City of Portland

Compensation

Full Description

Job Appointment: Full-time, At Will. This position is exempt from Civil Service and is an "At Will" position. It serves at the discretion of the hiring authority, subject to the City of Portland Human Resources Administrative Rules and the Portland City Charter and Code. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm. Work hours will vary to meet business needs. Work Location: In-Person at the Vanport Building (1810 SW Fifth Avenue Suite 710). Benefits: Please check our benefits 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: This classification is not represented. Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a Cover Letter and Resume. Position Summary The City of Portland, Oregon seeks an experienced leader for the position of Deputy Director in the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS). The Deputy Director is a member of the Bureau's Executive Leadership Team, and is responsible for strategic direction, change management, and operational effectiveness. The BPS Deputy Director performs essential high-level functions including but not limited to: • Advance Strategy and Culture • Assists the Director with strategic planning, setting bureau mission, vision, and culture. • Communicates strategy, values, and goals to internal staff and partners. • Lead Change and Improvement • Directs special projects that improve efficiency and impact of our operations. • Represents the bureau in citywide organizational and operational initiatives. • Oversee Operations and Internal Services • Develops and implements internal policies, programs, and practices to strengthen operations and customer service. • Oversees processes for maintaining and updating bureau administrative rules. • Supervises internal service teams (operations, communications, people services, finance, technical services) and liaises with centralized citywide services when applicable. • Budget and Financial Leadership • Supports the Deputy City Administrator and Director during budget development. • Ensures the budget reflects program needs and that narratives are accurate. • Act as a resource on fund-specific financial forecasting, in coordination with finance and program staff (PCEF and Solid Waste) • Serve as second-in-command to the Director • Supports the Director in answering questions from City executive leadership and members of City Council. • Acts as the Director in their absence. • Supports Governance and External Relations • Coordinates with program staff and the Office of Government Relations on the Bureau's state and federal legislative agenda. Ideal Candidate Profile: The ideal candidate for Deputy Director of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is an experienced and collaborative executive leader with: • Strategic leadership skills to align staff, resources, and partners with bureau goals. • Expertise in change management to guide the bureau through operational and cultural transformation. • Commitment to continuous improvement to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and equity. • Strong project and program management skills to deliver complex initiatives with measurable results. • Financial and budget acumen to develop, manage, and forecast budgets with transparency and accuracy. • Collaboration and communication skills to build partnerships across bureaus, with elected officials, and community stakeholders. • Commitment to equity and inclusion in planning, operations, and decision-making. • Executive presence to represent the Director, bureau, and City leadership effectively. About the Bureau: The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) is a leader in land use planning, climate action, environmental stewardship, and urban design. BPS centers racial equity in its work and is dedicated to creating a Portland that is more equitable, healthy, prosperous, and resilient. Staff collaborate with partners on comprehensive, neighborhood, economic, historic, and environmental planning. The bureau provides research, policy and technical services to advance sustainable economic development, energy efficiency, renewable energy, as well as policies and actions to address climate change. The bureau oversees a world renowned waste and recycling system, leads the U.S. in its commitment to open data and protecting communities in the application of new technologies, and manages the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund. BPS values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization. Candidates of color, those who can speak a language other than English, and those with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and diverse communities are strongly encouraged to apply. BPS considers lived experience, and transferrable skills as qualifying unless an item is labeled as required. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and the best candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We strongly encourage you to apply. Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity Come meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter! We'll be talking about the position duties and responsibilities, day to day life in the role, review the announcement, discuss how to apply, and answer questions you may have about the position. Wednesday, October 1 at 2:00 PM, PDT Registration Link Have a question? Contact Information: Tamela Ressler, Senior Recruiter Tamela.Ressler@portlandoregon.gov The following minimum qualifications are required for this position: • Experience in one of the professional fields of expertise housed within the bureau, including but not limited to: urban planning, equity and inclusion, community involvement, climate science, grant-making, solid waste and recycling, or policy development. • Experience with change management within a large organization (100+ employees). • Experience applying the principles and practices of strategic leadership in public administration, budget preparation, communications, and administration. • Experience applying the principles of management, supervision, training, and performance evaluation. • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; present information, proposals, maintain effective working relationships, and recommendations clearly and persuasively in public settings. • Ability to employ tools to examine the impacts of decisions on people traditionally under-represented in local decision-making, including dismantling legacy practices that limit access to opportunity. Desired Qualifications: Although not required, you may have one or more of the following preferred qualifications: • Education/Training: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in any of the following: business administration, public administration, urban planning, environmental science, technology, finance, communications, or human resources. • Experience: Six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience managing programs, activities, and personnel; including three (3) years of leadership experience in a complex and diverse organization. STEP 1: Apply online between September 22, 2025 – October 13, 2025 Required Application Materials: • Cover letter • Resume • Answer the three (3) 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. If you make 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: • Details are Key! Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide detailed examples for each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section. A subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements. • Your application materials should reflect your own experiences and skills. You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses. Avoid copy and pasting. • 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. We strongly encourage you 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. • 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: Week of October 13, 2025 • An evaluation of each applicant's training, paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter, and resume, weighted 100%. • Your cover letter and résumé 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 October 20, 2025 • Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. Step 4: Selection (Interview): Late October – Early November • Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview. Step 5: Offer of Employment: November 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 • Veteran Preference • ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer