Description

Interested in becoming Keizer's next Public Works Director? Join us for a live, virtual information session with the Keizer City Manager on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 3:00PM PST to learn more about the City and the position. To register, visit our website and instructions on the full announcement at City of Keizer - Public Works Director. You can also contact us for registration information.

THE CITY OF KEIZER

This is an opportunity to join an organization with a strong service ethic, a supportive team, and an outstanding work culture. As part of the City’s leadership team, you will help guide Keizer alongside a close-knit group that relies on one another to achieve the best outcomes and make our city a great place to live, work, and play. We challenge each other, we laugh often, and we get things done. Our employees have built this positive environment over many years, and we celebrate it with regular citywide gatherings, often sharing a meal together.

THE ROLE

Under the general direction of the City Manager, this Department Director position plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates the activities and operations of the Public Works Department, including the Divisions of Water, Stormwater and Street, Parks and Facility Maintenance, and Environmental and Technical. The Public Works Director provides technical guidance for the City Manager, the City Council and their appointed Boards and Commissions; directs public works projects by using management principles and adhering to City and Department goals and objectives mandated by rules and regulations, and the priorities determined by the City Council; administers major capital improvement projects including regional transportation, and water resources, develops and manages the annual department budget; reviews and monitors expenditures within budgetary funds.

THE COMMUNITY 

The City of Keizer is located in the beautiful Willamette Valley with Oregon’s largest city, Portland, to the north, and the state capitol, Salem, bordering Keizer to the south. Oregon coastline and mountains are located just west and east of Keizer within a one-hour drive. 

Our weather is moderate throughout the year with summer temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s. Keizer’s population is 39,249 and is the 16th largest city in Oregon. In spite of its growth since the 1990’s, Keizer continues to preserve its small-town pride by supporting many volunteer organizations and community-wide events. Some notable events include the KeizerFEST and parade, the Miracle of Lights lighting display, the Holiday Lights parade, concerts in the parks, and the Keizer Art Walk.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Keizer Public Works Department is the second-largest department (after police) with 27 full-time regular employees. Its principal business areas are:

• Ensuring safe, clean drinking water
• Ensuring proper protections for stormwater and natural resources
• Managing and repairing street signs
• Providing street sweeping
• Repairing and maintaining catch basins, manholes, potholes, water mains and water meters
• Maintaining the city's parks and trails
• Maintaining city vehicles and facilities
• Issuing and inspecting permits for work in the Right-of-Way, sidewalks, and new development
• Maintaining our Emergency Preparedness Plan

Keizer Public Works operates and maintains 203 lane miles of street, including 20 traffic signals. The City contracts with the City of Salem for signal maintenance and operations.  

4.9 staff maintain the City’s 239 acre, 19-park system in combination with temps, contractors and volunteers. 

Keizer’s water source is a large, underground aquifer that supplies water to 15 wells, 2 ground tanks and 1 elevated storage tank. Citizens rank the water system as the City’s highest priority service and register high levels of satisfaction with the City’s management of the system. 

Keizer has created a Stormwater Utility to manage stormwater systems and meet the Federal Clean Water Act. The natural drainage ways in Keizer – the Willamette River, Claggett Creek, and the Labish Creek – are the backbone of the surface drainage system. Keizer currently contracts with the City of Salem to maintain the sewer collection system, provide treatment, and bill customers. 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The City of Keizer is looking for a dynamic and forward-thinking Public Works Director that possesses the following qualities:

• Strategic & Visionary: Proven ability to create and execute long-range infrastructure and capital improvement plans that align with council priorities and community growth.
• Technical Expert: Strong foundation in engineering principles, public works systems, and environmental regulations; ability to evaluate complex technical reports and data.
• Proven Mentor & Leader: Demonstrated record of motivating multidisciplinary teams, resolving conflicts, coaching managers, and fostering accountability and professional growth.
• Public Service Ethic: Commitment to responsiveness, transparency, and equitable service delivery; ability to represent the city professionally with citizens and the media.
• Collaborative Communicator: Skilled at engaging staff, elected officials, partner agencies, and the public.
• Financial Steward: Competence in developing and administering multimillion-dollar departmental budgets, understanding municipal operations & regulatory compliance, monitoring expenditures, and aligning resources with outcomes.
• Innovative Problem Solver: Capable of analyzing departmental operations, identifying inefficiencies, and implementing sustainable, data-driven improvements.
• Integrity & Accountability: High ethical standards, sound judgment, and reliability in representing the interests of a municipality.
• Candidates with a Professional Engineer license or engineering experience are encouraged to apply.
  
  

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The annual salary range for this position is $124,488 - $162,427. The City offers a highly competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision at 90% to 100% premiums paid by the city, vacation, sick, and personal leave, and 11 paid holidays. The City of Keizer is a PERS-participating employer and contributes the 6% ‘pick up’ as well as 6% to the employee’s deferred compensation program.

TO APPLY

Submit your resume and cover letter through our online application at https://www.keizeror.gov/543/Current-Job-Openings

Requirements

To qualify, candidates must possess:

A Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration or Business Administration, Management, Engineering, or related field and,

Five years of progressively responsible public works experience as well as a minimum of three (3) years of mid-management or higher experience, or

any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position.

The City’s talent acquisition goals include hiring the candidate who is best able to meet the performance objectives of the role. We encourage persons with non-traditional skill sets and experiences to apply, even if you believe you do not meet 100% of the qualifications and hiring criteria described