Executive Director, Public Works

11386BR

Executive Director, Public Works

Job Posting

Municipalities are the closest level of government to the public and employees take pride in making Halifax the best it can be. A municipal public servant makes a difference in the lives of over 500,000 people in the Halifax region. If you are committed to public service, have a desire to learn, grow, and give back to the community through your work, you may be the right fit for our organization.

Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting applications for the permanent full-time position of Executive Director of Public Works.

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.

About the Opportunity:

Reporting to the Commissioner of Operations, the Executive Director is accountable for the provision of effective leadership to the Halifax Regional Municipality’s (HRM) Public Works business unit. The Executive Director is responsible for providing strategic leadership and stewardship in the provision of traffic management and road safety services; life-cycle maintenance and management of streets and active transportation infrastructure including snow and ice control; transportation project planning, design & construction; solid waste collection, processing, and disposal.

The Executive Director plays a critical leadership function in managing intergovernmental relations and advancing key external partnerships, particularly with the Province and LinkNS to support coordinated planning, service delivery, and infrastructure outcomes. This role is responsible for ensuring high quality, customer-focused service delivery by using innovative policies and procedures to maximize the effective utilization of human, financial and physical resources available to the business unit.

Key Responsibilities and Priorities:

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Direction - Provide executive leadership for the Public Works business unit, setting clear direction aligned with corporate priorities, Council expectations, and long-term municipal infrastructure and service objectives. Foster a shared vision and culture of accountability, collaboration, and service excellence across all areas of responsibility.

Operational Leadership & Service Excellence - Oversee the delivery of critical municipal services including traffic management and road safety, infrastructure maintenance and operations, active transportation, snow and ice control, transportation project planning and construction, and solid waste services. Ensure services are delivered efficiently, safely, and with a strong customer-service focus.

People Leadership & Culture Development - Champion a high-performing, safe, and inclusive workplace culture through effective leadership, talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement. Promote strong leadership practices across the management team and ensure alignment with organizational values and expectations.

Infrastructure Strategy & Asset Leadership - Guide long-term infrastructure planning and asset management strategies, ensuring sustainable investment and lifecycle approaches to municipal assets. Apply evidence-based decision-making to balance short-term operational needs with long-term infrastructure resilience.

Innovation, Change & Continuous Improvement - Drive innovation and continuous improvement in service delivery, operational practices, and organizational effectiveness. Lead change initiatives that modernize systems, improve efficiency, and enhance service outcomes for residents and key partners.

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate is an experienced executive leader with a master’s degree in engineering or business/public administration (or equivalent combination of education and experience) and at least seven years of progressive senior leadership experience, preferably in municipal government or a similarly complex operational environment. They bring demonstrated experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams and managing significant operating and capital budgets, with strong knowledge of infrastructure-intensive services such as transportation systems, infrastructure maintenance, traffic operations, construction, and/or solid waste services. Professional Engineer designation (or eligibility) and/or PMP certification is considered an asset.

The successful candidate is politically astute and experienced working within a public sector governance environment, with the ability to provide strategic advice and operational leadership in support of Council, the Executive Leadership Team, and organizational priorities. They possess strong decision-making, analytical thinking, communication, and change management skills, along with experience in emergency response, operational risk management, business continuity planning, and evidence-based decision-making. As a leader, they foster safe, inclusive, and high-performing workplaces through effective delegation, employee engagement, continuous improvement, and a strong focus on accountability, innovation, and service excellence.

Skills and Attributes:

Transportation, Traffic & Road Safety Operations - Knowledge of transportation systems and municipal traffic management, including road safety principles, traffic operations, winter maintenance (snow and ice control), and coordination of transportation planning, design, and construction activities.

Solid Waste Systems & Environmental Operations - Understanding of solid waste collection, processing, and disposal systems, including operational service delivery models, regulatory considerations, and environmental compliance requirements.

Public Sector Governance, Legislation & Compliance – High level of knowledge of relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks, including the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act, Public Highways Act, Municipal Government Act, HRM Charter, and applicable municipal by-laws, policies, and occupational health and safety requirements.

Emergency Management & Operational Risk - Ability to lead within emergency response environments, including incident management, business continuity planning, and operational risk identification, mitigation, and monitoring across complex service areas.

Financial, Project & Portfolio Management - Experience overseeing large operating and capital budgets and managing complex project portfolios, with the ability to apply sound financial stewardship, prioritization, and evidence-based decision-making to competing infrastructure and service demands.

How we do what we do:
The core competencies needed for success in this role include:

• Valuing Diversity
• Visioning, Strategic Thinking & Innovation
• Networking/Relationship Building
• Decision Making
• Managing Change
• Analytical Thinking
• Communications
• Organizing & Planning
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork & Cooperation

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those applicants moving forward in the recruitment process will be contacted.

Should you require an accommodation to participate fully in the recruitment process, please let us know. For more information on our accommodation process, please visit the Accommodations and Employment section of our website, located here.

For more information on this opportunity, please contact Erinn Smeltzer, Director of Talent Management at Erinn.Smeltzer@halifax.ca or click “Apply to job” below to submit your application package by 11:59PM on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

(position # 72282593)

Executive Director, Public Works | Halifax Regional Municipality