Director of Public Works

Your Home Port. The Premier Community on the Great Lakes.

Port Washington is known for offering “a touch of New England charm combined with Midwestern friendliness” and has been named by Midwest Living to their Top 100 Best Midwest Small Town Getaways. Port Washington, today, is a tourist destination with a vibrant downtown and community events.

The City’s population is 12,855 resides within seven square miles including 4 miles of waterfront. The City provides full-city services including Public Safety (Police, Fire, EMS), Engineering, Public Works, Water and Sewer utilities, Building Inspections, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Marina, Senior Center, Library, Finance, Clerk and Administration. We are a welcoming destination for living, working, and visiting that – combined with our core values of accountability, innovation, trust, industriousness, and friendship – create an environment with opportunities to make a positive impact for our community.

Reporting to the City Administrator, the Director of Public Works is responsible for the strategic planning, development, and management of all public infrastructure and services within the municipality. This role encompasses a wide range of duties, including infrastructure planning and maintenance, engineering, maintenance, budgeting, and personnel management, all while ensuring the highest standards of service delivery to our community. The Director of Public Works oversees the activities and operations of the entire department, including the divisions of Engineering, Streets, Water Utility, Wastewater/Sewer Utility, and the Marina.

This position further serves as a member of the City’s Senior Leadership Team.

• Manage the operations of the Public Works Department including preparation of the annual department budget and assisting with the preparation of the City’s capital budget and 10-year plan; authorize, oversee, and monitor expenditures.
• Develop long-range strategic and master plans for department policies and programs, outline program objectives, and work with appropriate staff on implementation of plans.
• Oversee the preparation and implementation of plans for public works based municipal projects;
  Develop specifications and bid documents for a variety of public works related designs, construction, and maintenance projects; recommend contract awards, negotiate contract provisions, and coordinate and review contractor’s performance.
• Assist with the review of private project development plans for compliance with codes, regulations, and standards, and compliance with approved plans in collaboration with the Inspections and Zoning.
• Compile, analyze, and communicate information pertaining to public works and engineering related matters and/or special projects. Prepare agendas/reports and make presentations to the City Council and various commissions and boards.
• Identify, prepare, and submit grants and loan applications to support the City’s public works programs and priorities; prepare and submit all required monitoring and compliance reports required by federal and state agencies and grantees.
• Maintains ongoing communication and coordination with consulting engineers, construction project engineers, and Municipal, County, State, and Federal agencies, as well as with professional and technical organizations and the public regarding division programs, projects, and services. Provides staff support and technical assistance to the Board of Public Works, Traffic Safety Committee, and other boards, commissions, and committees (BCCs) as assigned.
• Responsible for the maintenance and management of all City owned facilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, public administration, engineering technology, or a related field.
  • Seven (7) or more years of experience in public works or engineering operations.
  • Strong Operational leadership background.
• Three (3) or more years of supervisory experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) certification, as designated by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and State of Wisconsin, or ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment.
• Strong knowledge of public works operations, capital improvement planning, budget development and fiscal management, contract administration and regulatory compliance.
• Experience working with elected officials, boards, and the public.
  • Valid Wisconsin driver's license.