Utility Program Manager I/Utility Program Manager II

The City of Salem is seeking a motivated individual interested in serving in the Public Works Department as a Utility Planner (Program Manager I or Program Manager II (depending on experience)). You will work under the City’s Senior Utility Planner and will be generally responsible for developing and implementing plans, policies, and practices related to our utility services. This is a fulltime position with wide ranging responsibilities, including: leading master planning work, developing programs and policies, conducting public outreach, managing consultant contracts, interacting with other public agencies, and performing research and analysis, to name a few. The work spans all three utility lines of business – water, wastewater, and stormwater – and involves cross-disciplinary collaboration with Public Works staff in Operations, Engineering, Natural Resources Management, Wastewater Treatment, and more.

Left: Intake to water treatment plant at Geren Island. Center: Willow Lake Water Pollution Control Facility. Right: Mill Creek in south Salem.

Make an impact:

You will be a member of a cohesive, highly talented team of dedicated professionals. Ours is a very supportive, dynamic work environment with steep learning curves and many opportunities to excel. If you are seeking a multi-disciplinary position that can use your current skillset now and expand your professional repertoire over time, look no further than Salem Public Works.

Learn and grow:

Be part of an organization that provides a family-friendly work environment with excellent family-work balance. With competitive pay, outstanding benefits, flexible remote work policies, strong camaraderie, and opportunities to develop and expand your skillsets, the City of Salem is a great place to work.

What you will do:

Working under the general supervision of the Senior Utility Planner, the Utility Planner’s areas of responsibilities include, for example: developing water, wastewater, and stormwater-related plans and policies; managing the work of consultants and project teams; developing local regulations and standards; collaborating with local, state, and federal agencies; crafting interagency agreements; conducting public outreach; engaging with a diverse set of stakeholders; identifying and prioritizing capital project needs; interacting with members of the development community, and more. As a member of a diverse and highly talented team, the individual will work closely with other City staff, the Mayor and City Council, boards and commissions, state and federal agencies, consultants and contractors, volunteers and community organizations, and the public at large.

Additional job duties and responsibilities

The Utility Planner will be involved in work related utility master planning, regulatory compliance, interagency coordination, and policy development, to name a few. The individual will serve in both in both lead and supportive roles, depending on the scale and scope of the project or task. Among the many job duties and responsibilities:

• Conduct research, set goals, establish priorities, implement actions, and solve problems.
• Build relationships across organizational and cultural lines.
• Coordinate with partner agencies and organizations, including representatives of special purpose districts, watershed councils, state and federal agencies, and the Tribal Nations.
• Represent the City of Salem in complex discussions on matters related to long-term agreements, regulatory compliance, multiagency programs, and other initiatives.
• Prepare staff reports, policy analyses, grant applications, and project proposals.
• Engage with other subject matter experts, conduct research, analyze data, draw insights, make recommendations, and prepare reports.
• Manage the work of teams, consultant firms, and contracted service providers.
• Participate in expansive community engagement endeavors, including interactions with neighborhood groups, nonprofit organizations, the business and development communities, special interest groups, and environmental advocacy groups.
• Respond to public inquiries, particularly those related to Salem drinking water quality, wastewater treatment practices, and flood risk reduction in stormwater management.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• Opportunities to attend workshops, seminars, and conferences.
• Position schedule is flexible. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. With manager approval and dependent on the needs of the department, members of our team can follow a hybrid schedule on Mondays and/or Fridays.
• The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• Must have an Oregon Driver license and have a driving record that meets the City of Salem's driving standards.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in business or public administration, engineering, environmental services, planning, or in a related field, and four years of experience in a related field, or any combination of education, experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.
• Depending on the area of assignment, certifications or licenses may be required or preferred (and maintained throughout employment).

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• Must have an Oregon Driver license and a driving record that meets the City of Salem's driving standards.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, urban and regional planning, public policy, communications, economics, or a related field, and five years of experience in a related field, or any combination of experience and training that demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed, and ability to perform the essential job functions.
• Master's degree in business administration, urban and regional planning, public policy, economics or a related field preferred, and may substitute for two of the five years of work experience required.
• Depending on the area of assignment, certifications or licenses may be required or preferred.

What are the preferred qualifications (not required to apply):

• Experience working with external stakeholders, such as local, state, and federal regulators; Tribal Nations; business and private development interests; nonprofit organizations; and special interest groups.
• Knowledge and experience in Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative Rules related to utility services, urban growth, and statewide planning goals.
• Experience developing and managing plans and projects related to municipal utility services.
• Experience conducting public engagement and outreach activities.
• Experience working with consultant firms and contracted service providers, including writing proposals, approving scopes of work, and managing contracts.
• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Bilingual skills in Spanish.

What you will bring along:

• The desire to be a contributing member of a highly talented team responsible for an expansive range of programs, plans, and projects.
• An enjoyment of learning new concepts and of building excellent working relationships.

About us:

The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon. Located in the lush Willamette Valley, Salem is the capital city of Oregon with a population over 170,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings.

A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members.

The Public Works Department values employees and their professional development.  If you are someone that takes pride in collaborating on innovative ideas, proactively responding to community needs, and being a good environmental and financial steward, we look forward to meeting you! The Public Works Department promotes a healthy work life balance, while maintaining the utmost dedication to the health, safety, and welfare of our community, including our team! 

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Program Manager I or  Program Manager II or view by clicking here.

How can I apply?

The City of Salem invites individuals of all communities and backgrounds to apply for our available job opportunities as we strive to provide the best service to everyone. The City of Salem is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all and has a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe that by welcoming differences, encouraging new ideas and views, listening to, and learning from each other, we are better able to serve the community.

To apply, click on the green “Apply” button to complete your application.

Applicants that meet the minimum qualifications as outlined above but not selected for this position may be placed on an eligibility list, and candidates may be hired from the list. Eligibility lists are valid for six months. The City will send email notifications to eligible candidates about potential hiring opportunities so please ensure your email settings accept our system generated email notifications.

You may subscribe for automatic notification of job openings at the City of Salem through the  Job Interest Cards - sign up today!

For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN IMPLIED CONTRACT AND MAY BE MODIFIED OR REVOKED WITHOUT NOTICE

Salary : $6,483 - $9,086