Assistant DPW Director/Town Engineer

Job Opportunities Use the Government Jobs tab to search through your municipality's employment opportunities. Subscribe to job posting notifications to be automatically alerted of the latest career opportunities by clicking on the Notify Me® button. Department: Public Works Supervisor: Director of Public Works Union Status: Non-Union Full Salary Range: $107,416.40 - $153,119.85 annually (paid weekly); Anticipated hiring range $107,416.40 - $132,077.40 Position: Full-time Hours Per Week: 35 Grade: 18, Steps 1-13 FLSA Status: Exempt Position Summary: The Town of Dracutseeksan experienced and highly capable professional to serve as the Assistant DPW Director / Town Engineer. This role serves as the secondincommand within the Department of Public Works and the Town’s lead civil engineering authority. Under the general direction of the DPW Director, the Assistant DPW Director/Town Engineer is responsible for: Managing all municipal engineering functions Overseeing and coordinating capital improvement projects Providing supervisory and administrative leadership across DPW divisions Ensuring technical quality, regulatory compliance, and efficient project delivery Serving as Acting DPW Director when required The position provides high-level coordination across roadway, drainage, water, sewer, stormwater, and building operations programs. Although this role supervises division heads, direct operational responsibility remains with those division leaders. Supervision: Supervision Received Works under the general direction of the DPW Director. Receives broad goals and objectives and independently plans and prioritizes engineering, managerial, and administrative activities. Supervision Given Provides supervisory oversight and coordination (not daily operational control) to: Stormwater Manager and staff Water and Sewer Division supervisors Town Engineering staff Contractors, consultants, inspectors, and project engineers working on Town projects Supervision emphasizes leadership, coordination, technical guidance, and administrative oversight. Confidentiality Has access to confidential and sensitive department information, including bid documents, procurement files, personnel information, project disputes, and regulatory correspondence. Accountability Errors in judgment, engineering oversight, budget management, procurement, or regulatory interpretation can result in: Delays or loss of public services Increased project costs Safety hazards or infrastructure failures Legal or financial repercussions Negative public relations Judgment Exercises considerable independent judgment in interpreting engineering standards, municipal policies, state/federal regulations, and procurement laws. Responsible for solving complex technical and administrative problems with minimal supervision. Complexity Work involves a broad range of complex engineering and managerial tasks requiring: Interpretation of technical plans and specifications Coordination across multiple DPW divisions Contractor and consultant oversight Regulatory compliance review Multiyear capital planning Integration of engineering standards into DPW operations Nature of Public Contact Regularly interacts with: Residents State and federal agencies Local boards and committees Other municipal departments Professional organizations Representsthe DPW at meetings and serves as departmental spokesperson when the DPW Director is unavailable. Occupational Risk Field inspections involve exposure to construction hazards, environmental conditions, and variable terrain. Appropriate safety precautions are required. Essential Duties and Responsibilities The essential functions or duties listed below are illustrationsofthe typeofwork performed.The omissionof specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Additional duties may be assigned. Engineering Leadership Serve as the Town’s lead civil engineer, responsible for municipal engineering design, plan review, technical standards, and project quality control. Review and comment on applications before permitting boards. May develop, review, and approve engineering plans, specifications, estimates, and design documents for roadway, drainage, utility, and capital projects. Conduct field engineering inspections, oversee contractor performance, verify quantities, and manage project closeout. Perform engineering layout, property and deed research, easement identification, and record plan preparation. Maintain and update municipal engineering standards, construction specifications, and regulatory guidelines. Coordinate and oversee consultant and contractor engineering work. Capital Project Management Lead planning, design, procurement, and implementation of capital projects across DPW divisions. Prepare bid documents, scopes of work, cost estimates, schedules, and project evaluations. Administer contracts, review invoices, monitor budgets, and ensure compliance with procurement laws. Integrate capital projects with roadway, water, sewer, drainage, stormwater, and building operations priorities. Provide supervisory oversight and coordination to the Stormwater Manager without assuming direct stormwater operational responsibilities. Mayprovide supervisory oversight and coordination to the General Foreman – Highway Division while maintaining separation from field operations. Provide administrative and engineering leadership to Water and Sewer supervisors. May provide administrative coordination and project support to the Building and Operations Manager. Align multidivision activities to ensure project efficiency, schedule adherence, and regulatory compliance. Regulatory & Intergovernmental Compliance Ensure DPW compliance with MGL, federal standards, environmental permitting requirements, procurement law, and local bylaws. Review DPW-related permits and coordinate technical regulatory responses. Work with local, regional, state, and federal agencies on infrastructure programs, grants, and compliance issues. Budgeting & Administrative Management Assist the DPW Director in preparing and managing operating and capital budgets. Monitor expenditures, recommend adjustments, and ensure cost-effective use of resources. Maintain accurate project records, engineering files, and regulatory documents. Public Interface & Communication Provide technical information to residents, elected officials, and Town boards. Attend public meetings, make presentations, and prepare written reports. Serve as liaison to boards and committees as assigned. Preferred: Experience presenting technical work in public works forums, conferences, or public informational sessions. Emergency Management Support emergency response related to infrastructure failures, severe weather, and public safety events. May provide support during major snow and ice operations, to be determined by the DPW Director; direct operational duties remain with the General Foreman. Acting DPW Director Serve as Acting Director during the Director’s absence. Performs other related duties as required or assigned. Recommended Minimum Qualifications: Education & Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field. Minimum 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in public works engineering, civil design, construction oversight, or municipal infrastructure. Supervisory experience required. Experience in roadway, drainage, water/sewer, building operations, and capital project environments strongly preferred. Preferred: Experience with multimodal transportation planning, traffic calming, or Complete Streets implementation. Licenses & Certifications: Massachusetts Professional Engineer (PE) strongly preferred. MCPPO certification and/or willingness to obtain is preferred. Preferred: NIMS/ICS emergency management training. Knowledge, Ability & Skill: Extensive knowledge of civil engineering principles, municipal infrastructure systems, and industry standards. Demonstrated ability to supervise division leaders and coordinate cross-functional teams. Strong project management skills, including scheduling, procurement, budgeting, and contract administration. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public presentations and technical report writing. Proficiency with CAD and GIS platforms preferred. Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and solve advanced technical problems. Physical Demands: The physical demands listed here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Ability to stand, walk, sit, climb/balance, and occasionally lift/move up to 60 pounds. Physical agility required for accessing all areas of construction and inspection sites. Requires close and distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Work is performed in office settings and outdoors at construction sites. Fieldwork may involve: Inclement weather Traffic exposure Uneven surfaces and construction hazards Evening meetings and after-hours emergency response may be required. Fieldwork may involve exposure to heavy equipment, loud noise, inclement weather, hazardous conditions, and variable terrain. Equal Opportunity Statement: The Town of Dracut, Massachusetts is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Town will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. (This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.) The Town of Dracut requires a CORI, physical exam, and drug screen post offer. Category Full-time Opportunities Status Open Applications are being reviewed immediately on a rolling basis. Position will remain open until filled. Posted August 13, 2026 Closing Open Until Filled Attached Files Assistant DPW Director Town Engineer JD #J-18808-Ljbffr Dracut