ITS Manager II presso City of Portland, OR

About the Department

Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8 am-5 pm. An alternate schedule may be available.
Work Location: This position is located at two worksites based on team locations: the bureau’s Guilds Lake Office in NW Portland houses the Public Works Inspection Team, and the Materials Testing Laboratory in N Portland houses the materials testing, special inspection, and geotechnical services teams. 
Benefits: For an overview of the benefits for this position, you can visit our benefits tab.
Union Representation: Non-represented, no union affiliation

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

Are you a strategic, innovative, visionary leader and change agent with proven experience in leading diverse teams?

Then this position, leading a newly formed division, could be a great fit for you! The position presents a unique opportunity to lead a skilled team focused on inspection quality assurance, materials testing, and geotechnical services to support capital improvement project delivery. The position is ideal for a leader who is excited for an opportunity to have an impact on delivering quality services and fostering a positive, engaged team culture with a united vision. Both the bureau and City are in the process of significant change, and this position can contribute to and lead strategic initiatives and develop and inspire innovative ways to provide services.  The position provides a unique and challenging opportunity to strategize and shape the organizational structure of the new division, ensure quality of services provided, oversee and support safety practices on construction sites and at the materials testing laboratory, and lead and develop a service-oriented culture based on trust. A key highlight is the unique opportunity to oversee the bureau’s Materials Testing Laboratory, a valuable in-house resource and expertise to support the City in maintaining quality on our construction projects.

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is seeking a Manager II to lead the Inspection and Testing Services (ITS) Division with over 50 staff in the Engineering Services Group.  The ITS Division was formed as part of a strategic organizational realignment to optimize team structure for the delivery of the bureau’s 5-year capital improvement plan, which is budgeted for nearly $1 Billion. This new position leads teams focused on quality assurance and compliance, including testing, to ensure that the City’s capital investments are built/constructed to meet design requirements and that work is done in a safe manner. 

Key functions of this leadership position include:

• Collaborate with division managers, subordinate supervisors, Chief Engineer, and Service Area partners in preparing annual division work plans; develop, implement, improve, and evaluate inspection and testing programs, workflow, and methods in alignment with Bureau/Group plans, budgets, and policies.
• Coordinate public works and special inspection, materials testing, and geotechnical engineering subject matter expertise support for capital improvement projects –primarily BES projects, and for other bureaus in the Public Works Service Area.
• Plan, organize, and manage the work of staff, including developing and implementing staff work plans, including professional development, training, and staff resources, to achieve mission, goals, and performance measures.    
• Provide leadership to attract, develop, and retain diverse, highly competent, service-oriented staff that support the City’s and Bureau/Group’s mission, objectives, and service expectations; create and promote an equitable workplace that demonstrates an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society.
• Assist in budget development and administration, including forecasting resources needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitor budget to actual revenues and expenditures and suggest mid-year or other adjustments.  

What you’ll get to do: 

• Lead your division by managing and directing the development, implementation, and evaluation of the bureau’s inspection and testing programs, plans, processes, systems, and procedures.   
• Shape policies, processes, and standards.
• Establish budgets and provide workload forecasting needed to meet project workloads.
• Develop a resilient, experienced, and diverse team that is able to support shifts in project types based on bureau priorities and fosters an inclusive work environment.
• Ensure inspection and testing services are completed in accordance with work plans, and compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, codes, and Bureau/Group policies and procedures.  
• Foster strong relationships to ensure services provided are done collaboratively according to standards, project needs, and existing processes, and include safety standards; oversee the development of comprehensive standard operating procedures for the inspection and testing teams.  

An ideal candidate will demonstrate through direct or transferable experience:

While not required, desired experience includes:

• Leading public works and special inspection staff that provide technical services requiring adherence to standards and specifications, including established safety procedures. 
• Working with materials testing services, procedures and coordination. 
• Results-driven leadership through strategy and collaboration, and an inclusive style that results in trusting relationships and fostering diverse, inclusive teams. 
• Leading construction, operations or maintenance supervising teams that also include quality assurance and control, safety oversight, and emergency response roles.

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 who 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)

Position Duties

Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Knowledge of the principles and practices of leadership, operational and strategic planning, current business communication, public administration, program evaluation, budget preparation and administration, and fields related to the mission and purpose of public works inspection and testing.
2. Knowledge of principles of management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
3. Ability to apply analytic and problem-solving skills to independently develop sound decisions, conclusions, and recommendations.
4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; demonstrate tact, diplomacy, and patience, and gain cooperation through discussion and collaboration.
5. Ability to manage a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex City services

Additional Requirements

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications is acceptable.

Education/Training: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business administration, public administration, or a field related to the organizational unit or Bureau/Office (e.g., engineering, environmental science); 

AND 

Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience developing, implementing, and managing programs, projects, and/or personnel functions within an organizational unit, including a minimum of three (3) years in a supervisory role.

Minimum Qualifications

STEP 1: Apply online between August 25, 2025, and September 8, 2025

• Cover letter.
  • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you are able to provide detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Resume
• Answer to three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
• Optional Application Materials:
• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.
• Application Tips:
• Your cover letter can exceed one page but no more than three, to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will evaluate your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.
• 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.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note that 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 the use of 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. 

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, is weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter 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 results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required before the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

• The hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.
• Please note, that the selection process may take up to 90 days from the notification of being placed on the eligible list.

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

Other Qualifications

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations