Bureau of Environmental Services Chief Engineer Opening

The City of Portland is currently recruiting for the Bureau of Environmental Services Chief Engineer to lead the bureau’s Engineering Services Group—a team of 150 professional, engineering, and technical staff responsible for the design and construction of Portland’s wastewater and stormwater collection, conveyance, and treatment infrastructure.

About the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) and the Engineering Services Group

The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) manages Portland’s wastewater and stormwater infrastructure to protect public health and the environment. We are at an exciting point of growth and change in BES, with multiple large projects and programs underway in our $190 million/year Capital Improvement Program – including a $400 million, multi-year expansion at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Working closely with the Bureau’s Project Management Office, engineering staff participate as key members of capital project teams and are responsible for the engineering design and construction oversight of capital projects. The Engineering Services Group is also responsible for setting policies and standards related to the City's storm, sanitary, and combined sewer systems and protecting and improving watershed health.

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 intentionally builds and nurtures a safe and inclusive environment so that employees are able to bring their true selves to work. We are committed to engaging with our community in an accessible and thoughtful way to deliver services that benefit all Portlanders, especially those who have experienced historical inequities, and work proactively to correct them. The BES Chief Engineer – and every BES employee – is responsible for advancing equity in our workplace culture and service delivery.

About the BES Chief Engineer Position

The BES Chief Engineer is an executive-level engineering manager who is a key member of the Bureau Leadership Team and who represents the Bureau before City Council and other public and private entities regarding Bureau programs, projects, and policies.

The BES Chief Engineer is also a leader who manages, mentors, and works collaboratively with staff, Bureau leadership, and other Chief Engineers at the City to ensure the future sustainability of BES and to broaden the variety of innovative ways we deliver solutions to all Portland communities.

The BES Chief Engineer is a licensed professional engineer and technical advisor responsible for establishing, maintaining, and enforcing the technical standards for the design and construction of combined sanitary and stormwater collection and treatment public works.

The work of this position includes:

• Planning, directing, controlling, coordinating, and evaluating the five diverse work programs involved in managing the Engineering Services Group; establishing goals and objectives for the Group; approving work methods and procedures; reporting on overall progress and effectiveness of programs; taking appropriate actions to correct performance and adjusting programs to meet requirements.
• Representing the Bureau before the City Council and Other Agencies, Boards and Commissions, public and private groups regarding Bureau programs, projects, and policies.
• Providing leadership and expertise to assist the Bureau in achieving its mission through participation in the Bureau’s Leadership Team; working with the Bureau Director and other Group Managers to ensure Engineering Services is fully coordinated with the Bureau's needs and goals.
• Providing change leadership to support organizational transition across the Bureau and process improvement related to CIP delivery, resiliency, and the Bureau’s Strategic Plan; works to continue the smooth transition of capital project management responsibility from Engineering Services to the Project Management Office.
• Establishing, maintaining, and enforcing engineering and technical standards for design and construction; reviewing and signing all final design plans and closeout documents for BES Public Works construction projects. 

Our Ideal Candidate

The Chief Engineer oversees a wide breadth of capital improvement project design and construction. This role is responsible for the overall vision of the BES Engineering Services Group and ensures that each division and section works cohesively to deliver major projects that improve City services and assets to benefit all Portlanders.

The ideal candidate will be a highly-ethical and forthright individual able to demonstrate:

• Leadership skills that emphasize integrity and professionalism to build trust and motivate a dynamic and diverse professional workforce.
• Dedication to creating and promoting an equitable workplace that demonstrates an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society; the ability to incorporate equity and diversity goals in decision-making, program evaluation, service delivery, and workforce development.
• Strong collaboration, interpersonal, and managerial skills to work with other senior leaders, bureau directors, and other government agencies, as well as contractors, trade associations, elected officials, members of the public, and other key constituencies; effective experience in negotiation and dispute resolution skills.
• A proven track record in the review and interpretation of engineering plans and specifications, codes, regulations, and complex technical documents and knowledge of municipal codes and regulatory obligations.
• Experience implementing process improvements and fostering innovation.

The City encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Although not required, the City encourages candidates that can fluently speak another language to include that information in their resume.  Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.