Position Summary

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 works closely with cross functional teams to protect 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 reports to the Bureau’s Deputy Director, the position manages three organizational divisions (156 employees under three 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:

• 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.
• 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, appreciation and innovation.
• Guide and motivate the team to achieve milestones while adeptly leading through periods of change and transformation.
• Plan, organize, guide and/or direct the work and performance expectations of the organization including Division Managers, Supervisors/Program Managers and technical or support personnel engaged in conducting the management, operation and maintenance of the bureau's assets, which includes the State's largest sewer and stormwater collection and treatment system and biosolids recycling program.  
• 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 and process improvement 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.

To Qualify-The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

1. Experience and comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of leadership, operational and strategic planning, program and service evaluation, complex budget preparation, and workplace safety related to operations and maintenance of industrial facilities.
2. Comprehensive knowledge of principles of management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
3. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with leadership, stakeholders and colleagues at all levels; demonstrate professionalism, diplomacy, and patience, and gain cooperation through discussion and collaboration.
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.

About Bureau of Environmental Services, City of Portland, OR

The Bureau of Environmental Services is your sewer and stormwater utility. We protect public health and our environment by collecting and recovering resources from the city’s wastewater, managing stormwater, and restoring and protecting Portland’s rivers, streams, and watersheds.

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