Director of Public Works

Director of Public Works

CITY OF AMERY, WISCONSIN ~ Director of Public Works

$95,000 – $110,000 annually, depending on qualifications

Full-time, exempt, department head | Reports to the City Administrator

Applications received by October 29th, 2026, receive first consideration. Open until filled.

The Position

The City of Amery is hiring a Director of Public Works following the retirement of a long-tenured director. Amery is a community of approximately 2,950 residents in Polk County, about an hour northeast of the Twin Cities.

The Director oversees streets, the water utility, the wastewater utility, stormwater, parks, the cemetery, forestry, the municipal fleet, City buildings, and grounds maintenance at the Amery Municipal Airport. The department has eight full-time employees and three seasonal parks staff. The Director reports to the City Administrator and works closely with the Clerk-Treasurer, Building Inspector, and City Engineer.

This is a working department head role. The Director is in the field regularly, sets capital priorities rather than inheriting a finished plan, and personally handles administrative work that a larger city would assign to support staff. Current and near-term projects include [TAP sidewalk construction on Hillcrest Drive, TID-funded infrastructure in the South Industrial Park, and the annual street reconstruction program].

What You Will Do

Operations

  • Direct daily operations of street maintenance and reconstruction, snow and ice control, water distribution and treatment, wastewater collection and treatment, stormwater, fleet, and City facilities.
  • Serve as, or supervise, the certified operator-in-charge for the water and wastewater utilities, and maintain compliance with WDNR permits, WPDES reporting, and Safe Drinking Water Act sampling schedules.
  • Respond to after-hours emergencies including water main breaks, sanitary sewer backups, lift station failures, and winter storm events. Participate in the on-call rotation.

Parks, Cemetery, Forestry, and Airport

  • Manage City parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, trails, courts, and the cemetery, including turf care, equipment inspection, and seasonal facility opening and closing.
  • Hire, schedule, and supervise seasonal parks staff, and coordinate park use with recreational user groups and City events.
  • Coordinate forestry work, including tree inspection, removal, and replacement.
  • Direct grounds and pavement maintenance at the Amery Municipal Airport, including mowing, snow removal on runway, taxiway, and apron surfaces, and airfield lighting, coordinating with the contracted airport manager and the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics.

Capital Projects and Engineering

  • Develop and administer the multi-year Capital Improvement Plan for streets, utilities, parks, and equipment.
  • Manage consulting engineers through design, bidding, and construction. Review plans, specifications, pay applications, and change orders.
  • Administer State and Federal grant projects in compliance with WisDOT, WDNR, and Federal requirements, including LRIP, TAP, and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program work.

Budget and Administration

  • Prepare and administer department operating and capital budgets, including the water and wastewater utility budgets, and recommend rate adjustments with the Clerk-Treasurer and rate consultant.
  • Prepare purchasing specifications, bid documents, and contract recommendations consistent with Wis. Stat. sec. 62.15 and City purchasing policy.
  • Complete WISLR reporting, maintain the public works GIS mapping database, code and approve departmental invoices, and submit bi-weekly payroll for department staff.

Leadership and Public Service

  • Hire, train, evaluate, and discipline department staff, and administer the City Personnel Manual and departmental safety programs.
  • Present recommendations to the Common Council, Board of Public Works, [Utility Commission], Park Board, and Plan Commission, and answer questions from elected officials in a public setting.
  • Respond to resident complaints directly, including difficult conversations about drainage, driveway approaches, snow removal, and special assessments.
  • Review private development plans with the City Administrator, Building Inspector, and City Engineer.

What You Need

Required

  • High school diploma or equivalent, plus five years of progressively responsible public works or municipal utility experience, including three years supervising staff.
  • Valid Wisconsin driver’s license. Wisconsin Class B Commercial Driver’s License at hire or within one year.
  • WDNR Grade 1 Water certification at hire, or the ability to obtain within one year.
  • WDNR Advanced Wastewater certification at hire, or the ability to obtain within two years.
  • Working knowledge of Wisconsin municipal utility regulation, public bidding law, and WDNR permitting.
  • Ability to read and interpret construction plans, specifications, and utility maps.

Preferred

  • Bachelor’s degree in public works, civil engineering, civil engineering technology, environmental science, construction management, or public administration.
  • WDNR water and wastewater certifications held at the time of hire. Certified candidates will be given significant weight in the selection process.
  • Wisconsin Professional Engineer license, or eligibility for licensure by comity or examination.
  • Experience administering WisDOT local program projects and Federal-aid grant compliance.
  • Experience with WISLR, GIS asset management, SCADA systems, and municipal budgeting software.
  • Experience managing parks operations, seasonal workforces, or a general aviation airport.

Physical Requirements

Work is performed in office, shop, and field settings. The position requires walking uneven terrain and active construction sites, entering confined spaces and excavations, lifting up to 90 pounds, pushing or pulling up to 250 pounds on wheels, and working outdoors in Wisconsin weather. The Director is subject to emergency call-out at any hour.

Compensation and Benefits

  • Salary of $95,000 to $110,000, depending on qualifications and certifications held at hire.
  • Wisconsin Retirement System participation, with the City paying the employer share.
  • Health insurance [employee premium share], dental, and vision coverage.
  • City-paid group life insurance.
  • City-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage.
  • Paid vacation and 12 paid holidays.
  • City vehicle for on-call and field use.
  • Payment of professional dues and continuing education required to maintain certifications.
  • No residency requirement. A reasonable response time for emergency call-out is expected.

Full Job description available at www.amerywi.gov  

How to Apply

Submit a cover letter, resume, City of Amery employment application, and three professional references to:

Alex Mansfield, City Administrator

City of Amery

104 Maple Street W., Suite A, Amery, WI 54001

[email protected]

Applications received by October 29, 2026, will receive first consideration. The position remains open until filled. Employment is contingent on a background check, driving record review, pre-employment physical, and drug screen.

The City of Amery is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Under Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7), the identity of applicants is confidential, except that the names of final candidates may be released as required by law. Applicants who wish to remain confidential should state that preference in writing.