Salary : $114,753.60 - $136,614.40 Annually
Location : City Hall, 501 Laurel St, Brainerd, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Public Works
Opening Date: 05/26/2026

General Definition of Work
Perform complex supervisory, administrative, and professional work in planning, organizing, directing, and supervising the Public Services Department in the functional areas of (1) Parks and Recreation Programming, (2) Parks Maintenance (3) Street Maintenance, (4) Facility Services, and (5) Transit Services. The Public Services Director shall exercise general, technical, and administrative supervision over all departmental employees either directly or indirectly through subordinate supervisory staff. The Public Services Director shall report to the City Administrator.

Please note:
2026 Hiring Range: $55.17 - $61.48 per hour depending on qualifications.
2026 Pay Range: $55.17 - $65.68 per hour.
*2026 Performance based pay opportunity: Up to $73.55 per hour.

*The City of Brainerd utilizes a performance-based pay system as noted above. Our system provides an opportunity for additional pay steps based on merit. Contact the HR Department if you would like to learn more about our system.
Qualification Requirements

Employee shall perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform their essential functions.

Essential Functions

• Plan, program, direct, and evaluate the operation of functional areas within the department.
• Administer public service capital project in close coordination with other city departments to provide effective, efficient, and professional service to the community.
• Develop short- and long-range goals and objectives for the department consistent with direction from City Council, Park Board, and Transportation Advisory Committee.
• Represent the department both internally and externally in a manner that conveys a positive image of city government which fosters cooperation and support.
• Develop departmental annual budget proposal and execute budgeted dollars in coordination with the Finance Director, and in alignment with departmental priorities.
• Allocate resources to ensure departmental goals are achieved in a cost-effective manner.
• Formulate, implement, and enforce departmental policy in accordance with city procedures, rules, regulations, and programs.
• Prepare and review operational and administrative reports for the department.
• Supervise maintenance of records and materials associated with departmental activities or administration.
• Supervise all departmental employees either directly or indirectly through subordinate supervisors.
• Train, inspect, and assign work to include developing staff schedules, coaching, counseling, conducting performance evaluations, disciplining, and provide recommendations regarding hiring and dismissal of personnel.
• Evaluate potential projects, programs, and services to determine feasibility and impact on departmental operations and provide recommendations when requested.
• Oversee the city park including maintenance staff, facilities, projects, and special events.
• Prepare, coordinate, and communicate a 30-year city facility improvement plan including capital facility project planning with other departments.
• Research and prepares technical advice and information for the City Council, Park Board, and the Transportation Advisory Committee.
• Manage city fleet including utilization rates and recommendations on how to manage the fleet in the most cost-effective manner.

• Manage transit services in accordance with directions from the Transportation Advisory Committee and the City Administrator.
• Respond to concerns, issues, complaints, and questions from the public and employees.
• In conjunction with HR, mediate disputes and resolve issues as appropriate.
• Oversee departmental training to ensure proper training and certification of departmental personnel.
• Maintain regular contact with city, county, state and federal agencies, professional and technical groups and the general public regarding departmental activities and services.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of principles, practices, and methods as applicable to a municipal setting; a thorough knowledge of applicable city policies, laws, and regulations affecting department activities.
• Ability to organize and delegate responsibility and to evaluate performance and conduct through administrative review and control procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with employees, consultants, other governmental agency representatives, city officials, and the general public.
• Ability to read equipment manuals, policy manuals, letters, regulations, and electronic correspondence.

Qualifications and Competencies
Education, Experience, and Special Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in parks and recreation management, business management, public administration, or related field.
• Five or more years of management or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience in concurrent management of multiple programs and complex projects.
• Possession of a valid driver's license.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's degree in parks and recreation management/administration, business management/administration, public administration, or related field.
• Previous experience as a Department Head, or Public Services Director of a similarly sized local governmental unit.

Other Requirements and Supplemental Information
Physical Requirements

Work requires regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force. Duties regularly require speaking, hearing, and using hands to finger, handle, or feel. Duties often require standing, sitting, reaching with hands and arms, repetitive motions, walking, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, and lifting. Duties may require close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, and color perception and differentiation. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas through spoken word, and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly, and/or quickly. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal speaking decibel levels, and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound. Duties often require preparing and analyzing written or computer data, use of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment, and observing general surroundings and activities. Duties occasionally require exposure to outdoor weather conditions and work may occur in moderately noisy locations.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
Compensation
Compensation rates are governed by the City's Salary Administration Plan. Information regarding the City's pay program is available in the Human Resources Department.

Holidays
The 11 calendar holidays that are observed are as follows: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day and Friday following, and Christmas Day. Employees also received one additional "floating" holidays of their choice.

Vacation
Vacation is earned at the rate of 10.00 hours per month (3 weeks per year) for the first year of employment. After the first year, monthly accrual rate is increased per the Employee Policy Manual. Maximum vacation balance is 240 hours. Vacation is accrued, but generally not available for use, for the first six months of employment.

Sick Leave/ESST
Sick leave/ESST is earned at a rate of 8 hours per month with a maximum sick balance of 960 hours. Payout of 100% of sick leave balance allowed as severance if immediately eligible to draw PERA pension or due to a written doctor-verified disability.

Health Insurance

Health Insurance - Blue Cross Blue Shield is our current health insurance provider. Coverage is effective the 1st of the month following the date of hire. We currently offer four High Deductible Health Insurance plans (HDHP):

• Plan 1 is a $3,300 single/$6,600 family deductible policy. The employee pays 5% of the single premium with the 2025 monthly cost being $74.25 per month. The employee pays 20% of the family premium or $501.40 per month.
• Plan 2 is a $1,650 single/$3,300 family deductible policy. The employee pays 5% of the single premium with the 2025 monthly cost being $82.85 per month. The employee pays 20% of the family premium or $559.80 per month.
• Plan 3 is a $6,300 single/$12,600 family deductible policy. The employee pays 3% of the single premium with the 2025 monthly cost being $37.56 per month. The employee pays 15% of the family premium or $317.25 per month.
• Plan 4 is a $8,300 single/$16,600 family deductible policy. The employer pays 100% of the single premium. The employee pays 10% of the family premium or $194.70 per month.

NOTE: For all four of the above HDHP, the employee also receives an additional annual employer HSA contribution based on which plan and coverage level is elected (amount will be prorated and deposited in monthly increments) into the employee's Health Savings Account.

Dental/Optical Insurance
Dental and optical insurance benefits are available.

Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability
An employer paid $100,000 life insurance and long-term disability insurance policy is provided by the City the 1st of the month following the initial-six months waiting period of eligibility.

Retirement Plan
Retirement benefits are provided through the Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA). The 2025 EMPLOYEE contribution rate is 6.5%. The 2025 EMPLOYER contribution rate is 7.5%.
01

Do you have a Bachelor's degree in parks and recreation management, business management, public administration, or a related field?

• Yes
• No

02

Which best describes your management or supervisory experience?

• No experience
• Less than 3 years
• 3 - 5 years
• 5 or more years

03

Which best describes your experience managing multiple programs or complex projects concurrently?

• No experience
• Some experience
• Extensive experience

04

Describe your experience managing multiple programs or complex projects at the same time. If you do not have any experience, please type N/A.
05

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have a Master's degree in parks and recreation management/administration, business management/administration, public administration, or a related field?

• Yes
• No

07

If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, describe how your Master's-level training has supported your ability to lead teams, manage operations, or oversee departmental functions. If you answered "No", type N/A.
08

How would you rate your experience serving in a top-level leadership role (e.g., Department Head, Public Services Director) in a similarly sized local government?

• No experience
• Moderate experience
• Extensive experience

09

Describe your experience supervising staff at multiple levels, including subordinate supervisors, in a municipal or similar organizational setting. If you do not have any experience, please type N/A.
10

How would you rate your knowledge of municipal principles, practices, and methods, and of city policies, laws, and regulations?

• Little or no knowledge
• Some working knowledge
• Strong, well-developed knowledge

11

Which best describes your ability to organize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and evaluate performance?

• Limited ability
• Developing ability
• Proficient ability
• Excellent ability

12

Which best describes your communication skills (oral and written) when working with internal staff, external partners, and the public?

• Limited
• Developing
• Proficient
• Excellent

13

How would you rate your ability to read and understand manuals, regulations, and written correspondence?

• Limited
• Some ability
• Strong ability

14

Why are you interested in being the Public Services Director for the City of Brainerd?
Required Question