholder interests may differ. Operational Agility: The ability to manage multiple lines of service while pivoting effectively between long-range priorities and immediate operational needs. Data-Informed Decision-Making: Experience using meaningful data and performance measures to set priorities, improve processes, and drive results.

An annual salary of up to $211,748 - $258,467 DOE/DOQ, plus a generous benefits package that includes: Certification Incentive: 5% salary increase for registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California. Retirement: CA Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. Health Dental, and Vision Insurance: Choice of CalPERS medical plans for employees and eligible dependents. HMO & PPO are available. City provides up to $2,131 per month towards health benefits for the 2026 plan year. Retirement Health Savings Plan Management Education Incentive: $4,800 per fiscal year for master's degree or higher from an accredited organization. Life Insurance: $250,000 and additional AD&D coverage. Disability Insurance: Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance provided by the City. Physical Well-Being Allowance: $750 each fiscal year. Phone Allowance: $60 per pay period. Vacation: 80 hours annually for first four years, increasing with years of service. Floating Holiday Leave: 57 hours of paid Floating Holiday Leave each fiscal year. Administrative Leave: 126 hours per year. Sick Leave: Four (4.0) hour accrual per pay period up to 104.0 hours annually. Holidays: 8 designated holidays per year. Transportation Allowance: $375 per month. Deferred Compensation: The City contributes $160 per pay period for mandatory employee contribution of $76.25 in the 401(a) Plan, A Voluntary 457 plan is also available. Other: Optional Flexible Spending Account (FSA)