City of Gresham, OR - Assistant City Manager

The City of Gresham is seeking an Assistant City Manager to lead the Environmental & City Services portfolio which includes drinking water facilities fleet infrastructure development services solid waste and sustainability transportation wastewater collection and treatment and watershed and parks. The portfolio may adjust over time based on business needs. Under the direction of the City Manager the Assistant City Manager strategically collaborates with the City Manager and peer Assistant City Manager to foster a safe thriving and welcoming community for all.

This role involves leading and managing complex city functions providing strategic direction and fostering an organizational culture aligned with the Citys mission. The Assistant City Manager develops and implements policies procedures and strategic initiatives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned city departments services and programs. By evaluating goals priorities and activities the Assistant City Manager ensures continuous improvement in performance and outcomes. Additionally they play a critical role in executing the long-term vision for the City establishing administrative controls and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Serving as a key member of the executive team this role acts as a liaison between the City Manager leadership and department heads to address challenges resolve issues and promote collaboration. It involves analyzing complex and controversial citywide matters conducting research and coordinating efforts among staff community groups other agencies and task forces. The position also oversees budget administration funding acquisition contract negotiation and interdepartmental coordination. Furthermore the Assistant City Manager represents the City in public engagements responds to sensitive inquiries and ensures community concerns are addressed through effective recommendations and corrective actions.

The Priorities

• Engage as an active member of the executive team and provide strategic input on citywide policies. Effectively partner with colleagues and work across departments to advance Council goals and City priorities in alignment with Greshams values.
• Encourage continued internal connectivity and integration across divisions and departments. Remove barriers to collaboration build shared knowledge recognize where the work intersects and continue to encourage cross-departmental collaboration.
• Collaborate to drive operational excellence through stability and consistency in systems policies and procedures. Work to streamline processes identify opportunities for efficiency simplify decision-making and drive uniformity across city operations.
• Convene and coordinate across the Environmental & City Services portfolio to evaluate infrastructure requirements and costs for high-priority development projects including planning strategies to support growth in the Pleasant Valley and Springwater urban expansion districts.
• Provide strategic leadership in advancing workspace and storage solutions for Operations and Fleet services and facilitate interdepartmental decision-making that shapes high-impact citywide initiatives including groundwater system implementation critical street reconstruction wildfire resilience planning and parks policy enhancements.
• Provide leadership and collaborate with staff on the effective development and delivery of City Council presentations and briefings on a wide range of topics including wastewater treatment Climate Action Plan updates utility program RFPs parks planning and solid waste fee adjustments.
• Advocate for staff and effectively leverage the talents of the teams. Create targeted development training and succession opportunities including reviewing the engineering classification series to improve recruitment and retention.
• Champion and support the Citys diversity equity inclusion and belonging activities. Celebrate Greshams diverse cultures and vibrant neighborhoods and purposefully weave inclusive principles and equitable practices throughout the organization.

The Successful Candidate

The Assistant City Manager is a strategic thinker who can see the big picture communicate a clear vision and collaborate effectively to shape the Citys future. They bring a diverse set of experiences that add value and perspective to the Environmental Services portfolio while complementing and supporting a highly effective and engaged Executive Leadership Team. The Assistant City Manager promotes solutions that address the Citys ambitious goals while remaining realistic about what is achievable.

The Assistant City Manager takes a broad interconnected view of the organization recognizing and leveraging the relationships between departments. They are skilled at building and sustaining strong relationships fostering collaboration across all levels. An excellent communicator the Assistant City Manager prioritizes transparency and promotes consistent open communication throughout the organization. Demonstrating high emotional intelligence they navigate political dynamics with professionalism encourage diverse perspectives and cultivate an environment of mutual respect. The successful candidate also brings a proven ability to coordinate and oversee complex multifaceted initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.

The successful candidate engages in multidisciplinary thinking and anticipates the consequences of policy decisions. The Assistant City Manager offers confidence grounded in experience to make informed decisions for optimal outcomes. They naturally navigate difficult conversations and propose necessary trade-offs to ensure the sustainability of the organization. With an eye on process improvement and innovation the successful candidate brings a modern perspective and new ideas to projects and initiatives maintaining the flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the organization. They identify trends and problems hindering progress and develop and implement best practices to drive necessary change.

The Assistant City Manager creates a solid foundation by developing a strategy setting realistic and actionable goals providing clear expectations and holding others accountable. They are a visible leader known for actively supporting staff and removing barriers to enable success while maintaining a commitment to high-quality work. The successful candidate leads and empowers staff creating a positive and supportive work environment that fosters collaboration and transparent communication. It is essential for the Assistant City Manager to thoughtfully identify opportunities and implement changes that support an organizational culture built on trust and mutual respect and effectively leverage the teams talents to advance the Citys goals.

The Qualifications

At least six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience in government management and administration including at least three (3) years of experience supervising professional-level staff is required. A working knowledge of the departments within the Environmental & City Services portfolio is ideal as is prior experience working in a union environment. A strong financial background is essential with experience developing alternative funding strategies beneficial. A genuine interest in climate and sustainability initiatives is ideal.

A bachelors degree in public administration civil engineering political science business administration or a closely related field is required. An equivalent combination of education training and experience that provides the required knowledge skills and abilities will be considered. Licensure as a State of Oregon Professional Engineer is ideal but not required. The Assistant City Manager is required to be on-site five days a week with flexibility.

Inside Gresham City Hall

Gresham is a dynamic city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to thrive. Rapid growth ever-changing needs and a prudent budget demand a resourceful and resilient city government. We pride ourselves on going above and beyond to serve the residents placing the community first in our decisions and practices. Gresham values collaborative partnerships practical strategies inventive ideas nimble approaches and equitable outcomes. Our work is challenging fast-paced and rewarding.

The City operates as a Council-Manager form of government designed to promote effective management within a transparent responsive and accountable structure. The Mayor and the six Councilors provide leadership develop policies to guide the City and adopt the budget and other ordinances. The Council appoints the City Manager to oversee operations and ensure policies are carried out and that City services are effectively efficiently and equitably provided. A City Attorney is employed by the Council to manage in-house legal and risk management services for the City.

With just over 690 full-time regular status employees services are provided through the following departments: Budget and Finance; City Attorneys Office; City Managers Office; Citywide Services; Community Development; Community Livability; Economic Development; Environmental Services; Fire; Parks and Recreation; Police; Urban Design and Planning; Urban Renewal; and Youth Services. The adopted 2025-26 budget is $896 million with a general fund of $130.6 million. The City proudly provides high-quality services and seeks innovative approaches to meet the needs of the community while operating under one of the lowest tax rates in the state.

Aligned with the Citys equity and inclusion work Gresham strives to create a diverse and welcoming workplace. Our commitment to each other is built upon strong mutual trust collective responsibility and support. We value close collaboration and teamwork acceptance of change and public stewardship.

In Gresham we get things done. Every employee at the City of Gresham has an opportunity to contribute to this organizations success and is charged with delivering the very best services to our residents.

The Strategic Plan outlines the City Council and the communitys collective vision for the future. It directs City resources toward five strategic priorities: Financial Sustainability Community Safety Thriving Economy Housing for All and Community Vibrancy. Additionally the Citys decision-making and service delivery are guided by five core principles: Diversity Equity and Inclusion Stewardship of Resources Authentic Engagement Innovation and Adaptability and Trustworthiness and Accountability.

Mission

To foster a safe thriving and welcoming community for all.

Vision

Gresham is a vibrant inclusive and resilient community where everyone can share in economic prosperity enjoy connection and belonging and live a high-quality life.

The Environmental & City Services Portfolio

The Environmental & City Services portfolio provides services in the areas of transportation storm and surface water drinking water wastewater collection and treatment natural resources and recycling and solid waste. The portfolio also includes City fleet and facilities.

The portfolio operates and maintains existing infrastructure systems as well as plans designs and manages the construction or implementation of new or upgraded facilities required to meet the needs of our customers. The portfolio is supported by nearly 200 full-time and limited-time employees and a budget of approximately $85 million. The areas within Environmental Services are supported by shared administration community outreach public works construction inspection land surveying and development review and permitting.

Together these core services provide a better quality of life for our customers and the general public with a mission to meet the essential needs of the community by efficiently and equitably providing clean water safe transportation waste disposal stormwater management and other core public services while protecting and enhancing the environment.

City Facilities

City Facilities manages all City facilities including but not limited to City Hall Operations Center Public Safety Buildings and Fire Stations and works to ensure City properties are open accessible secure and operational for use by City employees and the public of all physical abilities.

City Fleet

City Fleet provides repair preventative maintenance acquisition and disposal services to the majority of the Citys fleet of vehicles and fire apparatus. The City continues to pursue opportunities for the purchase of fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles including hybrids and all-electric vehicles.

Drinking Water

Drinking Water plans for and provides safe reliable water to the community through construction operation maintenance capital improvement protection and conservation of the public drinking water system.

Infrastructure Development Services

Infrastructure Development Services includes construction inspection services development engineering services and land surveying services for CIP project design.

Solid Waste and Sustainability

Solid Waste and Sustainability manages the Citys solid waste and recycling collection system providing waste reduction and recycling information and assistance to Gresham residents businesses and schools in Gresham and Wood Village.

Transportation

Transportation plans designs constructs operates and maintains Greshams transportation system that includes miles of streets electronic traffic control devices median landscaping and signs.

Wastewater

Wastewater provides planning design operation maintenance management and capital improvement of the Citys wastewater collection and treatment facilities.

Watershed and Parks

Watershed and Parks manages stormwater runoff to prevent localized flooding erosion and pollution problems through continual improvement and maintenance of the Citys stormwater and parks system to provide safe access to a variety of recreational opportunities. The Watershed Program also works to meet state and federal water quality floodplain wetland waterway and protected species regulations. The park system includes land designated as community or neighborhood parks trails and natural areas.

The Gresham Community

As Oregons fourth-largest city with more than 114000 residents Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition and heritage meet innovation and opportunity.

Located just minutes from Oregons iconic Mount Hood Multnomah Falls the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area the City of Portland and the Portland International Airport Greshams location is ideal for families and businesses wanting to start something new and grow. Within the City of Gresham residents are encouraged to enjoy the active parks trails and natural areas.

Greshams network of schools provides educational opportunities for students of all ages with many of the public schools having recently been rebuilt and modernized. Gresham also offers many preschools charter schools private schools and higher education opportunities including Mt. Hood Community College.

Our diverse and growing population includes young professionals families new immigrant communities and long-time residents. Greshams residents care deeply about our heritage as a homestead and agricultural community and are committed to a thriving and vibrant future. Today Gresham is a dynamic innovative and rapidly growing city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to Gresham we are family.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for the Assistant City Manager position is $175859 - $233150 and will depend on the qualifications of the successful candidate. The City of Gresham encourages a healthy work-life balance and provides a robust benefits package that includes comprehensive medical dental and vision insurance employer HRA/VEBA contributions PERS retirement employer sponsored deferred compensation employer paid life insurance and long-term disability and generous PTO sick leave and holidays. Full details can be viewed here.

To Be Considered

We believe that to deliver the highest level of service to all Gresham community members it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce foster an inclusive working environment and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. The City seeks candidates who will support these values by continuously incorporating equity in their daily work and actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints life experiences and cultural perspectives. Come build the future with us.

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 will remain open until filled with the first review of applications on September 2 2025.

Questions

Please direct questions to Heather Gantz at or Robert Colichio at .

RECRUITMENT BROCHURE