City of Bellevue WA - Assistant Director - Utilities Engineering

The City of Bellevue Utilities Department seeks an experienced and forwardthinking Assistant Director to lead its Engineering Division. The Assistant Director Utilities Engineering is a member of the Bellevue Utilities executive team collaborating to lead the department in achieving its strategic operational and financial goals. The Assistant Director oversees a $7.4 million division operating budget and delivery of the Utilities $296 million 6year Capital Investment Program (CIP) encompassing drinking water wastewater and stormwater CIP programs and projects.

In addition this position collaborates with the Utilities Director two Deputy Directors the Resource Management & Customer Service Division Assistant Director and the Operations & Maintenance Division Assistant Director to plan develop and implement policies and programs to achieve strategic outcomes. The Assistant Director Utilities Engineering manages highly complex technical and policy work assisting the Deputy Directors and Utilities Director in the leadership and management of the department. This position reports directly to the Utilities Deputy Director for Engineering and Operations.

The Assistant Director provides leadership to staff in the Engineering Division which includes Water Resources Planning Project Management Construction Management and Inspection Portfolio Management Asset Management and Development Review.

The Assistant Director establishes strong working relationships and positively represents Bellevue Utilities to the community City Council City Manager other City departments and outside agencies and may serve as liaison to the Citys Environmental Services Commission.

The Priorities

• Collaborate with the Utilities Director and Deputy Director to implement theUtilities Department strategic plan. Ensure alignment with the Capital Investment Program that supports renewal and replacement of aging infrastructure capacity for growth environmental preservation and operational efficiencies.
• Lead and implement theCapital Investment Program which has a sixyear capital budget of $296M and utilizes six oncall consultant contracts for engineering and other associated professional services. Notable CIP projects currently in design or construction include the Meydenbauer South Drinking Water Reservoir Kelsey Creek Culvert Replacement at Lake Hills Boulevard Newport Sewer Basin Capacity Improvements and the Watermain Replacement Program.
• Lead the development and implementation of several key utility system planning efforts including the Water Wastewater and Stormwater System Plans the Watershed Management Plan and the Lake Washington Sewer Lake Line Management Plan.
• Lead the utilization of the Utilities Renewal and Replacement (R&R) Fund developed as a key element of the Utilities Strategic Asset Management Program.
• Partner with Utilities executive leadership to support a shared vision and positively contribute to the organizational health of Bellevue Utilities. Value shared leadership foster trust effectively communicate and support innovation and continuous improvement with a focus on excellent customer service and costeffective service delivery.
• Apply an equitable sustainable reliable and financial lens as the team brings reality to the abovementioned plans programs and initiatives.
• Collaborate with Utilities executive leadership to actively engage and support future budget development processes and implementation of theoperating budget. Provide thought leadership and effective decisionmaking that support Bellevue Utilities ability to continue delivering daily essentials to the community.
• Build effective partnerships with City colleagues. Collaborate and identify opportunities to share knowledge that supports an integrated approach and aligns with the Citys strategic priorities.
• Actively champion the Citys ongoing commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive community.

The Successful Candidate

The Assistant Director Utilities Engineering is a strategic systems thinker who possesses strong executive leadership skills necessary for managing in a large complex environment. The successful candidate easily sees the big picture and longterm vision for Bellevue Utilities and uses the information to anticipate internal and external needs. With a successful track record of producing resultsoriented outcomes the Assistant Director is excited by the opportunity to successfully contribute to both the immediate and longterm needs of the utilities infrastructure.

The Assistant Director appreciates the role of public utilities and takes pride in ensuring services are safe reliable and affordable. A strong supporter of highperforming organizations the Assistant Director values diversity of thought and encourages crossdepartmental collaboration in support of broader organizational alignment. The ideal candidate is a natural convener and collaborator who recognizes the importance of relationships and partnerships at all levels. They navigate political community and multisector relationships with ease and contribute to positive interactions with City Council City leadership Utilities colleagues board and commissions advisory committees and regional agencies. The Assistant Director is a responsive and transparent communicator who enjoys representing the City of Bellevue and Bellevue Utilities at all times.

The successful candidate is a forwardthinking solutionsoriented leader who leverages new and innovative approaches and best practices to ensure current and future generations continue to have highquality essential services. With an eye toward the future the Assistant Director stays abreast of trends and innovations in the field of utilities and public works and brings a modern perspective to projects and initiatives across the utilities. The Assistant Director multitasks with ease shifting gears quickly to prioritize and balance workloads and resource needs to meet project demands. The ideal candidate easily identifies trends and problems hindering progress and develops and implements best practices to drive necessary change.

The Assistant Director embodies Bellevues core values and embraces the Citys commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive community. The successful candidate actively contributes to the organizational health of Bellevue Utilities and supports the departments positive culture. The Assistant Director is an active listener and effective communicator who believes in transparency and keeping others well informed. They are a visible leader known for actively supporting staff and removing barriers to enable success while maintaining a commitment to highquality customercentered work. The Assistant Director fosters a welcoming and collaborative team environment that empowers staff to bring forward fresh ideas develop innovative strategies and provide creative solutions that deliver the best outcomes for customers.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited fouryear college or university with a degree in civil engineering environmental studies water resources management construction management or related field. An MS Engineering or MPA is preferred.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible managerial and administrative experience in public utilities systems.
• 10 years of experience developing and delivering Capital Investment Programs including management of planning design and construction for municipal utility projects with at least 5 years of experience in each utility (water wastewater stormwater) or a program of similar scope/complexity (at least $15 Million/year Capital program value) is highly preferred.
• Experience and knowledge of Utility operations and maintenance system planning and public works consultant and construction contracting laws regulations and work processes is essential.
• Experience and knowledge of environmental issues and permitting associated with utility work is highly desirable.
• An equivalent combination of education experience and training that provides the required knowledge skills and abilities will be considered.
• Washington State Professional Civil Engineering license is required at the time of hire or within one year.

The City of Bellevue

The City of Bellevue recognizes that complex local government operations require strong collaborative political leadership policy development a relentless focus on and results a commitment to transparent and ethical government and a strategy for representing and engaging every segment of the community.

Bellevue operates under a council/manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of seven members elected at large serving staggered fouryear terms. The Council selects a mayor and deputy mayor and sets the public policies of the City which the City Manager and City staff implement.

The City provides a full range of services including police and emergency medical response the construction and maintenance of streets parks and utilities infrastructure solid waste and water services recreational activities and cultural events. Thebudget of $1.9 billion funds essential services while also making targeted investments to address Bellevues unprecedented growth. Due to continued growth the City will increase its employee base this year to just under 1600 employees.

MISSION

Provide exceptional customer service uphold the public interest and advance the community vision.

VISION

Be a collaborative and innovative organization that is futurefocused and committed to excellence.

LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

The City of Bellevue leads with a highperformance organization model and core values of exceptional public service stewardship commitment to employees integrity and innovation. Bellevues leadership model and core values that guide our individual actions our interactions and our decisionmaking are branded as One City.

The City of Bellevue began seeking national accreditation for its operating departments in the late 1990s. Today Bellevue is one of just a few cities in the nation where every major operating department has earned accreditation from the following respected evaluating agencies.

• Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) The Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI)
• The Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA)
• The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)
• The American Public Works Association (APWA)

In addition to these accreditations the Finance Department has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (ACFR Program) and Distinguished Budget Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) every year since 1983.

Bellevue conducts surveys of its residents businesses and employees and produces reports on City services. The City has enjoyed consistently high ratings even during the economic downturn and COVID19 pandemic proof of the commitment of diligent municipal employees to deliver exceptional customer service even with limited resources.

Bellevue Utilities

Bellevue Utilities provides highquality essential services that the community relies on every day. The Utilities are comprised of four lines of business: drinking water wastewater storm and surface water and solid waste. Bellevue Utilities is a financially selfsupporting enterprise operating as a department within the City of Bellevue with a mission to actively support public health and safety quality neighborhoods and a healthy and sustainable environment and economy through the effective management of the utilities. Bellevue takes pride in making sure these services are safe reliable and a good value for the money.

Bellevue Utilities leadership actively contributes to and supports an organizational culture that:

• values shared leadership where decisions are made at the lowest possible level.
• fosters trust through communication constructive conflict being vulnerable and mutual accountability.
• earns and maintains the trust of the public the Council and the City Managers Office through excellent and costeffective service delivery.
• values innovation and continuous improvement to efficiently deliver for the customer.
• values our employees and acknowledges and appreciates good work.
• enjoys working with each other and has fun.
• are passionate about utility service and dedicated to stewardship of public resources and the environment.

DRINKING WATER

The drinking water utility provides a reliable supply of safe secure highquality drinking water that meets all the communitys water needs in an environmentally responsible manner. Bellevues drinking water is purchased from Cascade Water Alliance and comes from the Cedar River and Tolt River watersheds in the Cascade Mountains. The drinking water utility has 65 employees and a 2025 operating budget of $95.2 million. The system includes 40000 water connections over 600 miles of water main pipes 24 water reservoirs with a total storage of 41.5 million gallons 21 pump stations 73 pressure zones and nearly 6000 fire hydrants.

WASTEWATER

The wastewater utility provides a reliable wastewater disposal system that ensures public health and safety and protects the environment. Bellevue contracts with King County for treatment and disposal of wastewater. The wastewater utility has 50 employees and a 2025 operating budget of $94.6 million. The system includes 13000 maintenance holes over 500 miles of mainline pipes 120 miles of lateral pipes that connect mainline pipes to customerside sewers 47 pump and flush stations and 34 major connections to the King County wastewater system.

STORM AND SURFACE WATER

The storm and surface water utility provides a storm and surface water system that controls damage from storms protects surface water quality supports fish and wildlife habitat and protects the environment. The storm and surface water utility has 49 employees and a 2025 operating budget of $41.1 million. The system includes over 90 miles of open streams 864 acres of protected wetlands 21000 public storm drains over 400 miles of pipes 350 cityowned flow control facilities and over 900 privatelyowned detention facilities.

SOLID WASTE

The solid waste utility provides a convenient unobtrusive solid waste collection system that contributes to a healthy and pleasing cityscape in an environmentally sensitive way. Bellevue contracts with Republic Services for the collection of garbage recycling and organics along with citywide litter control and customer and billing services. The solid waste utility has one employee and a 2023 operating budget of $1.1 million. There are over 30000 singlefamily residential and nearly 2000 multifamily and commercial accounts.

The Community

Located in the heart of the Puget Sound region scenic Bellevue is the fifthlargest city in Washington. It serves as the metropolitan center for King County the states most populous county. This highly desirable community spans more than thirtyone square miles and is home to over 155000 residents. With the Cascade Mountains to the east and Seattle just ten miles to the west Bellevue is a peer city near Seattle and one of the best places to live and launch a business. Bellevue is ideally situated along Interstates 90 and 405 and State Route 520. In 2016 light rail transit construction began in Bellevue with local service started in 2024. East Link a voterapproved project extending the light rail from Seattle along I90 through Bellevue with service across Lake Washington expected to start in late 2025.

Bellevue is culturally diverse with about 50 percent of its population being people of color and 42 percent speaking a language other than English at home. People of Asian Heritages comprise just over 34 percent of Bellevues population the tenth highest percentage in the nation for cities with 100000 in population or more and the highest percentage of large cities outside of California and Hawaii. Bellevues school district ranks among the nations top in the country. The schools athletic programs are excellent as well. Because of Bellevues diverse population more than 103 languages are spoken in the public schools.

Bellevue is an economic powerhouse. More people work in Bellevue than reside there making it the secondlargest employment center in King County. Bellevue hosts some of the countrys bestknown companies such as Amazon Meta Microsoft TMobile Salesforce Concur Symetra Overlake Hospital and PACCAR. Coupled with the many smaller and mediumsized businesses they and others are the source of 170000 jobs within city boundaries.

The quality of life in Bellevue is exceptional. Residents and visitors can access abundant outdoor recreation in town and by traveling to nearby federal or state parks. The City offers various outdoor venues and activities including community and beach parks miniparks trails and botanical gardens. Located just minutes from downtown Bellevue the Mercer Slough Nature Park is the largest of Lake Washingtons remaining freshwater wetlands with over 320 acres of wildlife habitat agriculture freshwater wetland ecosystems and trails. Whether attending annual events visiting one of the community farms enjoying a round of golf swimming at the Bellevue Aquatic Center catching a performance at the youth theatre or a movie in the park there is always something to see and do in Bellevue. Described as a City in a Park Bellevue retains the charm of a small town featuring growing treelined neighborhoods and natural beauty all around. Bellevue offers convenient amenities and the sophistication of living in a truly urban community.

Compensation and Benefits

The full salary range for the Assistant Director Utilities Engineering is $158251$218385 and will depend on the qualifications of the successful candidate. The City of Bellevue provides a generous benefits package. Learn more about the options and employeebased benefits here.

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period working in the office after hire. Remote work for this position is subject to the departments operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Fulltime remote work is not an available option. Once hired employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position is open until filled with first review of applications beginning Monday April 21 2025.

At the City of Bellevue youll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service upholding the public interest and advancing the communitys vision. Youll work in an environment that is innovative collaborative futurefocused and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. Its what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work live and explore.

The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race color gender sexual orientation gender identity or expression religion national origin marital status age disability veteran status genetic information or any other protected status.

Persons needing an ADA accommodation in the application process may call the Raftelis Office ator email . If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations please notify the Search Manager before you are scheduled for an interview.

Questions

For more information or questions regarding the City of Bellevue or the Assistant Director Utilities Engineering position please contact Heather Gantz at .

Review the full Recruitment Brochure Here