Public Works Director: Job Description, Duties and Outlook

A public works director is responsible for all personnel within a public works department. This role entails various administrative and managerial responsibilities.

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Public Works Director Job Description

A public works director supervises the activities of various departments within the public works sector. These departments might include streets and sanitation, parks and grounds, engineering, utilities and equipment maintenance. In general, the director oversees the physical facilities of a community and any services that enable a community to function. A public works director works under the direction of and provides administrative assistance to a city manager.

Public Works Director Duties

One main aspect of a director's work is the ability to develop long-term programs that enhance the community. Additionally, the director is responsible for reviewing the proposals of the public works staff. The director presents the top plans to the appropriate department heads for consideration and then assigns work to the staff once a project has been selected. The director analyzes completed projects against the budget in order to track the group's spending and the success of the project.

Public works directors are responsible for assessing employees and establishing the criteria for which their employees are assessed. Directors continually monitor the progress of their staff, provide guidance for employees who receive low evaluations and, in some cases, provide alternate work plans. Directors may conduct yearly performance reviews, hire employees and handle terminations.

It's also essential that public works directors develop the protocol for hiring outside vendors. They may have to create bid specifications and recommend vendors for projects. Directors are ultimately responsible for ensuring that all work is completed properly by contractors, vendors and public works staff members. They may also have to answer questions from the general public and relay all feedback with the utmost tact.

Public Works Director Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, government jobs at the state and local levels were expected to increase eight percent from 2008-2018 (www.bls.gov). Specifically, public safety and health services, which public works directors often oversee, were expected to be in greater demand in the coming years. This growth will be due in part to a larger number of local governments taking responsibility for services the federal government once provided. Additionally, as the population continues to grow, there will be increase in demand for city workers.

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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics