Published date: October 20, 2025
Public Works Director
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
REPORTS TO: City Manager
STATUS: Exempt
PAY RANGE: $121,805.12 – $160,658.37
SUMMARY:
Under general administrative direction of the City Manager, the Public Works Director is responsible for the overall operations of the public works divisions: water distribution, wastewater collections and treatment, street maintenance and repair, parks, and building maintenance. The Public Works Director is responsible for the day-to-day assignment of work and special projects to each department supervisor, ensuring work is completed, ensuring proper regulatory and safety procedures are implemented and practiced, and submitting routine reports to the City Manager on projects and operations. The Public Works Director will manage personnel within the Public Works Department, and give recommendations to the City Manager on personnel, projects, procedures, and regulations concerning the Public Works Department.
The ideal candidate will be a progressive and dynamic leader who embraces a customer service philosophy. The successful Public Works Director in the City of Justin exhibits the following leadership, management, and personal characteristics:
- Must be an excellent communicator.
- Inspirational Leader
- A purpose-driven leader who embodies the principles of a High-Performance Organization (HPO) and practices Servant Leadership. This role focuses on empowering people, driving excellence, and creating a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Verbal communications skills must include the ability to explain complex issues in a manner that all understand in both formal and informal settings; and possess active listening skills to ensure employee and manager-related issues are heard and addressed appropriately.
- Written communication skills must include the ability to develop strategic comprehensive plans, effective presentations, and Council staff reports that clearly, succinctly explain complex issues, identify options, and offer appropriate staff recommendations.
- Comprehensive knowledge of public works operations including water distribution, sewer treatment and collection, streets, traffic, storm drainage, fleet management, facilities management, and construction management.
- Expert in the principles and practices of civil engineering.
- Comprehensive knowledge of long-range planning and budgeting.
- Must exhibit personal and professional integrity of the highest order, demonstrated both on and off the job.
- Serves as an organizational role model through leading by example.
- Commitment to high level of accountability and responsibility for all employees through fair and consistent treatment and setting appropriate performance expectations and standards.
- Must exhibit the ability to be a proactive problem solver while being creative and resourceful in finding solutions to problems including consideration for innovative non-traditional governmental solutions.
- Must conduct oneself with a high level of integrity, above reproach ethics, exhibit a strong a commitment to public service, and consider open and transparent government as a critical value of being a quality public servant.
- Will possess and exhibit City of Justin organizational values:
- Reliability
- Integrity
- Service
- Efficiency
- Maintains a strong personal executive presence that exceeds public expectations and demonstrates leadership within the organization. Understands the power of representation and actively participates in key events and programs; is intentional about having a presence as a citywide leader; develops personal brand to include both internal and external presence; ensures that personal style reflects the image of the municipal organization and the department.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Plan and direct the operation and maintenance of the Public Works Department
- Ensure that the public drinking water, distribution system, wastewater treatment plant and collection system conform to the requirements set forth by TCEQ and other regulatory agencies
- Oversee all mandatory routine and/or incident-based reporting required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Water Development Board, and any other regional, state, and/or federal organizations responsible for the oversight of Texas
- Ensure satisfactory completion of all public works-related work orders
- Work with engineers and contractors on city projects and infrastructure improvements
- Delegate, supervise, and monitor activities of division supervisors
- Ensure effective communication with city personnel, elected and appointed officials, and members of the public
- Oversee department expenditures and ensure budgetary compliance
- Draft departmental budgets and make recommendations to City Manager and City Council
- Assist with development review process for new residential and commercial developments
- Develop reports and provide presentations to the City Council and members of the public on public-works projects, purchases, or related issues
- May perform other assignments and handle special projects as required by City Manager
SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS:
- Responsible for performance evaluations and other performance documentation for all public works personnel
- Responsible for following proper procurement policies and procedures
- Responsible for prioritization of workload for all public works personnel
- Coordinate training for public works personnel in proper safety, policies, and regulations
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Modern methods and applied theory used at water distribution system, wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collection system, standard operating procedures for process control and regulatory testing of drinking water and wastewater, and ability to interpret TCEQ rules and regulations
- Principles of management, supervision, and training
- Regulatory record keeping
- Local government practices and procedures
- Communicate effectively both written and orally
- Ability to understand, interpret and carry out oral and written instructions
- Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite
- Ability to manage the budget within assigned department
- Ability to create and guide implementation of capital improvement plans or programs
- Ability to oversee implementation of major construction projects
- Ability to operate a motor vehicle safely and legally
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including mechanics’ tools, carpenters’ tools, electrical tools, plumbers’ tools, shovels, rakes, etc. Must be able to operate motor vehicles, including light pickup and dump trucks. Must be able to exert up to 75 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 25 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Requires the ability to climb and maneuver on ladders, scaffolding, and/or in tight spaces. Physical demand requirements are for medium to heavy work, requiring the ability to lift more than 60 pounds. Requires the ability to stand for more than two hours at a time. Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using hand and power tools. Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as hand and power tools. Must have minimal levels of eye, hand, and foot coordination. Requires the ability to smell, taste, hear, speak, and see.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, Civil Engineering or a related field and eight years’ experience involving design, construction, maintenance or operation of a variety of public works related functions, including five years in a supervisory role. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered for this position. Master’s degree in business, public administration or engineering management is desired and preferable.
- TCEQ recognized Water and Wastewater licenses, with a minimum of five years’ experience in water and wastewater operations
- Ability to read, write, interpret, and follow written or oral instruction as well as provide written and oral instructions
- Valid driver’s license
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- Must complete an Employment Application
- Must pass a pre-employment background check
- Must pass a pre-employment drug test
(Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time. This is an at-will position without a definite duration or term of office. The City of Justin is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.)
Apply here: Jobs • Public Works Director