Continuous Improvement Consultant

Position Description

The City of Tacoma's Continuous Improvement Division is recruiting for a Continuous Improvement Consultant. We are seeking explorers who are dedicated to improving municipal services for our 220,000+ residents. Our mission is to help departments identify problems and implement solutions while developing citywide capacity for problem solving and continuous improvement. In this challenging and fast-paced role you will consult with staff throughout the organization to develop innovative and practical solutions to improve internal processes and meet our community’s needs.

For this role you will need to be adaptable, challenge-motivated, and thrive on implementing effective solutions using innovation and process improvement methods. Curiosity, resourcefulness, and the confidence to take calculated risks are core characteristics for CI Consultants.

The successful candidate will lead improvement workshops, perform quantitative analysis, and guide teams in developing process-level operational improvements.

This position is a member of the Innovation and Process Improvement (IPI) Team reporting to Ben Thurgood .

Distinguishing Characteristics
As a CI Consultant, you will help project teams by leading process-level improvements as well as contributing to complex and cross-functional projects led by senior CI staff. This position enhances community-facing and internal services by applying the City of Tacoma’s ci4i innovation framework .

CI Consultants serve as subject matter experts in the process of identifying problems and implementing solutions. They drive results with customers through influence, robust analysis, project management, and change management.

Day-to-day responsibilities vary widely and require a high tolerance for ambiguity. The role is well suited to candidates who can work independently, learn quickly, and possess the humility to ask for guidance when needed. Typical duties include:

• Independently lead process improvement workshops with workgroups throughout the city using the ci4i process and associated tools.
• Create ad hoc analyses with data from various resources to support project teams in deeper understanding of their business processes.
• Partner with senior CI staff on complex, cross-departmental projects.
• Coach, mentor, and lead Continuous Improvement Advocates in CI project work.
• Apply a high degree of professionalism and customer service to support the full lifecycle of CI projects including charter development, communicating with project sponsors, facilitating team meetings, collecting and analyzing data, managing the production of deliverables, and conducting follow up with project teams to document success stories Assist in developing a culture of continuous improvement and data driven decision making by modeling empathy, analytical rigor, and openness to feedback and improvement.

Working Hours
The schedule for this position will be a standard day shift, Monday through Friday with the option of working a 9/80 schedule at the incumbent’s request; however, project workloads and customer needs will demand flexibility that may include working evenings, weekends, or on flex days as needed to meet programmatic deliverables, attend community meetings, or provide excellent customer service.

Working Conditions
Our team has the option to work from home (most do), but semi-regular in-person participation for various workshops, team retreats, and customer engagements is required. Additional in-office days may be required to create team alignment and assist in the onboarding process.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in business or public administration or directly related field.

Minimum Experience*
2 years of experience in local government and/or business operations.

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

Desired Education:
Master's Degree Preferred

Desired Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have:

• A track record of moving from concept to implemented results
• Training certifications, or experience in methodologies related to product management, civic innovation frameworks, performance management, business process modeling, data/analytics, user experience design, change management, lean, etc.

Knowledge & Skills

Candidates from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds are well suited to the demands of a Continuous Improvement role within local government. We are interested in individuals with skills in:

• Understanding of municipal operations and local government structures, constraints, and opportunities; a desire to serve the community.
• Comfort working with all levels of the organization.
• The ability to collect, analyze, visualize, and present complex data to provide insight into processes and aid decision making.
• Candidates should have proficiency with Excel. Experience with Tableau (or similar data visualization software) is preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Group facilitation (including in person and virtual collaboration tools such as Miro/Mural, MS Teams, SharePoint, project management software).

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

To be considered for this rewarding career opportunity:

Interested individuals must apply online and attach a short sample of work you are proud of, and a detailed resume describing your experience with continuous improvement frameworks and mindsets and your commitment to excellence in service delivery as evidenced by prior results. NOTE: Applications received without the required resume and cover letter may not progress in the selection process.

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. Candidates whose backgrounds most closely reflect the current needs of the department will be reviewed by the hiring manager for hiring consideration. Candidates that are moving forward in the selection process may be invited to participate in a preliminary online interview as part of the hiring process. Appointment is subject to passing a background check.

Benefits
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision benefits for the whole family; paid holidays and personal time off; participation in Tacoma's Public Employees' Retirement System and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities. For more information on the City of Tacoma's benefit package feel free to explore City of Tacoma Benefits .

City of Tacoma 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 Community
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city that sits along the Puget Sound with a population of over 220,000. The third largest city in the state of Washington, it is a diverse, progressive international gateway to the Pacific Rim.

Tacoma boasts the state's highest density of art and history museums; and is home to a flourishing creative community of writers, artists, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who each add their unique flair to the city's vibrant commercial landscape. The iconic Tacoma Dome has endured as a high-demand venue for some of the largest names in the entertainment industry.

Tacoma's natural beauty and proximity to the Puget Sound and Mount Rainier draws hikers, runners, bicyclists, and maritime enthusiasts to the area. Its lively social scene is infused with energy by thousands of students attending the University of Washington Tacoma, the University of Puget Sound, the Evergreen State College Tacoma campus, and Tacoma Community College, as well as a number of local trade and technical colleges. Its prime location - just 20 minutes south of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, 30 miles north of the state capital in Olympia, and within 10 miles of the U.S. Department of Defense's premier military installation on the West Coast - only adds to Tacoma's desirability. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!
The City of Tacoma believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. This job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Communication from the City of Tacoma:
NOTE : For questions regarding this specific recruitment contact Kat Flores, HR Analyst.
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from cityoftacoma.org 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 may require you to enter a substantial amount of information. Be prepared to spend a minimum of one hour entering the required information.

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 time to assist you before the job announcement closes. ( For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system , call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time.)
The City of Tacoma is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants meeting minimum qualifications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status or genetic information.

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: 8/19/2024 5:00 PM Pacific

Tacoma, Washington United States View Map