Public Works Director

Salary : $143,304.22 - $197,043.31 Annually
Location : City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Public Works
Opening Date: 09/14/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Hands-on department head position responsible for directing, planning, organizing, administering, and overseeing the services including operating programs of the Public Works Department; coordinates assigned activities with other City departments and outside agencies; provides responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager; and serves as the designated City Engineer, City Traffic Engineer, and Floodplain Administrator. The position is a member of the City's management team.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

Include but are not limited to the following:

• Develops the Department's annual work plan in response to the goals established by the City Council.
• Assumes full oversight responsibility of the Department including administration, capital improvements, transportation, parking, lighting, maintenance (facilities, fleet, parks, right-of-way, and streets), resource conservation, solid waste, and watershed management programs; and ensures services are provided according to Cityordinances, rules, and regulations, andfederal and state laws, standards, and codes.
• Administers policies, procedures, and standards for programs relating to Department activities; and ensures policies, procedures, and standards are administered equitably.
• Develops, plans, and implements Department goals and objectives.
• Performs professional civil engineering functions; and oversees and be in responsible charge of the preparation of engineering documents (plans, specifications, estimates, calculations, reports, and studies) in accordance with City ordinances, rules, and regulations, federal and state laws, standards, codes, and industry-accepted practices.
• Manages the capital improvement program including the planning, design, and construction of capital improvement projects; and oversees construction management and inspection activities.
• Manages the engineering permit services including the review (engineering plan check) of private development projects and encroachment, transportation, and special event permits; and prepares entitlement conditions of approval; and collaborates with project stakeholders.
• Develops and manages budgets of Department operating programs.
• Prepares and presents staff reports of a complex nature regarding public works; and leads presentations in community meetings, workshops, and other public outreach events regarding public works.
• Advises the City Council, City Manager, and other City personnel regarding matters related to public works; responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive inquiries and concerns from members of the public.
• Develops or oversees the preparation and implementation preventative maintenance systems of City infrastructure.
• Recommends the selection of departmental employees; plan, organize and assign work; develop and establish work methods and standards; conduct or direct staff training and development; review and evaluate employee performance; execute disciplinary action.
• Represents the Department in relations with the community advisory committees, local, state and federal agencies, and professional organizations.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required by the City Manager.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Certification:

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in engineering, public administration or a related field.
• California registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) is desirable.
• Education requirements may be met through work experience that provides equivalent knowledge, abilities and technical skills.
• Possession of or ability to obtain an appropriate California driver's license. Must have good driving record.

Experience Required:

• Seven years increasingly responsible relevant experience in the public works field, at least three (3) years of which must be in a complex/supervisory capacity with progressively responsible management and administrative responsibility. Related civil and transportation engineering experience desirable.
• Experience in local government highly preferable.

Required Knowledge:

• Operations, services and activities of a municipal public works program.
• Modern principles, practices and economics that pertain to management, personnel administration, staffing, supervision; principles related to civil and traffic engineering, streets, parks, public buildings, and capital facilities planning.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Engineering mathematics, theories, principles and formulas used in the design and construction of public works projects.
• Technical, legal and financial requirements involved in the conduct of municipal public works studies, planning and construction; techniques and methods of preparing designs, plans, specifications, estimates, and reports for proposed municipal facilities, including extensive computer skills.
• NPDES and ability to create and manage a comprehensive storm water program.

Skills/Abilities:

• Plan, organize, direct and/or inspect all public works.
• Develop and administer department goals, objectives and procedures.
• Negotiate and manage substantial contracts.
• Analyze and assess programs, policies and operational needs and make appropriate adjustments; analyze problems, identify alternative solutions and implement recommendations in support of goals and develop comprehensive plans to satisfy future needs of department service.
• Interpret and apply local, State and Federal policies, laws and regulations.
• Make effective public presentations; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; understand and follow verbal and written directions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Good technical writing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Able to manage and coordinate subordinate personnel
• Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office and engineering software).
• Well organized.

SELECTION PROCESS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
Disaster Service Worker:
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 3100, all public employees are required to serve as disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their supervisor or by law.
Intent and Function of Job Descriptions:
Job descriptions assist organizations in ensuring that the hiring process is fairly administered and that qualified employees are selected. They are also essential to an effective appraisal system and related promotion, transfer, layoff, and termination decisions. Well-constructed job descriptions are an integral part of any effective compensation system.
All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Peripheral tasks, only incidentally related to each position, have been excluded. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the city. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS
Finger Dexterity: Using primarily just the fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, or pinching fingers together.
Talking: Especially where one must frequently convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
Average Hearing: Able to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information.
Average Visual Abilities: Average, ordinary, visual acuity necessary to prepare or inspect documents or products, or operate machinery.
Physical Strength: Sedentary work; sitting most of the time. Exerts up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally.
Working Conditions: Work is performed both inside and outside, including working within designated construction area and in the public roadway right-of-way. Subject to weather. Frequent local travel.
MENTAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS
Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data establish facts and draw conclusions. Able to interpret a variety of technical instructions and can deal with multiple variables.
Mathematics Ability: Ability to use advanced algebra, exponents, logarithms, linear equations, quadratic equations, mathematical induction and binomial theorem, permutations, calculus, and/or analytic geometry. Able to perform basic statistical calculations including frequency distributions, reliability and validity of tests, normal curve, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, chi-square application and sampling theory, and factor analysis.
Language Ability: Learn to read and interpret engineering plans and specification requirements and make accurate engineering calculations. Ability to prepare memos, reports, and essays using proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar. Ability to communicate distinctly with appropriate pauses and emphasis, correct pronunciation (or sign equivalent), and variation in word order using present, perfect, and future tenses.
The City of Carpinteria offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, deferred compensation, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-/short-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page: