Public Works Director, 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 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.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
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.

Interested? 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. Contact KleverG@KeizerOR.Gov for registration information.

TO APPLY
Submit your resume and cover letter through our online application at https://www.keizerOR.Gov/543/Current-Openings

For more information, please contact
Garrett Klever
HR Director, City of Keizer
(503)-856-3417
KleverG@KeizerOR.Gov

• City-of-Keizer-PW-Director-Announcement.pdf