Job Description

Job Description

THIS RECRUITMENT WILL CLOSE ON AUGUST 17, 2025 OR WHEN THE POSITION IS FILLED, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST

About the position

Job Appointment:  Full time

Work Schedule:  Monday - Friday Day Shift; Alternate Schedule May Be Available

Work Location:  The Portland Building, 1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Portland, OR 97205

Benefit:  Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position

Language Pay Premium Eligible:  This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees

Union Representation: Nonrepresented

Application Material:  Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.

Some positions may require those placed on the eligible list to complete and sign a criminal history statement before being considered for employment.

Position Summary

The Water Bureau has an exciting opportunity in its Engineering Services Group (ESG) Design Section. This position will be responsible for managing large, complicated capital projects for the ESG. The ESG is responsible for planning, designing and constructing the bureau's capital improvement, developer, and interagency projects utilizing both in-house and contracting services.

The role will help in ensuring the delivery of high quality, efficient, and critical projects for PWB customers. The Engineer III will work closely with the Design Group Engineering Supervisor to lead a staff of Engineers, Technicians and Project Managers.

The position serves as a subject matter expert on groundwater hydrology, well construction, well pumping equipment, pump station, and water storage tank design. An ideal candidate would have groundwater well infrastructure background, pumps/tanks project and program management experience, and supervisory skills. Or any equivalent combination of experience and training.

This position will primarily focus on supporting the bureau’s Groundwater Well Program, but will also help support the Pump Station and Distribution Storage Program projects. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): providing engineering and technical assistance to the ESG, managing, training, mentoring, and assigning projects to engineering staff in the work group, for advancing assigned projects, and supervisory support to staff, including consultants and contractors to ensure program/project goals and objectives are met.

The position will supervise two full-time employees.

Work includes review of scopes, schedules, and budgets for the Groundwater Well Program and that individual projects are established and maintained. This position monitors and provides input for projects from planning to construction management; performs design project quality assurance/quality control check. This position will also be the designated project manager to lead sensitive and/or technically complex projects requiring a senior level engineer.

To successfully fulfill the responsibilities, the Engineer III will collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including staff throughout the PWB (operations, maintenance and construction, water quality, resource protection), consultants, construction contractors, other City bureaus, regulatory agencies, and the general public.

The Engineer III will continue to develop and support program processes and goals, and promote a rewarding workplace environment. The position will also actively participate in supporting the Bureau’s Strategic Plan, Vision and Mission statements. This is a permanent full-time position.

What you’ll get to do:

• Lead your team by developing a vision and strategy to build a strong, positive, and innovative team focused on supporting stakeholder needs.

• Foster strong relationships with other groups in the Bureau as well as interagency and external customers through strong collaboration.

• Build  a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse, complex City services.

• Help shape policies, processes, and standards; help establish budgets and provide workload forecasting for number as well as types of staff needed to achieve goals.

• Supervise staff, including establishing performance expectations and goals; recruit and hire staff to meet program and project delivery goals; provide instruction for performance improvement and development; evaluate performance and complete annual performance reviews; recommend discipline as necessary.

• Proactively identify, mitigate, resolve, track design and project management issues.

About the Bureau:

The Portland Water Bureau (PWB) serves almost a million people in the Portland area, about a quarter of Oregon's population. PWB employs over 600 people providing responsive service to build and maintain a water system that enhances public health and safety and contributes to the economic vitality and livability of the Portland metropolitan region.

Our mission: We serve excellent water every minute of every day.

Our vision: The water our community loves is safe and abundant for generations to come.

Our equity commitment: We work to uproot systemic inequities and their impacts on our employees and the people we serve. We commit to the difficult – and essential – work of transforming Water Bureau policies, practices, and culture to better serve historically and currently oppressed communities.

Our values:

Honor our responsibility. We take part in a long legacy of careful stewardship of natural resources, infrastructure, and public trust. We never forget that water is essential.

Serve our community. We know people depend on us. We are dedicated to listening, communicating, and acting with compassion.

Work well. Our strength lies in the skills, expertise, and creativity our employees bring to work every day. We work hard, we work safely, and we adapt.

Use money wisely. We work to control costs while maintaining high standards. We invest to make our water system stronger, more flexible, and better prepared for challenges ahead.

Have a question?

Contact Information:

Anna Morgan, Senior Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

anna.morgan@portlandoregon.gov

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

1. Possess a certificate to practice as a registered Professional Engineer
2. Ability to obtain an Oregon Professional Engineer Certificate within six months after appointment
3. Knowledge of engineering theory, principles, practices, materials, costs, construction techniques, current trends, regulations, standards and equipment applicable to water system design
4. Knowledge of the principles of budget, personnel, cost control and administrative practices and policies, including developing, monitoring, managing, and reporting on budgets. Experience planning, assigning, supervising and coordinating the work of field, professional and technical staff.
5. Skills in managing professional and technical staff and consultants and managing multiple projects within a program budget.
6. Ability to engage in problem solving and communicate, both written and oral communication, scientific and technical matters to peers and non-technical individuals, including policymakers and the public.
7. Experience  in engineering planning, design, contract administration, program planning and project management principles and techniques.

Applicants must also possess:

• A valid state driver's license and an  acceptable driving record at the time of hire
• Ability to pass a criminal history check

Although not required, you may have one or more of the following: 

• A minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in professional engineering is preferred. 
• Experience with engineering planning and design of groundwater supply wells, groundwater storage and treatment maintenance and operations, groundwater protection actions, and construction to preserve and enhance groundwater infrastructure and resources, is highly desired. Engineers with limited groundwater well design experience but who have extensive water storage and pumps/pump station design experience are also encouraged to apply.

STEP 1: Apply online between May 19 , 2025 – August 17, 2025 (or until the position is filled)

Required Application Materials:

• Resume
• Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• If you wish to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your veteran documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) by the recruitment's closing date.

We have recently updated our veteran preference process. Starting March 3rd, 2025 If you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.

If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• If you apply and are notified you meet minimum qualifications/placed on the eligible list, please do not reapply. Any applications received after being placed on the eligible list will not be reviewed and will be rejected as a duplicate application.

• If you apply and are notified you do not meet qualifications and the recruitment is still open, you may reapply and update your materials. 
• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.

• How We Determine Pay :  The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.

• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage use AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. 

• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

STEP 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: May 19th to June 2nd – Approximately every three (3) weeks 

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
• Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. 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.

STEP 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of June 2nd, 2025

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. 
• Subsequent Eligible Lists  will be issued when qualifying applicants are identified .

STEP 4: Selection (Interview):  Mid-Late June

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.
• Interviews will be conducted periodically as additional candidates are selected.

STEP 5: Offer of Employment: TBD

• Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment.

STEP 6: Start Date:  TBD

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, For contractors, Flexible hours, Day shift, Monday to Friday,

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