Environmental Services Engineering Manager

Position Description

This position is open until filled. Applications received by July 3, 2025, will receive first consideration.

The City of Tacoma’s Environmental Services Department has an exciting opportunity for an Engineering Manager to join our Capital Delivery Team. Engineering Managers lead and supervise a team of engineers, project managers, engineering technicians, and construction managers. We are a dynamic and fun engineering group that supports a wide variety of projects for the wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste utilities with an annual $30M average capital budget.

The Capital Delivery Group provides a unique opportunity for engineers to work on a wide variety of complex projects covering the full spectrum of municipal infrastructure improvements. Our capital projects may include wastewater treatment process improvements, storm and wastewater sewer pipe improvements, pump station upgrades, building upgrades, and stormwater green infrastructure projects.

The below video links provide examples of the award winning, exciting, and diverse engineering projects we often work on:

Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Flood Project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp0BiB_5w_8

Process Control System Upgrade:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQPWWadONfU&list=PLHN0JO4Eyqcc9RtkqmwBT3XcZpYheNCQ7&index=48&t=14s

The applicant selected for this position will work in the Center for Urban Waters facility located adjacent to Tacoma’s Thea Foss Waterway in downtown Tacoma with a variety of dynamic and creative engineers, scientists, and technicians.

City of Tacoma’s Principles that Guide Us

Tacoma, the City of Destiny, has a workforce of dedicated, talented, and open-minded employees with unique skills and perspectives. We embrace innovation and strive for excellence and community engagement in all that we do. The Principles that Guide Us, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Equity , speak to the values that we embody as City of Tacoma employees, and represent the core of our work in public service.

Primary Job Responsibilities include:

• Performing supervisory duties for all direct reports, including coaching, mentoring, and career development.
• Provide engineering technical guidance to engineering and construction staff.
• Perform quality control reviews of engineering designs and sign and seal plans for non-licensed engineers.
• Assist with coordination on emergency projects, complicated field issues, and significant change orders.
• Track resource levels of project staff, assign projects, and monitor workloads.
• Coordinate with Assistant Division Manager on capital delivery productivity and spending.
• Collaborate with the asset management team related to capital delivery project planning, and budgeting; assist with the development of the six-year capital improvement plan.
• Collaborate with other internal City departments such as Public Works, Tacoma Water, and Planning & Development Services for coordination on partnering projects.
• Coordinate with non-City agencies, such as Department of Ecology, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Pierce County Flood Control Zone District, and others for grant funding opportunities, regulatory requirements, permitting, construction project coordination, and other activities.

City of Tacoma’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Tacoma’s diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma’s entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. One of our goals is for the City of Tacoma workforce to reflect the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.

The City of Tacoma is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workplace. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
Position may require driving, sitting, standing, walking or climbing for long periods of time.
Work performed in office, field and other environments.

WHY WORK FOR THE CITY?
The City of Tacoma offers a generous program of employee benefits:

• Outstanding working conditions and an exceptional quality-of-life environment.
• Medical coverage for eligible employees, spouses and dependents, including children up to age 26.
• Vision care with VSP for employees and eligible dependents enrolled in the Regence PPO medical plan with vision benefits.
• Dental coverage for eligible employees and their elected dependents, including dependent children up to the age of 26.
• Deferred compensation allowing tax-deferred savings as authorized under Section 457 of the IRS Code.
• Personal time off.
• Paid holidays.
• A great pension plan.

Our City:
With a population over 220,000, Tacoma is the second largest city in the Puget Sound region, gracing the shores of Commencement Bay. We are a diverse, progressive, international city that serves as a gateway to the Pacific Rim and the rest of the world. Named one of the most livable areas in the country by Livability.com, Tacoma and the surrounding area is a playground for outdoor and maritime enthusiasts. Our businesses are vibrant, our parks are beautiful, and our schools are exceptional.

The City of Tacoma supports a healthy work/life balance, continuing education programs, leadership pathways, wellness incentives and a total rewards benefits program. We welcome you to take a look at our website and discover how the City of Tacoma can make your next career move part of our combined destiny:

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, environmental, mechanical, or electrical engineering or directly related field
• 6 years of engineering experience including 2 years as a licensed professional engineer including 1 year prior at senior, lead and/or other supervisory level
• Washington State Licensed Professional Engineer (6-month grace period allowable to transfer PE license from another state to WA State)

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with civil and mechanical engineering design, specifically in the disciplines of stormwater and wastewater collection systems, wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, green stormwater infrastructure, roadway design, and solid waste facility management.

Knowledge & Skills

• Analysis: use data and information in a clear and rational process to assess and understand issues, evaluate options, form accurate conclusions, and make decisions.
• Research: Effectively identify, collect, organize, and document data and information in ways that make the information most useful for subsequent assessment, analysis, and investigation using current software and techniques. Compile and maintain reports, records, and various other forms of pertinent information in an organized and professional manner.
• Leadership: Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with co-workers, the general public, and other municipalities and federal agencies. Ability to lead small to large working teams. Establish, coordinate, and direct work teams to accomplish assigned tasks to a successful completion. Ability to work as a team member in a managing role. Ability to coordinate multi-disciplined project teams.
• Problem Solving: Use intelligence, common sense, hard work and tenacity to solve particularly difficult or complicated challenges. Employ expertise and credibility, evaluate and resolve complex or sensitive issues and problems.
• Communications Effectiveness: Effective communication both verbal and in writing including the compilation of reports, presentations and records; and interacting respectfully and sensitively with individuals and groups to develop and maintain productive relationships and achieve results. Makes excellent customer service the standard, responding to changing customer needs, and helping customers implement complete solutions.
• Professionalism: Conduct all assignments in a professional and timely manner. Maintain strong work ethic and reliability. Maintain professional skills that apply to all aspects of field of assigned specialty through continued education and/or training. Model effective group behavior such as listening, discussing, negotiating, encouraging and motivating. Maintain current knowledge of industry by reading and interpreting applicable ordinances, rules, regulations, practices, policies and procedures.
• Technical: Proficient in engineering practices and principles within the field of expertise. Experience in complex project design and the preparation of engineering plans, technical specifications, cost estimates and bid documents. Ability to negotiate the means to attain regulatory compliance with agencies. Ability to be innovative and make independent decisions.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

Apply

Interested individuals should apply online and attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position. Applications will be reviewed as they are received for interview consideration. Reference checks will be conducted on final candidates and appointment is subject to passing a background check.

Communication from the City of Tacoma:

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information. Be prepared to spend at least an hour entering information. In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.

For assistance with the NEOGOV application process, questions regarding this job announcement, or if you are experiencing complications while applying, please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591.5400 by 4:00 pm of the closing date of the job announcement. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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