Published date: March 16, 2026
GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
The City of Centennial, Colorado is an organization driven to provide exceptional service to the community through sound fiscal practices and efficient provision of services. We seek to attract and retain the best leaders to support us in this mission and, in return, foster a culture which supports all team members using their talents every day to do what they do best. A winner of nine Gallup Exceptional Workplace Awards, we are proud to embody the link between a highly engaged workforce and excellence in business outcomes. We are an innately collaborative culture dedicated to talents and focused on results.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The City of Centennial is seeking a Public Works Director who is a leader that desires to work cohesively with the Leadership Team to meet the strategic goals and objectives of the organization. The ideal candidate will be an engaging, collaborative, and relationship-driven leader who thrives in a people-focused, operational environment and brings a management style grounded in trust, communication, and teamwork, fostering collaboration across departments to unite team members.
Centennial possesses a strengths-based culture, and the ideal candidate will coach in a manner that takes advantage of individual strengths and attributes. The City is seeking a Public Works Director that enjoys mentoring, actively participating in Staff’s development, champions training, and brings a forward-thinking mindset to process improvement, organization cohesion, and operational efficiency.
The Public Works Director must have strong business acumen and the ability to interact effectively with regulatory agencies, elected officials, and the public. The ideal candidate must demonstrate maturity, emotional intelligence, and the ability to manage conflict resolution. Additionally, the Ideal Candidate will embrace Centennial’s unique service delivery model done largely through outsourcing. This position is about guiding and managing the City’s infrastructure through relationships and leadership.
This is a highly responsible administrative and professional leadership position with responsibility for overseeing the overall programming, budgeting and operation of the Public Works Department through both in-house and contracted staff to deliver high quality services and capital improvement projects. This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on, personable, and solutions-oriented professional who wants to be part of a highly collaborative team that prides itself on delivering exceptional public service.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Public Works Department is comprised of an in-house team and contract team that work in unison to design, build, operate, maintain, and improve the City’s infrastructure and public rights-of-way. This public-private partnership has been nationally recognized to be the first of its kind to achieve accreditation from the American Public Works Association since 2016. Deploying best practices and maintaining the highest of standards, the department is responsible for streets, pedestrian paths, street lights, traffic management infrastructure and operations, snow removal, facilities, park and open space, among other things. While storm water, floodplain management, and water/wastewater are managed by other agencies, it is critical this position understands how those systems intersect with City operations and works to collaborate for successful outcomes. In addition, the Public Works Department is a key responding entity in emergencies involving the City’s infrastructure and facilities, as well as weather-related emergencies and other disasters.
The Public Works Director is responsible for the planning, coordination, and directing work programs of the Public Works Department functions. Responsibilities include determining major departmental policies, planning long-term programs, and making difficult technical and administrative decisions. Major emphasis in individual work is in strategic alignment of administration and coordination of functional operations and capital planning and the innovation of facets of the department, including the employment of emerging technology. Through division managers, direction is given to a large staff of professional, technical, and skilled employees. Work is performed with wide latitude for independent judgment and action and is reviewed by the City Manager with a lens of meeting strategic objectives.
Job website link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/centennial/jobs/5271162/
Salary and benefits information: $131,200.00 – $196,800.00 Annually
Job description:
Examples of Duties
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
The following statements are illustrative of the essential duties of the job and do not include other nonessential or peripheral duties that may be required. The City of Centennial retains the right to modify or change the essential and additional functions of the job at any time.
– Provides leadership, direction and is responsible for partnering with the Leadership Team in planning, developing, and implementing the overall vision, mission, programs, processes and projects of the department. Creates strategic plans, assembles resources, and coordinates and balances activities of the department with other City departments, consultants, developers, contractors, governmental agencies, community organizations, and the public.
– Works with City Council and executive City staff to develop and establish goals identified within the City’s strategic plan. Ensure that all projects carried out by the Public Works Department further the goals set forth in the City’s strategic plan, are completed on a timely basis, comply with City standards, and are within budget.
– Provides professional advice on issues to the City Manager, Leadership Team and City Council. Reviews proposed ordinances, regulations, and plans for accuracy and feasibility. Makes presentations to Council, boards, commissions, and the public. Ensure compliance with planning, engineering, and land use regulations and policies.
– Proven ability to quickly build trust and develop collaborative and productive relationships with residents, City officials, staff, and regional partners. Recognizes and values community stakeholders, including residents, businesses, metro districts and other public agencies and authorities serving the community. Works collaboratively with community stakeholders on regional and strategic goals.
– Oversees the management of a fifteen-year $17M/year contract through a public-private partnership to provide administrative, traffic engineering, fleet, facilities, street lights, street rehabilitation, capital project management and construction, and maintenance and operation divisions. Maintains excellent relationship with contracted partners as an extension of City staff.
– Plans, administers, formulates and directs overall operation of all divisions of the Public Works Department including administration and budget, capital improvements, engineering development review, inspection, traffic engineering, street rehabilitation, fleet, facilities, street lights, maintenance, and operations.
– Manages and supervises operations to achieve goals within available resources; evaluates work completed by the department to determine effectiveness in meeting goals and objectives of the organization and key performance metrics monitored to drive efficient and effective services; oversees division workloads and staff assignments; ensures that assigned staff works as a team to avoid duplication of service and to ensure that customer expectations are recognized and met.
– Responds to inquiries, engages with patrons and civic groups, and represents the organization at governmental and professional meetings. Builds and maintains relationships with external agencies, other municipalities, private stakeholders, and community groups to communicate planning goals, policies, and programs.
– Possess knowledge and experience in navigating regional, state and federal grants and directs functional managers in determining and seeking appropriate funding opportunities. Preferred experience with local agencies including Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Denver Regional Council of Government (DRCOG) processes ensuring compliance with the regional Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), Metro Vision, Technical Advisory and Board of Directors’ processes.
– Researches, investigates and directs the resolution of complex technical problems, and conducts research on policy topics. Analyzes problems, identifies alternative solutions, projects consequences of proposed actions, and implements recommendations in support of goals.
– Prioritizes the values of the City and enhancement of the operations of the Public Works Department by making appropriate changes in operations, methods, and procedures; ensures efficient and effective operations; ensures compliance with established policies and procedures.
– Oversees the quality of and fiscal planning of delivering capital projects, construction, and maintenance of City infrastructure and facilities by supporting strong collaboration with consulting engineers on designs and specifications, seeking additional funding partners and/or grant opportunities and administering the securing of bids and assignment of contracts for major capital projects.
– Supports and leads all Public Works Department staff to abide by City established policies, guidelines and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws.
– Other duties as assigned by the City Manager.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment connected to the position.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
– Extensive knowledge of the modern principles and practices of administration as supplied to the design, construction, maintenance, and technical inspection of public work facilities and services.
– Ability to establish, maintain, and preserve favorable public relations.
– Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to the development and management of public works.
– Extensive knowledge of the materials, methods and techniques utilized in the construction and maintenance of City rights-of-way.
– Ability to organize, direct and coordinate the activities of several divisions including technical and professional personnel, in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.
– Ability to express ideas on administrative and technical subjects clearly and concisely, orally, and in writing.
– Thorough knowledge of typical codes, ordinances, regulations, and standards governing public facilities construction, maintenance and repair.
– Ability to analyze and modify or apply new developments in the field of public works.
– Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate and interact with all levels of the organization and public.
– Ability to prepare highly complex policy reports and to present facts clearly and concisely.
– Ability to evaluate complex circumstances, identify tangible alternative actions and to formulate effective plans and procedures.
– Ability to exercise independent judgment and initiative in identifying required work assignments and appropriate methods to be utilized, and in developing solutions to a variety of work situations.
– Ability to exercise tact and discretion in dealing with Federal, State, and City officials and the general public, and in handling confidential information.
– Strong project management and negotiation skills.
– Ability to lead staff through day-to-day functions as well as complex projects.
– Ability to use standard office equipment, computer equipment and software including word processing, database management, and spreadsheet applications and electronic mail.
– Proficiency with MS Office Suite required.
Minimum Qualifications
MINIMUM EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration, management, civil engineering, public works management or a field closely related is required. Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the above or a closely related field is preferred.
Ten or more years of senior management and administrative experience overseeing public works or utilities operations in a public sector or ten or more years of experience in an executive-level municipal management position combined with public sector experience in public works.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Must possess or obtain a valid Colorado Driver’s license, provide proof of a save driving record, and maintain a safe driving record for continued employment.
Job Elements/Working Conditions
REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Must be able to perform the essential functions of this job, with or without accommodation.
Physical Demands
The person in this position must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time; needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Occasionally moves office equipment weighing up to 30 pounds. The person in this position frequently communicates with Council members, staff, vendors, and residents; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. Must be able to identify Council members, staff, vendors, and residents, as applicable. Must be able to observe, assess, record, and interpret information.
Work Environment
Work is performed primarily at City offices with the ability to perform some duties remotely in accordance with Centennial’s flexibility in the workplace guidelines. Work is performed in an office setting with in-person and telephone/virtual contacts and may involve frequent interruptions. Work may require attendance at evening and/or weekend meetings.
Equipment Used/Required
Frequently operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy/fax machine, and computer printer.
EXPECTATION OF ALL EMPLOYEES
Support the City’s mission, vision and values.
Mission – Driven to provide exceptional service to the Centennial community.
Vision – The City of Centennial is a connected community, where neighborhoods matter, education is embraced, businesses are valued, and innovation absolute.
Values – Collaborative, Intentional, Service Oriented, and Innovative
The 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.