Construction Engineering Division Manager (Engineering Manager)

Job Appointment: Full-Time
Work Schedule: 8 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday
Work location: 1120 SW 5TH AVE, PORTLAND OR 97204  for in-person work. Manager and supervisor positions will be expected to report to their worksites full time. For more information, click here.
Benefits: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefits for this position.
To view current labor agreements, please visit https://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor-agreements.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a resume and a cover letter.

The City of Portland is seeking a dynamic lead to serve as PBOT’s Construction Engineering Division Manager (Engineering Manager) 

What you’ll get to do:
 

• Represent the agency in public and regularly interface with other regional, state, and federal partners. 
• Lead funding strategies and fund management. 
• Contribute to transforming culture by creating a people-centered organization, reviewing programs and processes through an equitable lens, and advocating for anti-racism. 
• Oversee performance management systems to improve program delivery and productivity with a focus on quality control and quality assurance. Ensure services are being delivered cost effectively, efficiently, and equitably. 
• Develop metrics and key performance indicators, conduct program evaluation and trend analysis, and monitor program delivery. 
• Develop and implement multi-year strategic plans, ensuring proper resource allocation to achieve the Bureau's mission and goals. 
• Implement comprehensive personnel management strategies to optimize safety, professionalism, and development of the workforce with a focus on citywide goals 
• Provide responsive customer service and communication to a variety of technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Who you are: 

• Experienced Manager: An experienced leader with a commitment to your position as well as your team/employees. 
• Being an ethical, fair, and supportive leader is important to you, along with embracing the City of Portland's Core Values of anti-racism, communication, collaboration, equity, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. 
• Innovative: You have the aptitude for continuous improvement and can excel in change management. You’ve demonstrated the ability to remain flexible, agile, and calm in a fast-paced environment that relies on quick and stable decision-making. 
• Organized: Able to work on a multitude of tasks and understand/respond to various situations in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment. 
• Collaborative: A professional who values partnership and develops and supports relationships to get things done. 
• Dedicated: You have a passion for transportation and improving transportation through public service; you hold a high level of pride in making sure that projects are effectively managed, and you are proud of the work delivered to the public. 
• DEI Leader: You will be an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion champion in the workplace, including building pathways for government careers in underrepresented communities. You will inspire and motivate employees and create a culture of safety, respect, collaboration, and accountability. 
• Government Leader: You will facilitate, negotiate, and build consensus among diverse customers and stakeholders including elected officials. Additionally, you will lead large-scale change management involving community input. 
• Excellent Communicator: You are an active listener and strong communicator to both technical and non-technical individuals, and you are proficient verbally and in writing. 
• Transparent: You lead with openness and honesty, keeping your team in the loop, sharing information freely, and inviting open communication with the team. 
• Leader with Integrity: You have strong moral principles, stand by your words, and do the right thing. You demonstrate the City’s values in your actions and help set expectations for acceptable behavior.

About the Division:

Construction Engineering Division (CON) delivers ~$100M of CIP construction projects on annual basis. Projects can range from small locally funded safety projects to complex multi-year capital projects with federal funding. Most projects are multi-discipline with utility relocations/ replacement, drainage, signals and lighting, trees and landscaping, bike and pedestrian facilities, and other roadside development. The division is in the lead role to deliver the project from contract award, through the construction phase, acceptance, and to closeout. The division provides a team of construction manager/licensed engineer (CM), technicians, inspectors, and QA/QC staff for every project. The CM is the Owner's Representative for the project. These teams partner and interact closely with project managers, engineer of record, surveyors, right-of-way agents, franchise utilities, permits, other partner agencies, and the contractor to deliver a successful project. 

The manager oversees the work of these teams to ensure all work conforms to construction contracts and plans, meets City standards, and is consistent with City policies and goals, The Manager is responsible for compliance with City/State/Federal funding agreements, proper and timely payments to the contractor, and overall project documentation to meet City, State, and Federal requirements. 

The Engineering Manager is a management-level classification within the City of Portland’s engineering hierarchy. This role sets the direction, goals, and performance standards for the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation, Construction Engineering organizational units. This position directly supervises Engineering Supervisors and Engineering Technicians. The position interacts with internal and external stakeholders. They also are responsible to resolve construction related concerns and disputes. The ideal candidate will have direct relevant experience in successfully managing the construction phase of federally funded capital improvement projects. They will be well-versed in the ODOT Certified Local Agency requirements and demonstrated ability to lead projects in conformance with the prescribed ODOT Local Agency Guidelines (LAG) Manual.

About the Bureau: 

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage, and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides people and businesses access and mobility. We keep Portland moving. For more information about the Portland Bureau of Transportation, please visit Transportation |Portland.gov. 

The Portland Bureau of Transportation embraces diversity, models inclusivity, and promotes equity through its service delivery, internal operations, organizational culture, and work with partners and the community.

Questions?:
Terrol Johnson
Senior Recruiter
[email protected]Applicants must describe in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and/or work experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:
 
1. Knowledge of transportation and engineering principles, practices, current trends, regulations, standards, and laws. 
2. Experience managing Federal Aid projects. 
3. Ability to monitor and control budget and financial resources and prioritize projects. 
4. Experience applying effective management skills in program management, including organizing, directing, motivating, engaging, and evaluating both represented and non-represented employees. 
5. Ability to manage a multicultural workforce, promote an equitable workplace environment, and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex city services. 
6. Ability to establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with cohorts within the City and peers in other governmental agencies and partnership relationships with media, community and business organizations including school districts, health care providers, advocacy groups, and volunteer service organizations. 
7. Experience developing and implementing effective communications and outreach strategies and partnering with residents, community groups, developers, and contractors.

Applicant must also possess:

• A Registered Professional Engineering License (PE) in the State of Oregon or the ability to obtain one within their probation period.

STEP 1: Apply online between October  26, 2026, and November 16, 2026
 

• Cover letter.
  • Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Resume
• Answer to Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• Veteran’s Preference documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) must be submitted by the closing date.
• Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
• To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• Your cover letter can exceed one page but no more than three, to ensure you can provide detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will evaluate your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.
• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.  It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid, regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note that all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage the use of AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. 

BOLI: Equal Pay for Workers: State of Oregon
Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics.

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, is weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required before the establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

• The hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations 

Did you know? The City of Portland has How to Apply Videos and offers How to Apply Classes once per month.  If you have questions after watching the videos you are invited to contact the recruiter listed on the announcement.