Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : City Hall, 9770 Culver Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 01020
Department: Public Works
Division: Public Works Administration
Opening Date: 09/01/2026
Closing Date: 9/29/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

THE POSITION
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

Location/ Employer: City of Culver City, CA

Salary Up To: $211,748 - $258,467 DOE/DOQ
THE POSITION & PRINCIPLED LEADER

With responsibility for one of the City's broadest and most visible service portfolios, the Public Works Director (Director) will have an opportunity to shape how the City invests in its infrastructure, delivers essential services, and responds to the evolving needs of the community. Reporting to the Senior Assistant City Manager of Infrastructure & Innovation, the Director will oversee the Department's five divisions, setting the tone for a collaborative and high-performing organization grounded in clear priorities, accountability, and a commitment to excellent service. The Director will also work closely with the City Manager's Office, Mayor and City Council, fellow department heads, regulatory agencies, community stakeholders, and the public on projects and issues that are often complex, highly visible, and sometimes competing in their priorities.
The City is seeking a principled, decisive, and highly engaged change leader who is data-informed, disciplined, and people-focused. The next Director will inherit a dedicated team while stepping into an organization experiencing an exciting period of transformation, with new executive leadership, evolving City Council priorities, and a priority-based budgeting approach creating greater alignment between the City's resources, its work, and the needs of the community. Rather than the most technically credentialed engineer, the City needs a leader with a strong public works foundation who can build trust across the organization and community, bring greater consistency and follow-through to the Department, and refocus attention on the fundamental services and infrastructure needs that matter most to the community.
To thrive in this role, the Director will bring:

• A Broad Public Works Foundation: Strong knowledge of municipal public works and the ability to lead effectively across diverse technical and operational disciplines.
• Capital & Infrastructure Management Experience: Proven track record overseeing complex capital programs, addressing deferred maintenance, and moving projects from planning through delivery.
• Sound Judgment & Conviction: The confidence to make well-informed recommendations, explain the rationale behind them, and respectfully push back when necessary.
• Political & Community Acumen: Skill in navigating highly visible and contentious issues where community and stakeholder interests may differ.
• Operational Agility: The ability to manage multiple lines of service while pivoting effectively between long-range priorities and immediate operational needs.
• Data-Informed Decision-Making: Experience using meaningful data and performance measures to set priorities, improve processes, and drive results.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications is:

• Experience & Education: A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public administration, business administration, civil engineering, construction management, urban planning, environmental science, public works administration, or a related field. Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional and administrative experience in public works, municipal operations, infrastructure management, capital improvement program, utilities, engineering administration, construction management, environmental services, sanitation, or closely related field, including at least five (5) years of significant management and supervisory responsibility.
• Licensure: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license at time of appointment and throughout employment.
• Desired But Not Required: Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California (see benefits section for certification incentive).
• Note: Possession of Professional Civil Engineer registration does not, by itself, constitute appointment or designation as City Engineer. The City Engineer shall be separately designated by the City in accordance with applicable law and City requirements.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: An annual salary of up to $211,748 - $258,467 DOE/DOQ, plus a generous benefits package that includes:

• Certification Incentive: 5% salary increase for registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California.
• Retirement: CA Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. 2%@60 for "Classic" members and 2% @62 for new mem