Assistant Director of Public Works (Capital Improvement Program)

About the Role

Travis County's Transportation and Natural Resources (TNR) department is seeking an authentic and dynamic leader for the Assistant Director of Public Works (Capital Improvement Program) position. This role is ideal for a proactive, innovative leader who establishes vision, fosters team confidence, and motivates others toward common goals. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in governmental public works and be a collaborative, diplomatic leader.

The Assistant Director will manage the TNR Capital Improvement Program, overseeing design, construction, inspection, and project management for projects totaling over $100 million annually. This position requires leading interdisciplinary teams, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and coordinating with county officials, department heads, and outside agencies to achieve organizational goals such as enhancing transportation systems, improving safety, and developing public infrastructure.

This role may require a flexible work schedule to meet departmental needs and typically directs through subordinate managers and supervisors. The position is eligible for remote/hybrid work, though employees may be assigned to business continuity efforts outside normal job functions.

Responsibilities

• Direct, execute, and manage the TNR Capital Improvement Program for multiple projects totaling over $100M annually.
• Plan, organize, review, and evaluate the activities, functions, and operations of the program group, including General Engineering Consultant and Program Management Consultant firms.
• Communicate with other departments and agencies to ensure project completion on schedule and under budget.
• Supervise professional and technical staff, set performance expectations, evaluate performance, and implement improvement measures.
• Monitor project progress, resolve obstacles, and prepare program status and performance reports.
• Review alignment with County priorities and community expectations.
• Determine professional, technical services, and procurement requirements; advise staff on technical and management issues.
• Coordinate with officials, department heads, outside suppliers, County staff, and outside agencies.
• Negotiate with private professional consultant firms for outsourcing work.
• Develop, manage, and control the division’s work programs, schedules, budgets, and personnel.
• Plan future budgetary requirements for the Program and monitor fixed assets.
• Evaluate and report on Program performance using statistical process controls to improve quality.
• Ensure services comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and standards.
• Develop and monitor policies and operating procedures related to the Program.
• Coordinate with other division directors, departments, and agencies to accomplish goals.
• Negotiate and oversee service contracts and supplemental agreements, ensuring financial integrity.
• Analyze division program initiatives, determine strategies, prioritize implementation, and track delivery.
• Define, prioritize, schedule, and monitor multiple operations projects, developing comprehensive project plans.
• Review and analyze annual contract deliverables and develop project resource strategies.
• Report metrics and service deliverables to ensure quality and satisfaction.
• Prepare and deliver briefings, program updates, and formal presentations to the Commissioners Court.
• Act as a subject matter expert during Commissioner Court sessions, answering inquiries and advocating departmental initiatives.
• Serve as liaison with State and Federal authorities and other local organizations.
• Represent the County by attending meetings, community events, seminars, conferences, and professional association meetings.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
• Seven (7) years of directly related, increasingly responsible senior-level management experience, including four (4) years of mid- to senior-level supervisory/management or project management experience.
• OR any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Licensed as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Texas, or ability to acquire license reciprocity within six (6) months of hire if licensed in another state.

Skills

Knowledge of:

• Standard management theory, principles, practices, and techniques.
• Federal, State, Local, and County applicable laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Principles and practices of municipal public works, including planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance.
• Technical, legal, financial, and public relation problems in municipal public works programs.
• Principles of project management, including scheduling, estimating, contracts, and budgeting.
• Theory, principles, and methods of state and local public engineering, construction, and contract administration.
• Budgetary and fiscal processes.
• Supervisory principles, practices, and techniques.
• Online computer searches and software packages (word processing, spreadsheets, databases).
• Business letter writing, grammar, punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Improving seamless customer service delivery.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with the community, employees, and other agencies.
• Analyzing and evaluating complex data and reports.
• Contract compliance and dispute resolution.
• Supervisory principles, practices, and techniques.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple, non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and technical decision-making for effective solutions.
• Work design, time management, facilitation, and managing budgets.
• Resolving leadership/management issues, including planning and managing teams.
• Planning and coordinating work activities.
• Researching, analyzing, compiling, preparing, and presenting technical data and reports.
• Public speaking and content delivery.
• Conflict resolution and community relations.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Work independently or as a team member within a diverse organization.
• Plan, organize, prioritize needs, develop action plans, and direct programs effectively.
• Coach, mentor, and motivate staff.
• Perform technical research, calculations, and prepare plans and reports.
• Convey complex ideas and concepts verbally and in writing.
• Plan, assign, supervise, train, and review the work of professional, technical, and support staff.
• Read and understand basic legal documents.
• Interpret plans, specifications, standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory codes.
• Exercise sound judgment and make decisions even with uncertainty.
• Manage time well, work on multiple tasks simultaneously, and produce timely results.
• Anticipate future requirements and research emerging programs.
• Conduct and prepare feasibility studies.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate:

• Has strong customer service skills.
• Has experience reviewing the work of others.
• Is an effective communicator and relationship builder.
• Is results-oriented, timely, collaborative, objective, and resilient.
• Can manage competing demands and priorities while empowering and motivating diverse teams.
• Strives to deliver services efficiently and with quality.