Deliverable to residents:
The Director of Public Works ensures that New Orleans’ streets, sidewalks, bridges, drainage systems, and traffic infrastructure are safe, reliable, and well-maintained. This role safeguards residents’ daily mobility, protects public safety, and supports quality of life in neighborhoods through efficient infrastructure management, transparent operations, and timely delivery of capital projects. 

Charter authority & scope:
Oversees all functions of the Department of Public Works as established in Chapter 9, Section 4-901 of the City Charter. Responsible for the design, construction, maintenance, and marking of streets, bridges, sidewalks, and related infrastructure. Supervises and regulates installations in, above, or under streets and establishes street elevations and grades. Oversees traffic control devices, signage, street lighting, and traffic studies. Coordinates construction and maintenance projects with other city departments, boards, agencies, and public utilities. Monitors public works projects to ensure they are completed on time, within budget, and according to design specifications. Provides updates to the Mayor, City Council, Chief Administrative Officer, and City Planning Commission on project status and performance. Recommends and supervises contracts for utility and street lighting services. Performs additional duties assigned by the Mayor.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver infrastructure capital projects on time, on budget, and in compliance with city standards.
• Foster collaboration with other city departments, utilities, and community stakeholders to ensure cohesive, citywide infrastructure planning.
• Ensure clear communications and promote transparency with residents and businesses regarding public works initiatives and project planning.
• Oversee the design, construction, paving, maintenance, and marking of streets, bridges, sidewalks, and related structures.
• Supervise, regulate, and control all installations in, above, or under streets.
• Establish street elevations and control grades.
• Collect and analyze traffic data; prepare engineering studies for vehicular and pedestrian traffic; determine the type, location, and installation of traffic control devices.
• Coordinate and monitor construction, maintenance, and capital improvement projects across S&WB, city departments, agencies, and public utilities.
• Recommend contract terms and supervise performance for utility services and street lighting contracts.
• Provide timely reports on project progress, budgets, and status to the Mayor, City Council, Chief Administrative Officer, and City Planning Commission.
• Develop and enforce operational standards to maximize safety, reliability, and service quality for residents.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in municipal infrastructure planning, construction, or maintenance.
• Strong project and capital program management experience, including proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex budgets.
• Knowledge of municipal infrastructure standards, traffic engineering, and public works regulations.
• Commitment to transparency, fairness, and high-quality public service.

Benefits Information will be available in the future.