About the Department
Public Works Director / County Engineer - Recruitment Info
County Organizational Chart
Public Works Organizational Chart
The Public Works Director directs the activities of the Public Works Department, including personnel, budgets, and the application of state aid and federal requirements. The Public Works Director performs administrative and professional engineering work that includes planning, implementing, and evaluating all programs and projects related to the expansion, improvement, and maintenance activities on the County highways, parks and drainage systems. Work includes planning, designing, and directing civil engineering projects to include roads, bridges, and drainage systems.
The Public Works Director is responsible for the work of the Public Works Department. Work is performed independently under general guidance from the County Administrator. The Public Works Director supervises all department personnel through department supervisors. The Public Works Director also functions as the County Engineer, who under Minnesota Statutes is appointed for four-year terms by the County Board.
Position Duties
- Oversees all aspects of the department, including personnel, budgeting, infrastructure, parks, drainage and compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Leads long-range planning, project development, and coordination with the County Board, townships, and cities.
- Manages road and bridge construction, ditch systems, park operations, and equipment planning.
- Ensures legal compliance, preparing grant applications, and supervising departmental procedures and policies.
- Supervises department staff by overseeing hiring and promotions, conducting performance evaluations through managers, addressing personnel and labor issues in coordination with the County Administrator, and ensuring ongoing employee safety training and program compliance.
- Provides professional civil engineering services by planning, budgeting, and overseeing road and bridge construction projects; coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies for necessary approvals; addressing complex design issues; staying current on industry standards and innovations through ongoing education; and administering the annual bridge safety inspection program.
- Serves as the primary communicator for the department by attending relevant meetings, holding public forums for major projects and planning efforts, representing the County Board, and responding to inquiries from the public, officials, and agencies including during emergency situations.
- Performs other related functions as apparent or assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
This position requires a bachelor’s degree in civil or highway engineering plus current professional engineering registration as a Civil or Highway Engineer in the state of Minnesota (P.E. designation), or equivalent, with a total of five years of recent progressive civil or highway engineering experience, including two years in an administrative/supervisory position.
Other Qualifications
- Strong working knowledge of the engineering principles for highway, bridge, and hydraulic design; principles, practices, and procedures of highway equipment and maintenance; surveying methods and techniques, construction methods and materials; techniques for the constructions and maintenance of ditch systems, traffic control systems, and devices;
- Considerable knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations relating to highway, bridge, and ditch systems designs, construction and maintenance, land acquisition, project documentation, and traffic control;
- Considerable knowledge of federal and state funding programs and methods of obtaining project funding and approvals;
- Considerable knowledge of leadership skills at multiple levels for the management and supervision of department activities;
- Knowledge of the union contracts and County practices, policies, and procedures;
- Considerable knowledge of public administration, personnel administration, management techniques and current organizational practices;
- Ability to develop and implement department policies and procedures;
- Ability to prepare and administer a department budget;
- Ability to develop and implement department goals and objectives;
- Ability to select, train, and develop competent personnel to staff the department;
- Ability to plan, coordinate, direct, and evaluate the work of others;
- Ability to supervise personnel in a manner conducive to efficient performance and high morale;
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and have good public relations skills;
- Ability to establish and maintain productive and professional working relationships with others;
- Ability to collaborate with others;
- Must possess a valid Minnesota driver’s license;
- Create a positive work environment of equity and inclusion;
- Promote a spirit of teamwork and cooperation among all employees and provide a work environment of mutual respect;
- Maintains appropriate professional boundaries.