GovHRUSA
MGT is pleased to partner with the City of Hendersonville in search of its next Public Works Director – a key organizational leader responsible for planning, directing, and managing the City’s Public Works Department. This role oversees a wide range of essential service areas including Streets Maintenance, Environmental Services, Traffic, Fleet Maintenance, Building Maintenance, and Property Maintenance.
The Director ensures efficient service delivery, regulatory compliance, responsible asset management, and forward‑looking infrastructure planning in support of a growing and highly engaged community. Success in this role requires strong technical knowledge, strategic vision, operational expertise, and exceptional leadership that builds trust, strengthens teams, and enhances the quality of life for residents.
Welcome to Hendersonville
The City of Hendersonville, NC has a population of over 17,000 and the city workforce consists of approximately 360 employees. The City Council adopted FY 2025–2026 operating budget of $68.6 million.
Nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina, the City of Hendersonville offers a high quality of life, a vibrant downtown, and a strong sense of community. Known for its scenic beauty, historic charm, and proximity to outdoor recreation, Hendersonville combines small city warmth with professional municipal services and forward-thinking leadership-thinking leadership.
The city serves a diverse residential and business community and is committed to maintaining safe, efficient, and sustainable public infrastructure. Hendersonville values responsive government, sound financial stewardship, and exceptional customer service, making it an appealing environment for experienced public service leaders.
The Position
The Public Works Director provides strategic leadership and operational direction for the City of Hendersonville’s Public Works Department. This senior leadership role is responsible for ensuring efficient service delivery, regulatory compliance, fiscal responsibility, and high-quality maintenance of City infrastructure and facilities-quality maintenance of City infrastructure and facilities.
The position serves as a key advisor to executive leadership and works collaboratively with internal departments, elected officials, contractors, and the community. The position reports to the Assistant City Manager – Public Services.
The director oversees an operating budget of $7.9 million (including a CIP of $2.5 million) and staff of 70, including 5 direct reports
Key Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership and management of the Public Works Department, leads department-wide performance management (KPIs, dashboards, service levels)
- Strengthen asset management and capital prioritization (risk-based maintenance)
- Drive workforce planning (succession planning, recruitment, training pipelines)
- Advance interdepartmental coordination (Planning/Engineering, Finance, Water/Sewer)
- Strengthen public communication around infrastructure expectations
- Direct daily operations across all Public Works divisions to ensure safe, efficient, reliable service delivery
- Develop and implement departmental goals, policies, and long-range operational plans
- Oversee departmental budgeting, financial monitoring, purchasing, and resource allocation
- Ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and safety standards
- Represent the department before City leadership, boards, committees, and community stakeholders.
- Coordinate with other City departments and external agencies to support strategic initiatives and operational needs.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering, project management, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field.
- A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in public works, engineering, infrastructure management, or municipal operations.
- At least three (3) years of supervisory and administrative leadership experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Professional Engineer (PE) license or relevant master’s degree
Other Important Information
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, responses to supplemental questions and 4-5 supervisory or professional reference online by Friday, March 13, 2026.
Confidential inquiries regarding this recruitment may be directed to: Joan Walko, Senior Consultant, MGT
Hiring range for the position is competitive – up to $145,000 depending on qualifications. In addition, the director will have access to a city vehicle, and a city issued cell phone. Relocation Assistance will be available for the selected candidate.
Employee Benefits
Hendersonville is committed to providing quality health care and wellness that includes:
- Health, dental, and vision coverage for employees paid 100% if wellness requirements are met for eligible employees.
- Family health coverage is available for purchase covering 75% of dependent coverage costs. Dental and vision-dependent coverage is available for purchase.
- Partnering with the Pardee @ Work Clinic to offer a wellness clinic for employees with no charge for minor illnesses, immunizations, chronic conditions, wellness program tests, etc.
- “Taking Shape Wellness Program” is designed to get employees active by encouraging fitness, preventative measures, education and volunteer opportunities. Eligible employees have the potential to earn vacation hours per quarter for earned points.
- Retirement savings include access to multiple plans: 401k and 457(b) plans each with a pre-tax or Roth plan to choose from. The city will match at 3%. – For more specific information, go to: City of Hendersonville Employee Benefits Summary
Public Records: This recruitment is subject to North Carolina public records laws.
The City of Hendersonville is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Application Deadline: March 13, 2026
Posted: 2026-02-13
To apply for this job please visit www.govhrusa.com.