Job Description

Posting number: 020021-26-PW-2

Department: Public Works

Job classification: Director of Public Works

Posting type: Open

Categories: Administration, Public Works, Management, Professional, Executive Management, Miscellaneous

Summary

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A nationwide search is underway to attract highly qualified candidates for consideration as the Director of Public Works for the City of Sacramento. This executive-level position reports to an Assistant City Manager and serves as a member of the City’s Executive Team. The successful candidate will be a strategic, collaborative leader who can guide a multi-disciplinary department through a period of growth and investment in the infrastructure that moves people throughout California’s capital city.

The Department of Public Works is responsible for the transportation network that serves Sacramento’s residents, businesses, and visitors. The Department’s major functions include Traffic Engineering, Transportation Planning, Transportation Design and Funding, Transportation Construction, Street Maintenance, and On- and Off-Street Parking. The Department has an annual budget of $272 million and approximately 782 full-time budgeted positions. Public Works is on solid financial footing, with healthy fund balances and a strong record of securing grant funding, particularly for transportation. The Department is known for its strong customer service culture.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will be a strategic, forward-thinking public works executive with a proven record of leading a broad range of municipal services, including engineering, traffic engineering, transportation, and street maintenance, in a large public agency. The Director will bring a working knowledge of public works financing, subdivision law, and the principles of engineering and administration as applied to the design and construction of public works facilities, along with a strong grasp of federal, state, and regional transportation and air quality regulations. Breadth of experience is essential: the City is seeking a well-rounded leader whose background spans multiple public works disciplines, ideally including capital program delivery and fleet and facilities management. Strong financial skills, including budgeting, capital financing, and grant management, are a must.

Under executive direction, the Director of Public Works serves as the principal administrator of the Public Works Department; plans, organizes, directs and reviews all the activities of the divisions that comprise the Public Works Department; interfaces with City officials, division managers, City Council, and others on transportation matters; provides professional and technical staff assistance; manages and supervises staff; serves as a member of the City’s Executive Team.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a single-position executive-management classification. The Director of Public Works exercises management direction over the diverse major functions that comprise the Public Works Department (Traffic Engineering, Transportation Planning, Transportation Design & Funding, Transportation Construction, Street Maintenance, On/Off-Street Parking). The incumbent performs work that is of high complexity and often requires intense and exacting mental attention and ability to reason through and solve complex problems. The Director of Public Works operates from general directives or broadly defined missions as they relate to the Department’s goals and objectives; creates and implements policies governing the department’s function, and assists in policy decisions that may have citywide impact

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Executive direction is provided by an Assistant City Manager or higher-level staff. The incumbent provides direct and indirect supervision to mid-level managers as well as other professional, technical, and clerical staff members. Management authority is delegated through direct report line managers that head up each of the major functions.

Examples of duties

• Plan, organize, manage, lead, and direct the overall operations of the Department.
• Meet with Division Managers, and other key department staff to share information, discuss issues (current, emerging, potential) regarding projects, policies, and programs and to determine priorities and resource management issues, on a regular basis.
• Develop priorities, approach, and strategies regarding organizational development/ improvement initiatives; develop, plan, and implement Department goals and objectives in accordance with the core purpose, mission, vision, and values of the organization; develop, recommend, and administer policies and procedures; identify, develop, and implement initiatives to improve service delivery (transportation design/air quality, street maintenance, parking) with other city departments and public/regional agencies.
• Administer, direct, and recommend the Department budget; analyze fiscal data to identify and project resource needs; obtain needed resources; monitor and approve budget expenditures.
• Review legislation and assures compliance with laws, regulations, statutes, and codes that impact Department operations.
• Select, assign, train, direct, and evaluate subordinate staff, including subordinate managers, supervisors, professionals, and others; discuss, negotiate, and resolve personnel issues/conflicts with staff, unions, and labor relations.
• Provide consultation and oversight to citywide strategic planning efforts and participates in planning/design teams to develop direction, recommendations, and strategies for Executive Team development and citywide improvement initiatives; participates in Executive Team meetings.
• Negotiate, arbitrate, and resolve program, project, and policy issues and conflicts with the City Council, City Manager, other departments, and community/business stakeholders.
• Attend City Council meetings; meet with City Manager’s office and City Council regarding new programs, project/program status, sensitive/controversial issues; coordinate assigned activities with City officials, other City departments, and outside agencies as appropriate; participate on committees and boards and in community activities as assigned; attend meetings, conferences, and workshops.
• Prepare complex statistical and narrative reports, correspondence, and other documents.
• Other related duties may also be performed.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Organizational development, process development, systems thinking.
• Subdivision laws and public works financing.
• Principles and practices of engineering and administration as applied to the design and construction of public works facilities and technical inspection services.
• Principles and practices of modern office management.
• Principles of organization, administration, budget, and personnel management.
• Current trends, principles, practices, methods, and techniques of public works administration; current literature, laws, regulations, and developments, as well as various agencies that impact and/or govern public works-related services.
• Federal, State, and regional transportation/air quality regulations.

Skill in:

• Interest based negotiations and consensus building.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with diverse groups.
• Coaching and mentoring.
• Use of computers, computer applications, and software.

Ability to:

• Think and act strategically, creatively, and critically.
• Create common understanding on issues through education with relevant/factual information
• Present complex technical and operational issues simply and logically to City managers, policy makers, and community.
• Be politically astute without being political.
• Create common understanding of organizational purpose and motivate staff to provide high quality services and customer satisfaction at a competitive cost.
• Be adaptable and innovative, decisive and diplomatic.
• Problem solve collaboratively and creatively.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, public/private agencies, and the general public.
• Prepare complex narrative and statistical reports, correspondence, and other documents.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience

A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience managing a broad range of municipal services including engineering, traffic engineering, and/or street maintenance in a large public agency including a minimum of two years at a management level comparable to Division Manager.

Education

A Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, public or business administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university.

Substitutions:

A Master’s Degree in a related field may substitute for one year of the required supervisory experience.

Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Certifications:

Possession of a Certificate of Registration as a professional engineer in the State of California is desirable.

Supplemental information

How to Apply

Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply no later than Monday, December 14, 2026, to Ralph Andersen & Associates by sending a compelling cover letter and comprehensive resume to apply@ralphandersen.com. Resumes will be reviewed upon receipt by Ralph Andersen & Associates. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply early in the process, as this position may close once a strong pool of qualified candidates has applied. References will not be required upon submittal but will be requested once mutual interest has been established. Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to an initial screening (via video) conducted by Ralph Andersen & Associates. Ideally, the new Director of Public Works will join the City of Sacramento in March 2027 or on a mutually agreed-upon date to allow for a smooth transition of leadership.

Confidential inquires and questions regarding this career opportunity should be directed to Ian Appleyard at 916-630-4900. Alternatively, reach out for a confidential discussion by sending an email to info@ralphandersen.com.