Manager III – Plant Manager – Extended

The Position

Do you want to live in the stunning Pacific Northwest while working at Oregon's largest wastewater treatment plant to protect public health and improve water quality along the country's third-largest river?
Do you want to lead Portland's wastewater utility in its journey to become a full-fledged Utility of the Future, building on innovative and evolving resource recovery programs?

If so, you may be the Treatment and Pumping Operations & Maintenance Manager we are looking for!

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is seeking a Treatment and Pumping Operations & Maintenance Manager (Manager III). This position leads and is accountable for the operation and maintenance of the City of Portland's two wastewater treatment plants (including one that treats up to 450 million gallons per day), nearly 100 pump stations, and multiple innovative resource recovery facilities and programs, including a new renewable natural gas facility, management of biosolids for land application, and programs for biogas utilization and energy efficiency. Learn more about the treatment plants and programs here.

This position is located within the Operations and Maintenance Group, which protects public health, water quality and the environment by cost-effectively and innovatively operating and maintaining public wastewater treatment and resource recovery facilities and managing related programs in a way that both ensures compliance with applicable permits, regulations, and contracts and advances the priorities of the bureau set by executive leadership. The position manages four organizational divisions (156 employees under four direct reports) with a combined $52.5 million budget to operate, maintain and conduct related activities for treatment plant and pumping system assets. The Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant provides treatment for the City's combined sewer flows utilizing a conventional activated sludge secondary treatment process and chemically enhanced primary treatment systems during peak flows.

Key duties include:

• Provide proactive, visionary, and accountable leadership in building and maintaining a diverse and high performing workforce, including cultivating a workplace culture of safety, respect, trust, inclusion, and appreciation.
• Lead operational decisions for the organizational unit in collaboration with other internal stakeholders and with periodic input from key external stakeholders including regulators, elected officials, and advocates. This includes setting strategic long-term direction and milestones for division managers and staff, planning and managing the budget and long-term financial plan, and providing decisive feedback on fast-paced, day-to-day, continuous operational issues and questions.
• Collaborate with other groups on prioritization and delivery of a multi-billion-dollar, decade- long capital improvement program to update and expand the aging wastewater treatment system.
• Provide effective, innovative utility leadership and vision, including applying asset management principles, confirming service expectations, ensuring an up-to-date inventory of assets and systems, and increasing seismic and climate resiliency of bureau assets and operations.
• Represent the bureau to a variety of internal and external audiences unfamiliar with the technical details of treatment systems and regulatory compliance, including partner agencies, elected officials, and the news media.
• Requires physical presence at the Columbia Boulevard plant 4 days per week.

Although not required, you may have:
Management or leadership experience in water or wastewater facilities.

As a person, you are:

• An Equity-focused Leader: You have experience leading and mentoring diverse staff and creating and maintaining an inclusive, respectful, and culturally responsive workplace. You center equity in your decisions, work toward diversifying the workforce so it represents the community the bureau serves, and create an inclusive culture that values the individual and group differences within the workforce while fostering an environment of belonging among all employees.
• Empathic: The difficult effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Operations and Maintenance employees present challenges and opportunities in re-imagining operational and workplace practices. The Treatment and Pumping Operations and Maintenance Manager should bring care, focus, and empathy to the critical decisions ahead regarding service delivery requirements, employee work arrangements and locations, and ongoing employee support and development.
• Passionate: You have a passion for the people and services that make wastewater systems work, and are excited to bring your knowledge and skillset to BES. You are focused on workplace safety, environmental protection, accountability, and continuous improvement.

This position is exempt from Civil Service and is an "At Will" position . It serves at the discretion of the hiring authority, subject to the City of Portland Human Resources Administrative Rules and the Portland City Charter and Code.

About the Bureau of Environmental Services
This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). Together we are re-imagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:

• We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.
• We value our customers and partners.
• We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.
• We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.
• We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.
• We urge respectful communication and transparency.
• We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders' sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

BES is seeking talented individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities; and that desire to work collaboratively and creatively to broaden the variety of innovative ways to partner with and serve all Portland communities.
To learn more about the work we do at BES, click on the link: About Environmental Services | Portland.gov

Our BES 10-Year Strategic Plan can be found here: download (portland.gov)

City of Portland Core Values:
Anti-racism | Communication | Collaboration | Equity | Transparency | Fiscal Responsibility

These values guide our actions as we serve the community and engage our workforce. To learn more about the City's core values, please click here.

Why work at the City of Portland?
The City of Portland workforce serves a population of over 650,000. We are culture- and solutions-driven, viewing every challenge as an opportunity to learn, improve, and share our expertise. We are committed to removing systemic barriers to resources, access, and opportunity. The City is a believer in ALL people and continues to actively recruit and retain diverse top talent every day. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, healthcare flexible and/or dependent care spending accounts, Carrot Fertility, basic life, short- and long-term disability coverage to eligible employees and their families. If you are open-minded, motivated, community-focused, and self-aware, please apply yourself at the City of Portland today.

The City of Portland also participates in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). For more information on the City of Portland's benefits please click here.

Work Location
This position will be onsite 4 days a week, and will be able to work from home 1 day a week based on business needs. City Council approved a human resources administrative rule in January 2023, HRAR - 4.045, requiring employees, including those who are fully remote and hybrid, to perform work within Oregon or Washington. Employees have until May 4, 2023, to be in compliance with the new rule. For more information, click here.

To Qualify

Applicants must specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and resume how their education, training and/or experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Experience and comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of leadership, operational and strategic planning, program and service evaluation, complex budget preparation, labor relations, and workplace safety and emergency management related to operations and maintenance of industrial facilities.
2. Comprehensive knowledge of principles of management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation of both represented and non-represented staff.
3. Knowledge of principals, practices, and methods of change management and the social, political, intergovernmental, and operational issues influencing Bureau operations.
4. Experience managing a multicultural workforce, promoting an equitable workplace environment, and applying equitable program practices to diverse and complex services.
5. Strong communication skills and an ability to connect with diverse stakeholder groups internally and externally, including different communication styles, cultures, languages, and professions.

The Recruitment Process

An evaluation of each applicant's training and experience, as demonstrated in your cover letter and resume weighted 100%. Do not attach materials not re q uested. Only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. You have 14 days from the notice of the examination results to let us know if you disagree with your results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information. Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Recruitment Activity Schedule:

• Job Posting closes: 6/5/2023
• Applications Reviewed: week of 6/5/2023
• Eligible List / Notices Generated: week of 6/5/2023 or 6/12/2023
• 1st Round of Interviews: week of 6/12/2023 or 6/19/2023
• 2nd Round of Interviews: week of 6/26/2023 or early July
• Additional interviews will be scheduled as needed
• Job Offer: July/early August

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.
** PLEASE NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies**
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit a cover letter and professional resume online, specifically focused on your qualifications for this position as identified in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement in accordance with the following Application Instructions:

• Your résumé and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• Your cover letter should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where it was obtained which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your resume should support the details described in the cover letter.
• Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis : Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
• If you are requesting Veteran's Preference, as identified below, please describe in your cover letter any transferrable skills obtained during your military service and how they relate to each of the required minimum qualifications under the "To Qualify" section above.

  Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment. All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. Do not attach materials not requested. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Additional Information

Work Status: Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.

Veterans' Preference: If you are requesting Veterans' Preference, attach a copy of your DD214/DD215 and/or Veterans Administration letter stating your disability to your profile, as well as checking the box identifying yourself as a Veteran. You must request Veterans' Preference AND include a copy of your documentation for each recruitment to which you apply. Veterans' Preference documentation must be submitted no later than the closing date and time of this recruitment.

ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations: If you identify as a person with a disability, are pregnant or nursing, or observe a religious practice(s), and would like to request a reasonable accommodation when applying for this job, please contact the Recruiter below for assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be discriminated against based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, family status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income. The City values diversity and encourages everyone who is interested in employment with the City to apply.

Language Pay Differential: City of Portland employees who speak one or more languages in addition to English, may be eligible to receive a "language pay differential." This is compensation for qualifying multilingual City employees who use their language skill to assist the community. More about the language pay differential can be found here.

Did you know? The City of Portland has How to Apply Videos and offers How to Apply Classes . If you have questions after watching the videos you are invited to contact the recruiter listed on the announcement or starting in April 2023 you are invited to attend the Question and Answers session. If you prefer to attend a virtual class, they are also available once a month.

Contact Information
Karen Ehn, Senior Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
Karen.Ehn@portlandoregon.gov

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Closing Date/Time: 6/5/2023 11:59 PM Pacific