Interagency Water Manager

Salary: $142,846 - $187,976 annually. Placement on salary range determined by relevant experience presented in application. Full-time, limited duration, exempt, plus benefits. Application Deadline: 1/25/2026. About This Opportunity

The City of Hillsboro Water Department is seeking a highly skilled and strategic leader to serve as an Interagency Water Manager in a 2-year limited duration appointment. This full-time opportunity, with the flexibility to accommodate a part-time schedule, is a unique chance to support the Water Director in advancing mission-critical programs and services that have long-term, organization-wide impact. The Interagency Water Manager plays a key role in guiding complex operations, leading staff, and representing the Department in high-level internal, regional, and intergovernmental partnerships—helping ensure reliable, sustainable, and innovative water services for the community.

What You Will Be Doing

The principal function of an employee in this class is to assist the Director in the execution of their duties and based upon assignment may have responsibility for one or more department divisions, and/or may serve as the designated expert and representative related to mission-critical department subject matter. With the guidance of the Water Director, incumbents exercise strategic and visionary thinking and apply advanced management principles, having long-term organization-wide application and impact; develop and implement programs critical to the City, its citizens, and regional and private sector partners. Incumbents supervise staff including conducting performance evaluations, coordinating training; and implementing hiring, development, coaching, discipline, and termination procedures.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Tasks:

• Supervises and directs staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensures staff is trained; ensures that employees follow policies and procedures; maintains a healthy and safe work environment; and makes hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
• Provides oversight and directs the implementation of internal programs, projects, and the operation of multiple assigned functions, sections, and/or divisions; assists in strategic and master planning efforts, researching, coordinating, administering, and evaluating programs, projects, processes, procedures, systems, standards, and/or services; ensures compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and/or standards.
• Reviews and obtains proper interpretations of the laws, rules, and regulations affecting operation of a multi-faceted utilities system when appropriate.
• Represents the Water Department and the City of Hillsboro in negotiations with partners, contractors, and other parties over contract disputes, potential litigation, and related matters for legal compliance and efficient resolution and also, act as representative for Joint Water Commission (JWC), Barney Reservoir Joint Ownership Commission (“Barney” or BRJOC), Willamette Intake Facilities Commission (WIF), and Willamette Water Supply System Commission (WWSS), or other intergovernmental commission, as assigned.
• Resolves complex personnel, environmental, contractual, legal, and budget issues and problems.
• Consults with City legal counsel and Water Director on contractual matters, interpreting contracts, and dispute resolution strategies, for example capital construction project disputes. Provides oversight, directs and leads contractual dispute resolution for the Water Department including development of complex legal and financial strategies and provides advice to executive management and the Water Director.
• Provides technical and strategic advice and oversight; ensures departmental adherence and compatibility with organizational goals, objectives, and strategic initiatives; develops and ensures adherence with policies and procedures; ensures customer service delivery standards are met.
• Researches, reviews and/or provides a variety of deliverables including but not limited to reports, work and issue papers, financial statements, communications, correspondence, and/or departmental documentation.
• Represents the Department and serves as a liaison to City management, departments, committees, Councils, Boards, Commissions, consultants and/or other external agencies and partnerships.
• Assists in the development and administration of departmental budgets; approves expenditures; reviews financial statements; manages financial operations for assigned area.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities (At time of application)

Knowledge Of:

• Utility management and administration, utility risk management, and utility best management practices
• Intergovernmental relations and public affairs
• Public contracts and complex construction contract dispute resolution
• Public contracting and contractual dispute resolution
• Management of public infrastructure and facilities including planning, design, contract solicitation and management, and construction inspection
• The operations and maintenance of public infrastructure in the areas of public utilities, public facilities/buildings, and transportation and traffic systems
• Procurement practices of property, rights-of-way, and easements
• Applicable Federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations and/or ordinances
• Managerial and leadership principles, practices, and techniques
• Public administration principles and practices
• Applicable equipment, systems, operations, principles, standards, and methods of area of assignment
• Financial management and budgeting principles
• Forecasting and planning principles
• Contract administration principles
• Modern office equipment.

Skills and Abilities To:

• Relate well, communicate, and work effectively with diverse groups of stakeholders who represent a range of ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Engage in growth, learning, and self-awareness related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Learn how to communicate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, principles and put them into practice
• Provide positive and effective customer service
• Negotiating solutions to complex legal and contract disputes, including public construction contracts
• Coordinating with legal counsel on litigation preparation
• Professional negotiations with multiple parties and appropriately managing confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information
• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards
• Managing, monitoring, mentoring, training, and evaluating staff
• Providing direction and assigning goals and objectives
• Overseeing and directing the implementation of operational processes and procedures
• Promote a culture of teamwork and communication by working in collaboration and treating coworkers with respect and dignity and maintaining an open mind to diverse voices and ideas

Job Qualifications And Requirements: (At time of application and in addition to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities listed above.)

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Natural Resources, Business, or a closely related field, and 8 years of civil engineering, construction and/or utilities management experience, including 2 years of management and leadership experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. Demonstrated experience in complex public contract dispute resolution highly preferred.

Experience working with industry associations such as the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), or American Public Works Association (APWA) is preferred.

License(s) Required:

• Valid Driver's License and safe driving record.

Application Instructions To ensure your application receives full consideration, please complete all sections of the online application thoroughly. Please note that Resumes and Cover Letters will not be accepted and should not be submitted in place of the completed application. Please see the guidelines below to successfully submit your application:

• Include detailed information about your work experience, education, and relevant qualifications directly in the application. Taking the time to provide complete and accurate information helps the review panel fully understand your background and experience.
• Please answer all supplemental questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. Your responses provide valuable insight into your qualifications, experience, and help the hiring manager better understand how your background aligns with the needs of the position.
• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Only Veterans’ Preference documents and Writing Samples (if applicable) will be reviewed as attachments.

Why Work For Hillsboro?

At the City of Hillsboro, we’re committed to supporting employees with a comprehensive package of benefits and resources designed to promote health, well-being, and growth.

When you join our team, you’ll enjoy:* Competitive pay with City contributions to PERS retirement

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off for vacation, sick leave, holidays, and more
• Deferred compensation match and HRA VEBA contributions to boost your future savings
• City-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability insurance
• Extra perks like bilingual pay incentives and wellness reimbursements
• Free TriMet annual Hop pass and SHARC recreation access for you and your family
• Paid time off to volunteer in the community through Hillsboro Helps
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities
• A supportive workplace that values work/life balance and employee wellness

To learn more about our robust benefits package, please click here. Commitment to Equity

Hiring a workforce that reflects the diverse community we serve is essential to delivering exceptional City services and programs. The City of Hillsboro is committed to creating and supporting an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees to thrive. We value, respect, and empower employees as unique individuals with authentic voices and diverse ideas.

City of Hillsboro is proud to offer robust benefit packages to employees. Please check out our Salary and Benefits page for benefit guides for our non-represented full-time employees and part-time employees. Benefits may vary for positions identified in Police, Fire, and Library collective bargaining agreements, which can also be found on the Salary and Benefits page.