Public Works Director
Classified Details
- Classified ID
- 2513
- Description
The Town of Williston is looking for our next Public Works Director!
CANDIDATE PROFILE:
The ideal candidate is an experienced, forward-thinking public works professional who brings strong leadership, technical expertise, and a collaborative management style to help guide the Town through continued growth and development. They are an approachable, hands-on leader who can balance day-to-day operational demands with long-range planning, capital improvement and organizational development. This individual is a practical problem-solver and strategic thinker who communicates effectively and is skilled at building strong working relationships, and fostering a professional, accountable, and safety-focused workplace culture.
SUMMARY:
The Director of Public Works is a senior leadership position responsible for planning, directing, and managing all operations of the Public Works Department in a rapidly growing Vermont community of approximately 10,000 residents. This role oversees the maintenance, construction, and improvement of the Town’s infrastructure and public assets, ensuring high-quality service delivery while supporting sustainable growth and long-term capital planning.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership, Administration, and Strategic Planning
- Provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all Public Works operations, including highways, stormwater, water SYSTEMS, engineering, facilities, fleet, and related infrastructure services.
- Plan, direct, supervise, and evaluate departmental operations and staff while managing personnel administration, employee relations, employee development, and operational reporting in a safe, efficient.
- Develop and implement short- and long-term operational strategies to support municipal services, infrastructure needs, sustainable growth, and long-term organizational effectiveness.
- Exercise sound independent judgment to address complex public works, infrastructure, and operational issues while continuously improving service delivery and departmental performance.
Budgeting, Capital Planning, and Project Management
- Develop and manage departmental operating and capital budgets, coordinate financial planning activities with the Finance Department, and pursue state and federal grants and funding opportunities to support infrastructure improvements and long-term capital planning.
- Oversee the maintenance, repair, construction, and engineering management of Town infrastructure, including roads, bridges, sidewalks, drainage systems, stormwater facilities, water and sewer systems, rights-of-way, and public facilities.
- Coordinate snow and ice control, paving, drainage maintenance, and other essential public works operations and services.
- Administer procurement, competitive bidding, contracts, and vendor relationships for departmental services, equipment, and materials.
- Ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, permits, and environmental regulations, safety standards, and Vermont ANR/DEC transportation and stormwater requirements.
- Stay informed of regulatory, environmental, and technological developments affecting public works operations and advise Town officials accordingly.
Coordination, Public Relations, and Board Support
- Collaborate with municipal leadership, boards, commissions, departments, developers, contractors, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders on infrastructure initiatives, operational matters, and development review activities
- Serve as liaison and staff support to assigned boards, committees, and commissions.
- Provide technical expertise, reports, presentations, recommendations, and testimony related to subdivisions, development review, infrastructure capacity, public works standards, and capital projects.
- Administer procurement, competitive bidding, contracts, and vendor relationships for departmental services, equipment, and materials.
- Coordinate with Town departments and external agencies to exchange information, resolve operational issues, provide technical assistance, and support emergency operations.
- Respond to resident inquiries, concerns, and complaints while maintaining effective public relations and community engagement.
- Effectively communicate technical and operational information to elected officials, staff, and the public.
Emergency Management and Response
- Coordinate emergency response operations related to public infrastructure and municipal services, including winter storms, flooding, natural disasters, and other emergency events.
- Work collaboratively with police, fire, emergency management personnel, and other agencies during emergency operations and disaster response activities.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in public works, municipal infrastructure, construction, or maintenance operations including five years in a supervisory role, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Comprehensive knowledge of municipal public infrastructure systems, including roads, drainage, stormwater, water, and sewer utilities, and buildings along with the materials, methods, techniques, and equipment used in public works operations, maintenance, and capital improvement projects.
- Ability to work outside of regular business hours to meet the needs of the municipality including occasional evening meetings and emergency response after hours and on weekends is essential and required
- Valid Vermont driver’s license, or the ability to obtain and maintain one, required.
- Class D public works water systems operator license is desirable but not required.
- Working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, environmental regulations, and Vermont permitting requirements, including ANR and VTrans standards preferred.
- Experience in municipal finance, including budget development and administration, capital planning, and long-range infrastructure investment strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, manage, and oversee public works operations and capital improvement projects, including project planning, procurement, contracting, scheduling, implementation, infrastructure maintenance, and emergency response coordination.
- Strong leadership and supervisory skills, including the ability to assign, direct, evaluate, and develop staff in a non-union environment while exercising sound independent judgment and balancing operational priorities with long-term planning objectives.
- Excellent project management, organizational, problem-solving, and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, staff, contractors, developers, regulatory agencies, community stakeholders, and the general public.
- Proficiency in standard business software applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, and related office technologies.
Deadline: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Submit a cover letter and resume (PDF) to:
Susan Leonard, Human Resources Director
?? sleonard@willistonvt.org
- Title
- Public Works Director
- Application Deadline
- 06/09/2026
- Location
- Williston, VT
- Application URL
- https://www.town.williston.vt.us/employment
Contact Information
- Name
- Leonard, Susan
- Phone Number
- (802) 876-1178
- sleonard@willistonvt.org
- Best Method of Contact