Public Works Director

Job Description
GENERAL NATURE OF WORK

The purpose of this classification is to plan, direct, manage, and oversee operations and activities associated with public works for the city.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Supervise and evaluate assigned staff; manage daily personnel functions including workload distribution, coaching, conflict resolution, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions; foster an accountable team environment focused on customer service and operational excellence.
• Serve as a primary liaison with City Manager's office, Mayor and Council, and community stakeholders; represent the Public Works Department in both formal and informal settings, ensuring timely communication and professional responsiveness.
• Monitor all work in progress across the department; conduct field inspections to verify quality, regulatory compliance, and timely completion; provide guidance, technical direction, and problem-solving support for complex operational challenges.
• Ensure departmental compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, and established policies; maintain strict adherence to safety standards; oversee implementation of safety programs and corrective actions to mitigate hazards and ensure employee and public wellbeing.
• Consult regularly with the City Manager's office and internal leadership teams to review departmental activities, address issues, receive direction, and propose improvements; attend City Council meetings and present technical reports, updates, and recommendations related to Public Works.
• Manage, coordinate, and oversee operations in street repair and maintenance; landscaping and beautification; cemetery operations; fleet maintenance; engineering and traffic engineering; stormwater management; solid waste and sanitation services; Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects; and other essential public works functions.
• Develop and administer the departmental budget, including operating, maintenance, and capital improvement components; monitor expenditures and revenues for compliance; collaborate with division supervisors and other departments on budget planning; prepare specifications and oversee procurement of equipment, supplies, materials, and contracted services.
• Lead the creation and implementation of long- and short-term departmental plans, objectives, and strategic goals; prepare long-range infrastructure and service delivery plans to support the City's future needs in transportation, stormwater, utilities, and municipal services; analyze data and environmental impacts to support sound decision-making.
• Conduct research and compile a variety of statistical, demographic, and operational data to support planning, forecasting, and policy development; review and interpret trends; prepare charts, reports, and recommendations to inform City leadership; provide data and information to external agencies and the general public when appropriate.
• Develop and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and standards to ensure effective operations; issue written and verbal directives; evaluate organizational performance and initiate updates or operational improvements as needed.
• Meet with residents and community groups to address questions, concerns, or complaints; coordinate investigations of service issues across the department; ensure timely and customer-focused resolutions.
• Communicate consistently with City officials, staff, outside agencies, consultants, contractors, residents, vendors, and other partners to coordinate activities, exchange information, resolve issues, and ensure collaborative project management.
• Prepare or oversee preparation of a variety of departmental documents including operational reports, correspondence, logs, budget materials, SPLOST reports, weekly activity summaries, performance evaluations, project documentation, flow charts, and analytical summaries.
• Review and analyze departmental records such as sanitation collection reports, project updates, fleet maintenance logs, fuel usage, engineering drawings, architectural plans, contracts, policies, and reference materials; process, retain, or distribute documents.
• Attend meetings, serve on committees, and deliver presentations as required; represent the City's interests in regional or intergovernmental forums related to public works, engineering, transportation, or infrastructure.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations, industry trends, advances in public works technologies, and best practices; participate in professional development, continuing education, conferences, and training programs.
• Operate computers and general office equipment; utilize word processing, spreadsheet, database, GIS, asset management, or other specialized software to support departmental operations and reporting.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support effective City operations and the mission of the Public Works Department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES

• Ability to synthesize, hypothesize, and/or theorize concerning data involving modification of existing policies, strategies and/or methods to meet unique or unusual conditions.
• Ability to do so within the context of existing organizational theories and management principles.
• Ability to function in a director capacity for a major organizational unit requiring significant internal and external interaction.
• Ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.
• Ability to utilize consulting and advisory data and information, as well as reference, descriptive and/or design data and information as applicable.
• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations involving basic algebraic principles and formulas, and basic geometric principles and calculations.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables; and to analyze major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.
• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control and planning of an entire program or set of programs.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or Engineering with at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in Public Works, Engineering, or closely related fields; OR
• Master's degree in a non-technical field combined with at least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in Public Works or Engineering.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license.
• Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential duties of the position may be considered.

ADA Requirements: Individuals applying for the posted position must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Physical Requirements: This position classifies the physical exertion requirements as sedentary work involving lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally, and other sedentary criteria are met.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Benefits

The City of Kennesaw provides the following group benefits to eligible employees: comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA and FSA options (includes employer contribution to HSA plans); life and AD&D insurance for employee and dependent(s); employer paid short and long-term disability insurance for employee; accrued vacation and sick leave (with option to sell back); tuition reimbursement program (employer pays 70%); 12 paid holidays; 2 paid personal days; longevity pay bonuses (after every 5 years); 1% employer contribution on first 2% of employee contribution toward a 457 deferred compensation plan; 4% employee contribution toward a defined benefit pension plan (vested after 10 years); and wellness benefits.