Civil Engineering Manager

Position Description

Tacoma Power is looking for an engineering leader who can balance technical depth with people-first management to keep critical hydroelectric and utility infrastructure safe, reliable, and ready for what’s next. This role manages the civil engineering function supporting hydroelectric generation and related infrastructure, with oversight from project planning through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, and closeout.

You will lead a team that supports dams, penstocks, water conveyance systems, foundations, buildings, bridges, and other essential civil assets tied to clean, safe, environmentally responsible power for our customers.

What you will do:
You will lead Tacoma Power’s civil engineering function supporting hydroelectric generation and related infrastructure. You’ll guide work from planning and design through procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout, while keeping safety, quality, schedule, budget, and customer outcomes at the center.

Key responsibilities include:
• People leadership: Hire, coach, develop, and inspire a team of engineers, technicians, and construction coordination staff. Build a positive, accountable, and engaged culture.
• Engineering oversight: Provide direction and technical review. Approve design drawings prepared by professional engineers. Standardize systems and processes to strengthen efficiency and reliability.
• Project and contract management: Define scope and priorities. Develop and manage budgets. Oversee specifications and procurement. Negotiate and administer contracts. Track progress and performance in work/progress tracking tools.
• Compliance and stakeholder partnership: Ensure compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dam safety requirements. Coordinate engineering support for dam safety commitments. Communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders and keep leaders informed.
• Operational support: Provide engineering call-out support as available, including occasional off-hours site visits during outages or urgent repairs.
Why Tacoma Power?
Tacoma Power owns and operates significant regional assets including dams and reservoirs, powerhouses, fish hatcheries, migratory fish infrastructure, bridges, towers, campgrounds and recreation facilities, and hundreds of buildings. You’ll have the opportunity to modernize engineering processes, strengthen safety and compliance, and help deliver reliable clean energy while supporting the communities and waterways we serve.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in engineering, or directly related field

Minimum Experience*
6 years of increasingly responsible civil/structural engineering experience supporting hydroelectric, dam safety, utility, or comparable heavy industrial infrastructure including 1 year of experience as supervisor, manager or SME

Desired Qualifications:
• 2 years as a licensed professional engineer
• Professional Engineering License in the State of Washington
• Experience in hydro operations, transmission and distribution systems, or dam safety
• Knowledge of FERC dam safety requirements

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements
This position will be required to complete annual CIP training after employment and pass a comprehensive personal risk assessment (background check) prior to employment and every five years thereafter as required by federal regulatory requirements (NERC-CIP)

AS ASSIGNED:
Washington State Driver's License

Knowledge & Skills

• Proven people leadership skills, including the ability to coach, develop, and set clear expectations for a technical team.

• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively and respectfully with a wide range of partners, including operations and maintenance teams.

• Clear, confident communication skills (written and verbal), including the ability to produce and present reports, records, and presentations for technical and non-technical audiences.

• Working knowledge of civil systems supporting utility or industrial infrastructure.

• Ability to review, interpret, and approve engineering designs, plans, and technical documentation with sound engineering judgment.

• Strong project management capability, including planning, prioritization, schedule and budget awareness, and risk/issue management.

• Familiarity with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dam safety requirements is preferred.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
One of the primary goals of the Equity and Empowerment Initiative 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
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city that sits along the Puget Sound with a population of nearly 210,000. The third largest city in the state of Washington, it is a diverse, progressive international gateway to the Pacific Rim.

Propelled by significant developments such as the University of Washington Tacoma, the Tacoma Link light rail system, the restored urban waterfront of the Thea Foss Waterway, the expansions of both the MultiCare and Franciscan health systems, and a significant influx of foreign direct investment in its downtown core, Tacoma has evolved considerably since the 1990s.

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.

A magnet for families looking for affordable housing options in the Puget Sound area, Tacoma also draws those who prefer to live in a more urban downtown setting with competitively priced condos and apartments that feature panoramic mountain and water views.

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!

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 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.

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: 1/28/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Tacoma

• 253-591-5400

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