Salary: $141,107.20 - $198,660.80 Annually
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Non-Classified
Job Number: P0090-26
Department: Water
Opening Date: 08/03/2026
Closing Date: 8/17/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Position Description
is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to oversee our Transmission and Distribution Maintenance activities. This position plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability, resiliency, and long-term performance of Tacoma Water's transmission and distribution systems by leading maintenance operations, supporting strategic initiatives, and developing a highly skilled workforce.

Working across our Tacoma and McMillin locations, you'll partner with Maintenance & Construction leadership to guide priorities, improve operational performance, strengthen relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and help deliver safe, reliable water service to our community.
If you're a strategic leader who is passionate about public service, operational excellence, and developing high-performing teams, we encourage you to apply and help shape the future of Tacoma Water's essential infrastructure.
Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the daily operations and personnel responsible for transmission and distribution maintenance activities across Tacoma Water's service area.
• Oversee maintenance programs for supply infrastructure, including wells, pump stations, pressure reducing valves (PRVs), hydrants, valves, meters, flushing, locating, and maintenance tools and equipment.
• Partner with our Planning & Logistics group to prioritize work, develop maintenance plans, and ensure timely completion of scheduled, preventive, and emergency maintenance activities.
• Support section administration through strategic planning, policy development, performance metrics, budget development, and operational reporting.
• Recruit, mentor, develop, evaluate, and manage staff while fostering a culture centered on safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, internal business partners, and external agencies to support asset management strategies, operational initiatives, and customer service objectives.
• Participate in and lead cross-functional initiatives involving fleet operations, mobile workforce management, SAP, CMMS, business process improvements, and other operational systems.
• Represent Tacoma Water in meetings with City leadership, regulatory agencies, community stakeholders, and the public as needed.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in engineering, business or public administration or directly related field

Minimum Experience*
6 years of professional-level experience in the water industry, public works or directly related utility industry, including 1 year prior at a supervisory level

*Relevant education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements
Washington State Driver's License
Selection Process & Supplemental Information
Apply

Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.
Compensation & Benefits
Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $67.84- $95.51
Annual Salary: $141,107.20- $198,660.80
Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.
The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
01

Do you have an equivalent combination to a bachelor's degree in engineering, business or public administration or directly related field AND 6 years of professional-level experience in the water industry, public works or directly related utility industry, including 1 year prior at a supervisory level?Relevant education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis.

• Yes
• No

02

Describe your experience developing maintenance priorities, work plans, or operational schedules. How did you balance routine maintenance, emergency response, and available resources?
03

This role manages direct reports who themselves manage teams. Describe your specific strategy for overseeing managers (versus non-management staff). How do you empower them while ensuring accountability and alignment with your strategic goals?
04

Tell us about a time you had to make a tough decision to defer scheduled critical maintenance for a higher-priority, unplanned operational need. What was your communication strategy with stakeholders?
05

One of the City's Principles that guides us is Equity. Describe what equity means to you and describe any experience you have working with diverse groups of people.
06

Please tell us how you learned about this job opening.

• Job Interest Card notification
• Professional organization
• Military organization
• City of Tacoma employee
• Online job board posting
• Word of mouth
• LinkedIn
• Tacoma Training & Education Program (TTEP)
• Indeed
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Careers in Government
• Government Jobs
• Outreach Event
• National Diversity Network
• African American Job Network
• Disability Job Network
• Asian Job Network
• Latino Job Network
• Retirement Job Network
• LGBT Job Network
• Veteran Job Network
• Other

07

Please provide specific information regarding how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings
Required Question