Director of Public Works

The Department of Public Works plays a critical role in supporting Lancaster’s essential infrastructure and daily city operations. The Director of Public Works serves as a member of the Mayor’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and provides strategic and operational leadership for the department, translating policy priorities into meaningful outcomes through infrastructure investment, complex capital programs, innovation, regulatory compliance, and lasting partnerships.
 
The Director provides leadership across professional, technical, skilled, and unskilled teams, building a high-trust culture grounded in the City’s core values of Quality, Integrity, Teamwork, and Respect. This position is responsible for strengthening workforce culture, prioritizing employee safety and development, and fostering accountability and recognition. The Director also connects authentically with residents and neighborhoods across the City, ensuring DPW’s work reflects broad perspectives and delivers equitable benefits. The ideal candidate will be a strategic, collaborative, and hands-on leader who promotes systems thinking and data-driven decision-making, advances climate adaptation, modernizes operations through tools such as Work Order Management and GIS, and builds solutions that support the City’s long-term well-being.
 Strategic Direction & Performance Management

• Set multi-year strategy aligned to City priorities; lead capital planning, asset management, and program performance. 
• Develop bureau-level KPIs (service reliability, safety, customer responsiveness, cost control) with quarterly reviews.  

Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee engineering staff; direct municipal maintenance and improvements: streetscapes, paving, sidewalks/curbs, traffic signals, signage, streetlights. 
• Ensure safe, compliant drinking water services; manage wastewater operations for the City and partner jurisdictions; lead stormwater/green infrastructure programs. 
• Manage public buildings/facilities and solid waste & recycling contracts, drop-off services, outreach, and enforcement.
• Maintain compliance with the EPA Consent Decree for combined sewer overflows; oversee long-term O&M and reporting. 
• Advance urban forestry and public art integration in City projects in consultation with the Public Art Advisory Board.

Governance, Finance & Procurement

• Prepare and manage operating and capital budgets across bureaus; review expenditures; approve purchases through Munis. 
• Approve plans/specifications; oversee RFPs/bids and recommend awards consistent with City policy. 
• Identify, recommend, and enforce departmental policies, rules, and regulations; lead audits and process improvements.

Stakeholder & Intergovernmental Relations 

• Represent the City with residents, regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, and partner jurisdictions; serve on boards/commissions (Recreation Commission, Traffic Commission, Public Art Advisory Board, Sewer Appeals Board, Long’s Park Commission, and others as appropriate). 

Leadership Competencies

• Lead teams with strong morale; share wins; foster open dialogue; ensure accountability; communicate clearly. 
• Build rapid rapport with internal and external stakeholders; demonstrate a bias toward action and consensus-building. 
• Demonstrate integrity, trustworthiness, and care for the community; uphold equity and fairness in all responsibilities. 
• Elevate safety and risk management practices; proactively resource PPE, training, and incident reviews.

Education, Training and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred. 
• Progressive public works administration/management experience (typically 7–10+ years) leading interdisciplinary teams and complex capital programs; experience in unionized settings (e.g., AFSCME) highly desired. 

Licenses and Certificates 

• Valid Class C motor vehicle operator’s license, issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) — Pennsylvania (preferred). 

• Extensive knowledge of civil engineering principles, municipal public works/utilities, construction/maintenance methods, materials, and applicable laws and regulations. 
• Proven ability to supervise professional/technical/skilled/unskilled staff; anticipate future needs while managing day-to-day operations; communicate clearly in plain language.
• Ability to leverage grants/partnerships and utilize technology/data to monitor productivity and improve service
• Proven ability to read, write, speak and comprehend English is required.
• Proven ability to work as part of a team and to collaborate successfully with others is required.
• Proven ability to adapt to new or changed situations and to show flexibility in making improvements in work processes and operations is required
• Proven ability to exhibit customer-centered behaviors and to focus on customer needs is require
• Proven ability to commit to excellence in service and to continuous improvement is required. 

Environmental Conditions

• Work occurs indoors and outdoors with exposure to inclement weather, extreme temperatures, noise, and pollution. 
• Work is normally performed in an office setting and includes two (2) to six (6) hours of keyboard use and operating computerized office equipment per day. 
• Travel in the metro area and to other facilities to attend meetings may be frequent at times and include evening meetings.
• Tasks may involve climbing, kneeling, lifting, prolonged standing/walking, and operating vehicles/equipment.
•  Availability for after-hours emergencies (nights/weekends/holidays) is required. 

Safety Equipment Used or Needed

• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided and required when entering field, utility, or construction environments where safety regulations may apply.

Residency Requirement

• Residency within the municipal limits of the City of Lancaster. Residency requirement may only be waived by majority vote during City Council.

 
Comments 

• This description of work is meant to be an overview of work to be performed by the employee and not intended to be a complete listing of all tasks required in this job, nor a contract of employment. Management may assign other responsibilities within the employee’s abilities.