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Job Description
AN OUTSTANDING CAREER OPPORTUNITY
The City of San Antonio is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking leader to serve as its next Public Works Director. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of infrastructure in one of the nation’s fastest growing and most dynamic cities. With a $626 million departmental budget, a $1.2 billion bond program, and over 880 employees across six divisions, San Antonio’s Public Works Department is delivering high-impact projects that touch every neighborhood and every resident. The next Director will join a high-performing executive team and play a pivotal role in advancing community priorities—ranging from climate resilience and multimodal transportation to equitable neighborhood investment and long-term capital planning. For a results-driven leader passionate about public service and infrastructure excellence, this is a chance to make a lasting difference in a world-class city on the rise.
ABOUT SAN ANTONIO
The City of San Antonio is the nation’s 7th largest city and is home to more than 1.5 million residents. Located in South Central Texas, approximately 140 miles from the gulf coast, San Antonio offers its residents one of the most attractive and affordable lifestyles in the country. Residents enjoy one of the lowest tax rates in the state as well as a plentiful supply of high-quality housing and low utility rates. The economy of San Antonio is an excellent mix of business services, manufacturing, health care, communications, corporate and regional offices, government, and the convention and tourism industry. San Antonio is also home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the United States. One of the nation's fastest growing cities, San Antonio is rich in recreational and cultural opportunities with over 16,000 acres of public parks and approximately 150 miles of trails, over 50 museums and galleries, and home to the 5-time champion San Antonio Spurs. The Historic San Antonio Missions are Texas’ only UNESCO World Heritage site, and is a UNESCO designated Creative City of Gastronomy.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Public Works Department is committed to meeting the needs of residents by building and maintaining the infrastructure that is vital to the City. The department provides its services with a combined total budget of $626 million across seven primary funds. Assisting the Director is a Deputy Director and three Assistant Directors, who lead 887 staff across six divisions: Streets & Sidewalks, Capital Project Delivery, Storm Water, Traffic, Support Services, and the Office of the Director.
The department has a five-year rolling Infrastructure Management Program (IMP) to identify and recommend infrastructure priorities to the City Council. The residents of San Antonio passed the $1.2 billion 2022 – 2027 Bond Program in May 2022, the largest in the City's history. The series of projects included in the bond program will impact the lives of residents in every part of our City and are vital to keeping up with San Antonio’s growth. Public Works oversees the management of both the 2017-2022 and 2022-2027 Bond Programs, totaling more than 370 projects, and other City capital projects from the design stage through construction. Public Works is committed to ensuring that all projects are delivered with quality, on time, and on budget.
THE POSITION
Reporting to an Assistant City Manager, the Public Works Director oversees a multifaceted department responsible for delivering critical infrastructure and operational services to the San Antonio community. The Director manages a broad portfolio including Project Delivery, Storm Water, Streets, Traffic, and Support Services. Key responsibilities include executive leadership and strategic direction for all Public Works functions; overseeing daily operations across all divisions, ensuring the effective delivery of public works services; supervising department leaders and promoting a culture of accountability, professional development, and operational excellence; developing and administering the department’s budget, including forecasting, expenditures, and resource allocation; overseeing the execution of capital projects and contracted services; providing technical reports and policy recommendations to the City Council and advisory bodies; and serving as the department’s key liaison to the City Council, City Manager, and external stakeholders.
The ideal candidate for the Public Works Director role will be an accomplished and visionary leader who combines strategic thinking with operational expertise and a deep commitment to public service. This individual will bring a collaborative leadership style, political acumen, and a strong track record of delivering high-quality infrastructure and services in a large, complex municipal environment.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for the Public Works Director is $174,292 to $278,867, with placement in the range depending on qualifications. The benefits package includes medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, compensated leave, short-term disability, and retirement benefits. The City is a member of the Texas Municipal Retirement System with a 6% employee contribution and a 2:1 match by the City of San Antonio.
Visit San Antonio City Benefits to learn more about the City’s employee benefits.
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS
Interested candidates should apply immediately! A first review of résumés is scheduled for Monday, July 28, 2025, but the City may close the recruitment at any time once a suitably strong group of candidates has been established. Submit a comprehensive résumé and compelling cover letter online at:
Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:
Greg Nelson | greg@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 550-4100
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Job Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
The following are the minimum requirements for the position:
Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Civil Engineering, Construction Technology, or a related field.
Experience: Ten years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the area of public works, including engineering, traffic, streets, and stormwater, including five years of administrative or supervisory responsibility.
Licensure: A license as a Professional Engineer is preferred but not required.
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ABOUT THE COMPANY
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Mosaic Public Partners
Show moreWe are seasoned public sector executives who have profound respect for the work of public agencies. We are passionate about placing today’s public leaders, which enables public agencies to deliver exemplary leadership to their constituents.
Placing today’s public leaders is our mission. Aligning the right candidates with the right opportunities helps our clients to build effective teams. We enjoy building relationships with the people involved in our searches, whether it's the candidates, hiring managers, team members or stakeholders. Establishing meaningful connections with those involved in our search process is the basis from which we derive our success as a trusted partner and client-focused search firm.
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