Davis Purcell
Rapid City,SD
Summary
Public-sector executive with progressive leadership experience across large, complex public organizations, operations, and capital planning. Known for bringing structure, accountability, and clarity to complex organizations while maintaining trust with elected officials, department leadership, staff, and the public. Proven ability to translate policy direction into executable plans, stabilize fast-moving environments, and lead teams through growth, change, and decision-making.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Buildings & Grounds
Pennington County, SD
Rapid City, SD
10.2023 - Current
- Extensive experience managing government operations, leading multi-million-dollar capital projects, and driving strategic planning for rapidly growing jurisdictions.
- Created comprehensive facility needs assessments across multiple departments. Staffing projections, space requirements, and long-term growth modeling, translating data into clear, achievable capital plans.
- Translate complex technical and financial information into clear, actionable recommendations for elected officials.
- Chaired Building and Security Committees, advancing key safety improvements and project prioritization.
- Skilled at operating in complex political and organizational environments, keeping projects on schedule and maintaining stable operations under pressure.
- Brought a private-sector mindset to public service: streamlined workflows, implemented proactive programs, and drove operational efficiency without sacrificing quality.
- Recognized for knowing when to step in and when to let the team drive. Mentoring supervisors, strengthening internal talent, and creating room for people to advance.
- Managed major capital projects from design through completion, including large facility expansions and major security and operational upgrades supported by budgets over $100M.
Operations Manager
City of Rapid City, SD
Rapid City, SD
06.2018 - 10.2023
- Developed a centralized operations model from the ground up. Policies, staffing, maintenance programs, and capital planning included.
- Worked closely with city leadership, engineering, finance, and elected officials to prioritize and fund capital projects-balancing operational needs with political and budget realities.
- Oversaw daily operations across diverse city buildings-admin offices, public safety, parks, libraries-ensuring teams stayed aligned.
- Oversaw vendor contracts, procurement processes, and compliance with city policies and regulations.
- Facilitated communication between city leadership, community members, and project stakeholders.
- Managed emergency response planning and continuity strategies for critical city operations.
- Brought consistency and predictability to city facility operations-after years of Band-Aid fixes, departments had a reliable partner and a long-term plan.
Project Manager
Capital Management, SD
SD
03.2013 - 06.2018
- Managed multiple construction and renovation projects from planning through closeout—kept contractors on schedule, budgets in check, and stakeholders informed.
- Coordinated with architects, engineers, and vendors to ensure scope alignment and smooth handoffs during design, procurement, and build phases.
- Handled RFIs, submittals, change orders, and punch lists—ensured documentation was complete and up to date for internal and client reporting.
- Created and maintained project schedules, tracked milestones, and adjusted timelines proactively to avoid bottlenecks or scope creep.
- Built a strong foundation in contract administration, stakeholder communication, and accountability.
Education
Business Administration -
SDSU
Skills
- Strategic planning
- Decision-making
- Intergovernmental relations
- Community engagement
- Public speaking
- Organizational leadership
Certification
- CAPM
- NACo Leadership Academy
Timeline
Director of Buildings & Grounds
Pennington County, SD
10.2023 - Current
Operations Manager
City of Rapid City, SD
06.2018 - 10.2023
Project Manager
Capital Management, SD
03.2013 - 06.2018
Business Administration -
SDSU