PUBLIC WORKS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - COUNTY ENGINEER

Kitsap County Public Works Department makes our communities better and safer places to live, work, and play.

Join a mission-driven team shaping the future of transportation in one of Washington’s fastest-growing counties. Kitsap County Public Works is seeking a dynamic Public Works Assistant Director and County Engineer with exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. This executive-level position leads transportation planning, roads engineering, construction, operations, and maintenance programs for a diverse and rapidly evolving community.

The ideal candidate will be an agile, collaborative, and service-oriented leader skilled at building relationships, guiding teams through change, and representing the County with professionalism in high-visibility settings. The role requires strong technical expertise paired with the ability to coordinate effectively across departments, communicate complex topics to non-engineers, and engage with the public and elected officials with clarity and confidence.

As the Public Works Assistant Director and County Engineer, you will:

• Lead and manage the Road Division, including Roads Engineering, Transportation/Traffic Operations, and Road Maintenance—approximately 150 full-time staff with a $40+ million annual budget.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively coordinate and collaborate across departments, providing consistent guidance on traffic review processes and other engineering functions.
• Fulfill all statutory duties of the County Road Engineer in compliance with CRAB Standards of Good Practice and applicable state laws.
• Administer, prioritize, and manage the County Road Fund, including revenue forecasting, budgeting, expenditures, and long-range financial planning.
• Develop and implement engineering standards, design criteria, and updates to County code, policies, and ordinances to improve organizational performance and compliance.
• Provide leadership for capital project planning, including preparation and delivery of the Annual Road Construction Program and the 6-Year Transportation Improvement Program.
• Oversee traffic safety programs, bridge inspection programs, and fish barrier removal efforts.
• Manage operations and maintenance programs to ensure a safe, reliable, and well-preserved county road system, including staff workloads, schedules, priorities, and performance expectations.
• Maintain a strong customer service focus for the community; serve as a visible and engaged County representative in public-facing settings.
• Interface regularly with the Board of County Commissioners, providing clear, accurate, and accessible information on engineering, transportation, and operational matters.
• Represent the Road Division and County on state, regional, and local committees.
• Provide executive-level leadership in developing departmental strategic goals, operational policies, and cross-departmental coordination.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate leaders and staff; manage labor-related matters in alignment with collective bargaining agreements and County policies.
• Serve as a technical resource and trusted advisor on matters that may extend beyond direct supervisory authority, ensuring organizational alignment, consistency, and sound engineering practices.
• Build and prepare the Road Division workforce and organizational structure needed to support current operations and future transportation needs in a rapidly urbanizing environment.

What You Bring 

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related field, and
• Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in engineering, planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance of public or private transportation facilities
• Four years of senior management experience overseeing engineering, operations, and/or maintenance personnel
• Licensed as a Washington State Professional Engineer (PE), or currently in the process of securing Washington State comity
• Demonstrated excellence in communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and community engagement

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in civil engineering or a related field
• Experience with Washington State CRAB Standards of Good Practice
• Experience with WSDOT Local Agency Guidelines and WSDOT Standard Specifications for engineering and construction

For the entire job description:
To learn more about the department: Public Works - Kitsap County

• This position is open to the general public. Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms. The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process, which may include testing for office and computer skills.
• This position is classified as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• This is an  "at will"  appointed position. As an "at will" employee, the County Road Engineer serves at the pleasure of the Board of County Commissioners and may have their appointment revoked at any time with or without cause and without right of appeal. 'At will' is covered under theAppendix C (as amended) to Kitsap County Personnel Manual(Download PDF reader)

Application Requirements
All applicants, internal and external, must submit a complete and fully detailed application. Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all minimum qualifications for the position by the posted closing date. The County uses the information provided in the application (not the résumé) to verify relevant work experience and to determine placement on the pay scale if you are selected for the position.
To be considered, your application must:

• Be fully completed, including all supplemental questions. Provide specific and detailed information showing that you have performed the duties and gained the experience required for the role. Include the total years of relevant experience, quantified based on full-time equivalency. Applications that are incomplete, lack sufficient detail, or do not clearly demonstrate that the applicant meets all minimum qualifications will be screened out and will not move forward in the hiring process. Meeting the minimum qualifications is required.

Prior to employment, the successful candidate must:

• Submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university or business school, if education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications.
• Pass all job-related examinations/tests necessary to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities, as determined by the hiring authority at time of job posting.
• Authorize and complete a criminal background check. Information received is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily remove a candidate from consideration. 

Report for duty on time and remain at work until the end of their scheduled shift even if an inclement weather event or emergency is declared as an “Essential Employee” under the Public Works Inclement Weather/Emergency Response policy. 
Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office. 
This posting may be used to fill future openings.
Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the application materials submitted. Per RCW 42.56.250, all applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant are exempt from public inspection.
This position is open until filled.
The first review is scheduled for the week of June 22, 2026 and then weekly!

Compensation details: 138956.67-177770.45 Yearly Salary

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