Assistant Public Works Director

Position Description

The Public Works Department (Public Works) is seeking a strategic and experienced leader to serve as the Assistant Public Works Director at the City of Tacoma. The ideal candidate will be a holistic strategic thinker who is a collaborative leader that can bring teams together and influence the direction of Public Works.

Under the direction of the Public Works Director, this executive leader oversees a 300-person department with an operating biennial budget of $231 million and a capital biennial budget of approximately $47 million . This position serves as the “second in command”, guiding daily operations and strategic direction of Public Works and directly supervising four (4) Division Managers: Engineering, Facilities Management, Street Operations, and Transportation.

Responsibilities:

• Lead Public Works' senior leadership team, ensuring cost-effective, compliant, and high-quality operations.
• Develop strategies, vision, and priorities that support departmental goals and objectives, ensuring they align with the City's mission.
• Facilitate strategic planning, business process improvements, and organizational development in the delivery of the department’s essential services and assist in departmental accreditation management, performance indicator tracking and reporting, asset management, and the implementation of citywide initiatives.
• Prepare, analyze, and monitor the administrative and divisional budgets, capital expenditures, and other financial data, and identify and implement innovative ways to perform work and control costs.
• Supervise and participate in a variety of personnel actions, labor negotiations, and investigations.
• Prepares and makes reports and presentations to elected and appointed bodies and community groups.
• Serves as a member of the Public Works Director's executive team; may serve in as acting in the absence of the Public Works Director.
• Serves as City Engineer, as assigned.

Department Overview:

Our mission is to provide essential public services by designing, building, maintaining, and preserving public infrastructure that enhances the quality of life for the people of Tacoma in a fair, responsive, sustainable, and equitable manner. Public Works does this through an open and engaged partnership with customers, cost-effective services, and a consistent approach to satisfying the needs of the community.

Public Works collaborates on shared priorities impacting employees, customers, and policymakers. Our strategies and goals are guided by various plans and policies including:

• City of Tacoma’s Strategic Plan,
• Six-Year Comprehensive Transportation Improvement Program,
• Tacoma Streets Initiative,
• Transportation Benefit District Plan,
• Transportation and Mobility Plan,
• Vision Zero Acton Plan,
• One Tacoma: Comprehensive Plan,
• Climate Action Plan (CAP),
• Equity and Empowerment Framework,
• Capital Facilities Plan 2025-2030, and
• Transportation elements of the City’s Right-of-Way Design Manual, City Standard Plans, City-developed Special Provisions for Capital Projects, and long-range planning documents.

Check out our Public Works Team’s Feedback Video!

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's Degree in planning, engineering, business or public administration or directly related field

Minimum Experience*
10 years of public works or engineering experience including 1 year prior at senior, lead and/or supervisory level

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements
Washington State Driver's License
If assigned as City Engineer:
State of Washington Professional Engineer License

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

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

City of Tacoma’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.
The Community
Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI
Apply
Interested City of Tacoma current employees should apply online and attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to the supplemental questions evaluated by a panel of subject matter experts. These questions will be scored on the basis of the information provided; therefore, it is the responsibility of the applicant to carefully list all pertinent experience and training. The evaluation committee will not have access to the candidate's application. Providing false information will result in disqualification. Candidates must pass this evaluation in order to be placed on the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration.

Communication from the City of Tacoma:
We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails 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 e-mail folders.

If you have any additional questions regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at 253.591.5400 prior to 4pm on the date of this posting closing.
Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:

Hourly Rate: $81.81 - $115.19

Annual Salary: $170,164.80 - $239,595.20

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

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: 9/8/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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