Public Works Director

The Town of Farragut operates as a limited-service municipality governed by an elected Mayor and four elected Aldermen. Day-to-day operations are managed by the appointed Town Administrator, David Smoak, who leads a dedicated team of approximately 100 employees across various departments and divisions.

Under the leadership of Administrator Smoak, the Town's management team is experienced, cohesive, and deeply attuned to the unique culture of Farragut, ensuring the efficient execution of policies set by the elected officials.

The Public Works Department of Farragut is committed to maintaining the town's infrastructure, public facilities, and amenities to ensure a high quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. The department’s responsibilities encompass a broad range of services including roadway and sidewalk repair, landscape maintenance, tree removal, snow and ice removal, and emergency debris removal. These tasks are carried out by a team of 21 employees led by a Foreman, who reports to the Public Works Director. The department works in seamless coordination with other municipal departments, consistently prioritizing the creation and maintenance of a high-quality community.

Essential Functions

• Plan, direct and coordinate, through subordinate level managers, activities of employees responsible for the maintenance of the Town right of ways, fleet maintenance, and building maintenance.  
• Meet with management staff to identify and resolve problems; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility and review and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of services provided.
• Develop and implement department policies and procedures in correlation with Human Resources and plan and direct the implementation of the department’s short-and long-term goals, objectives, and strategies in accordance with Town’s mission.  
• Collaborate with Town Engineering department in the planning, design, construction and inspection of public works projects.
• Direct the preparation of plans, specifications, estimates, and contracts for public works projects.
• Prepare and recommend budget requirements including capital investment program (CIP) for Public Works and manage expenditures for the department; develop and monitor grant-funded programs.
• Review legislation to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, statutes, and codes that impact department operations.
• Respond to citizen inquiries and complaints; investigate requests to determine action to be taken.
• Write bid specifications for purchasing vehicles, equipment, construction projects or contract work.
• Purchase and maintain appropriate level of inventory for public works supplies, materials, equipment and staff.
• Represents the Town of Farragut in public works on a variety of local, state, regional and national boards, commissions, committees and associations.
• Oversee the snow removal program.
• Other duties as assigned.

The minimum annual salary for this exempt position is $89,964 and the mid point salary is $120,911.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of the engineering principles, practices, and methods as applied to planning, design, construction, and maintenance of public work facilities and systems, Knowledge of state and local laws and procedures relating to municipal public works, Knowledge of personnel, budget and purchasing policies and procedures, Knowledge of construction standards, interpreting plans/specifications and conducting routine construction inspections, Skill in communicating in writing and/or in person on a one-on-one basis and before groups for the purpose of justifying, defending, or negotiating significant or controversial issues, Ability to work cooperatively with Town officials, boards, employees and the general public, Ability to handle confidential material in a highly professional manner, Ability to develop long-term plans and programs and to evaluate work accomplishments, Ability to plan and schedule the work of others.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree with coursework in management, budgeting, planning, engineering, or related field and considerable experience in the direction of environmental and public works activities including five years in a managerial capacity; or any combination of education, training, and experience providing the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform essential job functions., or equivalent combination of education and experience. An advanced degree in engineering, management, or public administration is desirable.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and lifting; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock and exposure to vibration; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).

Special Requirements

Applicable safety and specific equipment training must be completed.

Valid commercial driver's license in the State of Tennessee.

Benefits

The Town offers a competitive benefit package that includes:

• 90% Town paid health coverage for employee and up to family plan, including a wellness program and multiple EAP plans.
• 100% Town paid Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and LTD
• Optional STD, FSA, Additional Life for family, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity and Critical Illness Insurance
• 401k Retirement plan that includes a 6% Town contribution (no match required) and a matching program upon hire.
• Paid Time Off (Paid Holidays, Annual Leave and Sick Leave)
• Park and Recreation Discounts

Additional Benefits

Cell Phone Allowance/Company Issued Phone

Town Provided Vehicle