Public Works Director, City of Stayton, Oregon

Located in Marion County in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Stayton is approximately 14 miles southeast of Salem along Oregon Route 22. Situated on the North Santiam River, the city serves as a regional center for the Santiam Canyon, supporting agriculture, manufacturing, commerce, healthcare, education, and other essential services. Home to nearly 8,200 residents, Stayton offers a welcoming small-city atmosphere with established neighborhoods, an historic downtown, quality public and private schools, and convenient access to shopping and services. Affordability continues to be one of Stayton’s strongest advantages as the city grows. Housing costs and the overall cost of living run meaningfully below Salem, Portland, and much of the I-5 corridor. With its small-town character, proximity to Salem and Albany, affordable housing, natural surroundings, and diverse employment base, Stayton is an attractive place to live, work, and raise a family.

The City of Stayton operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City’s adopted 2025-2027 biennial budget totals approximately $95.1 million, including a General Fund of approximately $13.7 million. Stayton employs 57.52 full-time equivalent positions and provides a broad range of municipal services through Administration, Finance, Library, Public Works, Police, and Community and Economic Development. The City also operates water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities.

Organized across Public Works Administration, Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Streets, Parks, Engineering, and Facilities, the Public Works Department operates with 25.75 FTEs and is supported by a combined 2025-2027 biennial budget of approximately $60.4 million across its primary funds. Department staff maintain approximately 34.6 miles of public streets, 44.5 miles of water mains, nearly 39 miles of sanitary sewer lines, four wastewater lift stations, and almost 138 acres of parks, trails, and natural open space. The department also manages the City’s water treatment and distribution system, wastewater treatment facility, stormwater infrastructure, municipal facilities, engineering services, development review, capital projects, and related public works programs. Public Works also leads long-range infrastructure planning, regulatory compliance, emergency response, contract management, inspections, and coordination with consultants, contractors, utilities, and partner agencies.

Reporting to the City Manager, the Public Works Director provides strategic and operational leadership for the Public Works Department. The Director oversees daily operations and capital projects across water, wastewater, stormwater, streets, parks, facilities, engineering, and public amenities. Responsibilities include developing policies, procedures, master plans, facility plans, asset management plans, and performance measures; preparing and administering operating and capital budgets; pursuing grants and outside funding; guiding preventive maintenance and emergency preparedness; and ensuring compliance with applicable local, state, and federal requirements. This position also provides leadership and support to department employees, promotes safety and professional development, coordinates projects and services across City departments, and communicates plans, priorities, project updates, and technical information through public meetings, reports, media outreach, and presentations to the City Council and advisory bodies.

For a complete position profile, benefits summary, and to apply online, visit Prothman Company at https://www.prothman.com/ and click on “Open Recruitments”. For questions, call 206-368-0050. The City of Stayton is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Apply by September 6, 2026. (Applications reviewed as submitted. Open until filled.)