Deputy Director of Public Works

City of Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg, VA

The City of Harrisonburg (pop. approximately 56,879). Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and one of the fastest-growing cities in Virginia, Harrisonburg is a thriving, multicultural university city and is home to James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University. With recognition as the commonwealth's first culinary district, exciting outdoor recreation activities within the city and nearby, a thriving arts community, and being known as "The Friendly City," there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The Harrisonburg Department of Public Works is currently seeking a leader who is excited to join our dedicated team of community service professionals and is passionate about advancing the essential services and infrastructure that keep Harrisonburg running smoothly every day. With approximately 110 positions, a current FY2026 operating budget of approximately $21 million, and a current FY2026 capital project budget of approximately $100 million, Public Works provides services in the following divisions: Street Maintenance & Traffic Engineering, Solid Waste & Recycling, Environmental & Sustainability Programs, Transportation Planning, and Construction & Facilities Management. This is an exempt, full-time position with benefits and an anticipated hiring range of $105,955 - $119,204 annually. Find out more information related to this position and the City by viewing the recruitment brochure.

The candidate selected for this position will report directly to the Director of Public Works and work closely with all divisions across the department in addition to collaborating with City leadership and the community to advance Harrisonburg's infrastructure, public services, and environmental initiatives. As a member of the City's Deputy Leadership Team, the individual will also have the opportunity for interaction and involvement in citywide projects. The successful candidate will have a thorough knowledge public works operations, public sector budgeting, practices of municipal public works operations, and project planning and design for efficient and effective programs.

A detailed list of essential functions and the ideal candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is available in the class specification.

Bachelor’s degree with coursework in civil engineering, landscape architecture, architecture, public administration, business administration, or related field and extensive (6+ years) experience overseeing the work of multiple divisions in a public works setting. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be used to meet this requirement.
Valid driver's license.
Click here to view the physical requirements of this position.

The following are preferred qualifications but are not required for consideration: Possession of or the ability to obtain a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Master’s Degree in Business Administration, a Landscape Architect license, an Architect license, and/or a registered Professional Engineer (PE) license in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications but do not yet have the preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply for consideration.

The selected candidate for this position will be subject to the following screenings and must receive satisfactory results:

DMV driving record review;
Credit history review;
Criminal background investigation.

Application Requirements:In order to be considered for this position, applicants must submit the following:City of Harrisonburg online application, cover letter attachment, resume attachment,and 3 professional references.All required fields on the online employment application must be completed, including your education history and work experience. Incomplete applications and applications with verification(s) of no prior education and/or work history will not be considered. (posted on 02/24/2026)

Applicants unable to attach documents via the online application should email the missing documentation toemployment@harrisonburgva.govin order to be further considered.

First Review Date:No Sooner Than Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Candidates will not receive an application status update until after this date. Due to the amount of information requested from candidates, please allow a minimum of 10 business days from the first review date to receive a status update.

The City provides an excellent benefits package including health insurance, retirement (VRS & MissionSquare), life insurance, paid leave and 15.5 holidays.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or veteran status.

The City of Harrisonburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Deputy Director of Public Works

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