County Engineer/Public Works Director

Position Summary AN EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITY AWAITS! NOW HIRING: COUNTY ENGINEER/PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR! Lead Boldly. Deliver Excellence. Transform Infrastructure . Benton County is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking, licensed, and experienced engineer to lead our Public Works Department as the next County Engineer/Public Works Director. A proven leader with strategic vision, strong management skills, and the passion and expertise to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure that truly impacts our community. If you're a results-driven engineer who excels at strategic planning, innovation, and guiding public infrastructure forward, this is the position for you! In this role, you will: Provide strategic direction, fiscal oversight, and personnel leadership for all Public Works operations. Lead maintenance and construction of the county's highway system. Review, approve, and oversee engineered road construction plans. Develop the County’s 5-Year Road Construction Program and secure funding for major projects. Manage and present the annual Public Works budget. Administer key programs, including: • Public Drainage System (County Ditches) • Bridge Inspection Program • Road maintenance, snow/ice removal & pavement management Review load restrictions, permits, and subdivision plats. Oversee County Surveyor functions. Advise small cities and townships on road, bridge, and transportation issues. Represent the County in court proceedings, committees, and public meetings. Respond to residents, contractors, and elected officials on engineering and operational matters. Leadership You’ll Provide Direct supervision of engineering, environmental, accounting, and maintenance leaders. Indirect leadership of technicians, operating engineers, mechanics, sign staff, seasonal workers, and interns. Oversight of contracted surveying services. Interview Process: Initial interviews may be conducted by phone or in person (TBD) . Please monitor your email for updates and scheduling information. Location: Benton County Public Works/Highway Department Application Deadline: Recruitment will Remain Open Until Filled - First Review of Applications: Monday, January 5, 2026. If you're ready to lead with purpose and build the systems that move Benton County forward, apply today! View Full Job Description and Apply: Benton County Career Opportunities Position Summary Provides strategic planning, fiscal, and personnel management for the operations of the Public Works Department. Scope of Responsibility Oversees all Public Works programs and services. Directly supervises Accountant-Public Works, Assistant County Engineer, Environmental Technician/County Ditch Inspector, and Maintenance Superintendent. Indirectly supervises through first-line supervisors the Civil Engineering Technicians, Finance Technician, Operating Engineers, Mechanic Technician/Crew Foreman, Sign Technician, seasonal, and intern workers. Provides oversight and direction to the contracted County Surveyor and surveying functions. CLICK HERE to Explore Our Public Works/Highway Department! Learn more about Benton County’s Public Works/Highway team, including our Mission Statement, 5-Year Plan, and Upcoming Construction Projects. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities Essential Functions A. Oversees the maintenance and construction of the County highway system. A.1. Oversees the development of engineered road construction project plans. A.2. Reviews and approves all construction plans for compliance with applicable standards and engineering theory. A.3. Develops the 5-year Road Construction Program, including determining construction year and identifying funding. B. Develops, presents, and manages the annual Public Works budget. B.1. Plans for future transportation projects within Benton County and identifies funding for said projects. B.2. Seeks transportation funding from sources other than local tax dollars, including federal grant programs. C. Reviews and updates Department policies and operating procedures. D. Administers the Public Drainage System (County Ditches), including compliance review with state statute and overseeing the design of repair/construction projects. E. Administers the Bridge Inspection program, including reviewing all inspection reports for compliance with national inspection standards. F. Develops and implements road maintenance programs, including snow/ice removal and pavement management. F.1. Reviews the spring load restrictions map to determine appropriate weight limits on county roads. F.2. Reviews oversized/overweight permits for compliance with county road/bridge weight limits. F.3. Reviews subdivision plats when adjacent to county roads. G. Directs the County Surveyor's functions. H. Advises small cities and townships on transportation, road, and bridge matters. I. Represents the County and Department at various court proceedings. J. Responds to the public, elected officials, or others regarding a variety of engineering and operational policies and procedures. Additional Functions A. Attends trainings as needed. B. Advises the small cities (Foley, Rice) on transportation-related matters. C. Advises Townships on road and bridge maintenance issues. D. Represents Benton County and the Department as a technical representative on a wide variety of local, state, and federal organizations and committees. E. Performs other duties as assigned or apparent. Minimum Qualifications - Training and Experience Required Qualifications Minimum Qualifications A. Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field; and B. Seven years of progressively higher responsibility of civil engineering work, of which 2 years must be in a supervisor or a leadership role; OR C. Equivalent combination of education and experience. D. Must possess a professional engineer’s license upon hire and maintain it every 2 years. E. Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota. F. Must successfully complete a background check. G. Obtain and maintain certifications and licensures. Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Physical Demands and Working Conditions Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities A. Substantial knowledge of civil engineering principles, practices, and methods in highway and bridge design; construction methods and materials; traffic control systems and devices; highway maintenance, and drainage systems. B. Substantial knowledge of National bridge safety standards. C. Substantial working knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations relating to highway, bridge, and ditch systems designs, construction, and maintenance, land acquisition, and traffic control. D. Substantial working knowledge of federal and county state aid funding programs and methods of obtaining project approvals. E. Proven leadership skills for the management and supervision of Public Works Department activities. F. Considerable knowledge of Highway administration, personnel administration, management techniques, and organizational development. G. Ability to develop and implement Department goals and objectives; plan, coordinate, direct, and evaluate the work of others; develop and implement Department policies and procedures; and supervise personnel in a manner conducive to efficient performance and high morale. H. Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and have strong positive public relations skills. I. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. J. Ability to set policies and goals for the department. K. Ability to apply widely varied complex and significant variables, requiring analytical ability and inductive thinking in adapting policies, procedures, and methods to fit unusual and complex situations. L. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with frequent interaction to negotiate critical agreements or motivate behavior that requires a well-developed sense of strategy and time. M. Ability to travel within your daily work assignment. N. Ability to travel within Minnesota, including extended overnight stays. O. Ability to work extended, evening, and weekend hours as needed. P. Must comply with organizational and departmental policies. Q. Performs the physical/mental demands of the work environment requirements for this position. R. Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours, and outside regular hours, as necessary. S. Effective and respectful communication and interactions with other employees, supervisors, individuals from different organizations, and citizen customers. T. Must comply with data practices policies and standards related to private data. Access to private data is limited strictly to what is necessary to perform assigned job duties. While accessing such data, the employee must take reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access by individuals without a work-related need. Once the work-related purpose has been met, private data must be properly secured and stored in accordance with county policies and Minnesota Statutes. Physical Demands & Working Conditions A. Work is performed both in the office and in the field. Headaches, eyestrain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other related occupational hazards reflect the most common potential for injury within the office. B. Environmental conditions include heat, cold, wetness, insect-borne illnesses, and other related occupational hazards associated with field work. C. This position may be intermittently exposed to offensive language and threats. D. This position is under continuous mental effort and stress. E. This position frequently performs work under high attention to detail and deadlines. Hours of Work A. Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Equipment Utilized A. Office Equipment, computer hardware and software, County Pickup trucks, County SUV vehicles, personal vehicle, and phones. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The County Board, County Administrator, or appropriate Elected Official retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time. Benton County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Benton County offers an exceptional benefit package, including paid time off and holiday pay. Also included in this benefit package are health, comprehensive dental, and life insurance; medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts (Section 125 Plan); deferred compensation plan, and Public Employees Retirement (pension) - (P.E.R.A.). BENTON COUNTY BENEFIT SUMMARY This summary is intended for general information purposes and does not represent the legal description of our benefit package. The summary plan descriptions, Benton County personnel policies, or applicable labor contracts contain more complete information and will prevail in the event of a discrepancy. TO VIEW BENTON COUNTY'S BENEFITS GUIDE FOR DETAILS ON BENEFITS-CLICK HERE. COMPETITIVE AND EQUITABLE COMPENSATION: It is the policy of Benton County that competitive and equitable compensation be provided to employees, consistent with the Local Government Pay Equity Act and federal standards. We strive to be a market-competitive employer with externally competitive compensation rates and internally equitable. To do so, Benton County has adopted an annual classification maintenance program that provides for the ongoing review of all job classifications on a three-year rotating cycle. The Human Resource Department has information regarding the county’s Compensation Plan, job classifications, and annual classification maintenance program. PAID TIME OFF (PTO): PTO is defined as authorized absence from duty with pay granted to employees in permanent employment positions. The amount of PTO earned is dependent upon hours worked and the employee’s length of service measured from his or her last date of continuous service with Benton County in accordance with the following schedule: YEARS OF SERVICE ANNUAL ACCRUAL RATE PER PAY PERIOD ACCRUAL RATE PTO DAYS EARNED 0 through 2 years 168 HOURS 6.46 HOURS 21 PTO DAYS 3 through 6 years 192 HOURS 7.38 HOURS 24 PTO DAYS 7 through 10 years 216 HOURS 8.31 HOURS 27 PTO DAYS 11 through 15 years 240 HOURS 9.23 HOURS 30 PTO DAYS 16 through 20 years 264 HOURS 10.15 HOURS 33 PTO DAYS 21+ years 288 HOURS 11.08 HOURS 36 PTO DAYS Employees in regular part-time positions, who normally work fourteen or more hours per week, shall earn PTO on a pro-rata basis. HOLIDAYS: Benton County observes the following 13 calendar holidays: New Year's Day Martin Luther King Day President's Day Good Friday (4 hours) Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor Day Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day Day after Thanksgiving Day Christmas Eve (4 hours) * Christmas Day **If Christmas Eve falls on a workday, County Offices (excluding the Sheriff’s Office) will close at noon. *Except for the December 24th holiday, if the holiday falls on a Saturday, the previous Friday shall be designated as the official holiday. If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be designated as the official holiday. HEALTH INSURANCE: Regular full-time employees and their dependents are eligible for group health insurance coverage, administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN. Eligibility begins on the first of the month following employment. Regular part-time employees regularly scheduled 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health insurance coverage. HEALTH CARE SAVINGS PLAN: Several classifications of employees participate in a post-employment, pre-tax savings plan, which allows you to save for future medical expenses. You may ask Human Resources for more details. DENTAL INSURANCE: Guardian dental benefits are available to those participating in the Benton County health insurance plan. The annual maximum is $1,200 per person. For more information or to find a dentist, go to https://www.guardianlife.com/ . LIFE INSURANCE: Regular full-time employees and elected officials shall be provided with a $10,000 term life insurance policy. OPTIONAL LIFE INSURANCE: Additional life insurance is available at the employee's expense. SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE: Employees may elect for supplemental insurance provided by AFLAC. Policies offered include short-term disability, accident, cancer, dental, cancer, critical illness, life, and vision. LONG-TERM DISABILITY: Regular full-time employees may elect long-term disability insurance. Long-term disability pays up to 60% of the employee's monthly income beginning on day 91 of total disability. Employees must elect an amount at the time of enrollment. Benefits continue until the employee can return to work or until the employee reaches retirement age. The maximum benefits duration is determined by the Social Security normal retirement date. RETIREMENT PROGRAM: Retirement benefits are provided through the Public Employee Retirement Association (P.E.R.A.). For more information on PERA, visit www.mnpera.org . As an employee of Benton County, you are enrolled in the Public Employees’ Retirement Association (P.E.R.A.). Participation is mandated for all public employees and includes contributions from your employer. YEARS EMPLOYEE EMPLOYER P.E.R.A. PLAN TO VESTED CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTION PERA–Coordinated Plan 3 Years 6.50% 7.50% PERA–Correctional Plan 5 Years 6.83% 10.25% PERA–Police & Fire Plan 5 Years 11.8% 17.70% PERA–Defined Contribution Plan 5 Years 5.00% 5.00% Once "vested" in PERA, you have secured a cash benefit for your retirement in this defined benefit retirement plan. Unlike most retirement plans today, PERA will provide secure retirement payments that are not dependent on the financial market. Your retirement payments can be calculated by you at any time! Alternatively, you may choose to take a refund of your contributions if preferred once no longer active in the PERA plan. DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Deferred Compensation plans are voluntary savings plans intended for long-term investing for retirement. Employees may elect to defer a portion of their paycheck into a deferred compensation plan as authorized under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code. Pre-tax and ROTH options are available.