Director of Public Works

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest Naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia. Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, place and raise a family by numerous publications.

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest Naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia. Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, place and raise a family by numerous publications. The City of Norfolk is seeking a dynamic and innovative professional to lead, plan and direct the activities of the Department of Public Works.

The Director of Public Works is a key member of the City Manager's Executive Management team overseeing all functions involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of the city's infrastructure, transportation, surveys, storm water, waste management, and towing and recovery. Public Works has a FY27 operating budget of $82 million and manages many of the general capital improvement projects totaling over $83.5 million in FY26.

The team consists of more than 350 employees which work together to accomplish their mission to build, maintain, and operate the physical facilities that support and enhance the lives of Norfolk's citizens, businesses, and visitors.

The services provided by the department are distributed over a network of 2,200 miles of curbs and gutters, 1,000 miles of sidewalks and 29 bridge structures. Organized into eight field divisions (Streets & Bridges, Transportation, Right of Way, Design, Surveys, Waste Management, Towing and Stormwater) and three special revenue areas, Environmental Stormwater, Towing and Recovery Services and Waste Management.

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Provides supervisory oversight by providing leadership, meeting with employees, performing personnel evaluations, addressing and resolving personnel issues and problems, representing employees in city-wide discussions, and leading efforts on hiring, training and development.
• Coordinates project activities with agencies outside of the city and interfaces with civic leagues and business groups.
• Provides functional management by submitting, executing and managing budgets, managing design and construction projects, managing decisions and policy decisions regarding departmental operations, and developing policies and procedure.
• Serves as a member of city-wide committees and special assignments.

Requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field.

Master's Degree or equivalent combination of training and experience required.

Seven (7) years of experience managing and directing staff and programs of a major, multi-faceted local government public works agency is required.

The ideal candidate will possess a valid certification as a Professional Engineer (PE), a firm understanding of advanced principles and practices of Civil Engineering including CIP management, transportation planning, traffic engineering and traffic operations, and the ability to manage and prioritize a high volume of projects simultaneously while staying abreast of the new trends.

• Valid Driver's License.
• $5,000 sign-on bonus.

This position is open until filled.

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term…