Career Center

The Town of Blacksburg, Virginia is seeking a mission-focused, compassionate, and experienced professional to lead the Public Works Department as their next Public Works Director. The successful candidate must be effective in communicating with diverse stakeholders and advocating for the needs of the Department while ensuring sustainable and reliable delivery of public works services to the entire community. Additionally, this Director will have a successful history of building bridges, seeking win-win solutions where divergent interests lie; and generating commitment and enthusiasm for the strategic vision of the Town. This position is for a hands-on public works leader who, nurtures the worth and value of each employee through establishing cohesive values and a collective mission, while balancing adequate office time with the need to be present at project sites. The position is open due to retirement of the long-term director. Currently, the town staff consists of 326 full-time employees and 98.31 FTE part-time employees who are involved in delivering a wide range of services to the town’s citizens. With a $6.2 million budget, the Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining all town-owned properties, all infrastructure within the public rights-of-way, all public water and sewer utilities, and the town fleet of vehicles and equipment. Public Works also provides residential spring and fall cleanup, leaf collection, and brush collection. Refuse and recycling services are contracted programs coordinated by the Public Works Department. The Town’s environmental sustainability programs are facilitated in coordination from the Public Works Department and the Sustainability Manager.  The Public Works Director oversees the planning, organizing and directing roadway maintenance, snow removal and other emergency operations, buildings and grounds maintenance, water and sewer utility systems maintenance, fleet management, solid waste and recycling services, and related public works functions. This Director will lead a department of 55 full-time and five part-time employees including five direct reports along with additional seasonal employees. 

Bachelor's degree with coursework in civil engineering, or related field and a minimum of 10 years of increasingly responsible experience in public works, engineering, or related fields, including 5 or more years of budget and supervisory responsibility is required OR equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s Degree preferred. Valid driver's license in the Commonwealth of Virginia required.