Director of Planning & Public Works
Apply NowCompany: Pierce County
Location: Tacoma, WA 98444
Description:
Salary: $194,994.14 - $262,851.17 Annually
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Regular - Other
Job Number: 25-00224
Department: County Executive
Division: EXE-Administration
Opening Date: 02/27/2025
Closing Date: 3/24/2025 6:00 PM Pacific
Description
Learn more about the Director of Planning & Public Works and Pierce County here
Position Summary
Pierce County is looking for a dedicated Planning & Public Works Director who has:
Our strategic leaders will focus on:
Planning & Public Works Highlights:
Mission and Vision: Planning & Public Works delivers customer-focused services and maintains vital infrastructure to enhance livability in Pierce County. The department envisions a county prepared for growth, with reliable infrastructure supporting safe, sustainable, and vibrant communities.
Comprehensive Support: Managing nearly one-third of the County's budget, Planning & Public Works oversees transportation systems, utilities, environmental programs, and county planning-providing the foundation for a thriving Pierce County.
Program and Services:
Learn more about the Planning & Public Works Department .
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Supplemental Information
About Pierce County:
Pierce County is a vibrant region where career opportunities intersect with an exceptional quality of life. With stunning natural landscapes, from the shores of Puget Sound to the majestic Mt. Rainier National Park, the area offers endless outdoor activities, including hiking, boating, and golfing on nationally ranked courses. Urban amenities abound as well, with thriving arts, cultural, and culinary scenes that complement the area's natural beauty. As one of the fastest-growing counties in Washington State, Pierce County is a hub of innovation and community collaboration, making it an exciting place to grow your career and make a lasting impact.
Pierce County is committed to a "Forward Together" mission that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion while tackling critical community challenges. The focus on affordable housing, reducing homelessness, expanding behavioral health services, and creating good-paying jobs ensures a high quality of life for all residents. This dedication to fostering inclusive communities, safe infrastructure, and equitable access to opportunities makes Pierce County a place where careers thrive, and individuals can make meaningful contributions to a resilient, vibrant future.
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our , and a County Book Club.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of and , , staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Our benefits:
Vacation (Annual Leave)
After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.
Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:
Vacation Accruals:
During years 1-3, 12 Days
During years 4-7, 16 Days
During years 8-13, 20 Days
During years 14-18, 23 Days
During years 19, 24 Days
During years 20, 25 Days
During years 21, 26 Days
During years 22, 27 Days
During years 23, 28 Days
During years 24, 29 Days
During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days
A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.
Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.
Military Leave:
Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.
Holidays:
Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:
New Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January
President's Day - Third Monday in February
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Juneteenth - June 19
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Veteran's Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after
Christmas Day - December 25
Personal Holidays:
Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.
Furlough:
Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.
Sick Leave:
Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.
Insurance Benefits:
Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the website.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation:
Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security:
All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Miscellaneous Benefits:
Please visit website for more information.
Telework/Remote Options:
Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy
**All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.
01
How did you hear about this opportunity?
Required Question
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Regular - Other
Job Number: 25-00224
Department: County Executive
Division: EXE-Administration
Opening Date: 02/27/2025
Closing Date: 3/24/2025 6:00 PM Pacific
Description
Learn more about the Director of Planning & Public Works and Pierce County here
Position Summary
Pierce County is looking for a dedicated Planning & Public Works Director who has:
- Deep knowledge of planning and public works programs, including county road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building and land use permits, environmental review, sustainability, and code enforcement.
- Skilled in building and leading teams, overseeing capital and strategic plans, and making sound, independent decisions on complex infrastructure and policy issues.
- Experienced in managing relationships and maintaining strong partnerships with interagency collaborators, elected officials, community stakeholders, and key internal and external partners.
- Committed to ensuring Pierce County is prepared for growth through reliable infrastructure that supports safe, resilient, livable, and diverse communities.
Our strategic leaders will focus on:
- Continuous improvement for themselves and their organizations
- Fostering growth mindset and life-long learning
- Data-driven decision-making
- Consideration for customer perspectives and impacts
- Collaboration across large, diverse work environments
- Ensuring equity and inclusion in all facets of work
- Policy and guideline development; turning ideas into action
- Championing the streamlining processes to create positive change
Planning & Public Works Highlights:
Mission and Vision: Planning & Public Works delivers customer-focused services and maintains vital infrastructure to enhance livability in Pierce County. The department envisions a county prepared for growth, with reliable infrastructure supporting safe, sustainable, and vibrant communities.
Comprehensive Support: Managing nearly one-third of the County's budget, Planning & Public Works oversees transportation systems, utilities, environmental programs, and county planning-providing the foundation for a thriving Pierce County.
Program and Services:
- Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, ferries, airports, and flood protection.
- Community Development: Building and land use permits, land use approvals, and long-range planning.
- Environment: Sustainability initiatives, climate resiliency, and conservation.
- Utilities: Sewer systems, surface water management, and solid waste management.
Learn more about the Planning & Public Works Department .
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in planning, Business, Public Administration, Engineering, or related field.
- Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in building or land use review and permitting, public works maintenance and operations, or related field which clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the functions of the position, including six (6) years of responsible supervisory experience.
- Additional education or experience which clearly indicated the ability to perform the essential functions of this position may substitute on a year for year basis.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Graduate degree in Public or Business Administration. Licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Washington.
- A PE license is required to be held by the Director of Planning & Public Works OR the Deputy of Public Works & Utilities.
- As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.
Supplemental Information
About Pierce County:
Pierce County is a vibrant region where career opportunities intersect with an exceptional quality of life. With stunning natural landscapes, from the shores of Puget Sound to the majestic Mt. Rainier National Park, the area offers endless outdoor activities, including hiking, boating, and golfing on nationally ranked courses. Urban amenities abound as well, with thriving arts, cultural, and culinary scenes that complement the area's natural beauty. As one of the fastest-growing counties in Washington State, Pierce County is a hub of innovation and community collaboration, making it an exciting place to grow your career and make a lasting impact.
Pierce County is committed to a "Forward Together" mission that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion while tackling critical community challenges. The focus on affordable housing, reducing homelessness, expanding behavioral health services, and creating good-paying jobs ensures a high quality of life for all residents. This dedication to fostering inclusive communities, safe infrastructure, and equitable access to opportunities makes Pierce County a place where careers thrive, and individuals can make meaningful contributions to a resilient, vibrant future.
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our , and a County Book Club.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of and , , staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Our benefits:
Vacation (Annual Leave)
After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.
Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:
Vacation Accruals:
During years 1-3, 12 Days
During years 4-7, 16 Days
During years 8-13, 20 Days
During years 14-18, 23 Days
During years 19, 24 Days
During years 20, 25 Days
During years 21, 26 Days
During years 22, 27 Days
During years 23, 28 Days
During years 24, 29 Days
During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days
A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.
Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.
Military Leave:
Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.
Holidays:
Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:
New Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January
President's Day - Third Monday in February
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Juneteenth - June 19
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Veteran's Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after
Christmas Day - December 25
Personal Holidays:
Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.
Furlough:
Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.
Sick Leave:
Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.
Insurance Benefits:
Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the website.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation:
Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security:
All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Miscellaneous Benefits:
Please visit website for more information.
Telework/Remote Options:
Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy
**All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.
01
How did you hear about this opportunity?
- Pierce County Website
- governmentjobs.com
- Indeed
- Saw on LinkedIn
- LinkedIn Recruiter Conversation
- Glassdoor
- Other Website
- Job Fair
- Pierce County Employee
- Other
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